Despite economic difficulties, the landlord spent 150 million to pay tribute to tenants

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam (58 years old) and his wife, the owner of a boarding house in Thanh Loc ward (District 12, Ho Chi Minh City), spent more than 150 million VND to hold a year-end party, giving 165 gifts to the tenants.

It is known that this is the 18th year that Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam and his wife (innkeepers at 2/17 TL16, Quarter 3B, Thanh Loc Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City) have organized a year-end party for working workers. rented.

Every year, on Tet holiday, Mr. Tam, the owner of a 3,000 square meter apartment building, spends hundreds of millions of dong to organize a year-end party and give gifts to all the workers residing here.

Last afternoon of January 27, the loud music in Mr. Tam's apartment building made many people excited. 31 banquet tables were spread out inside the boarding house. The tenants had just returned from work, no one gave any "orders" but quietly each did their own thing, helping prepare for the year-end party.

The women staying at the boarding house take turns cooking chicken hotpot and then putting spring rolls, banh hoi, and grilled meat on plates, while the men help carry tables and chairs, and install sound and lighting.

A few days before the party, Mr. Tam and his wife went to each room to invite and confirm the number of attendees to book a table and list the menu. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sen, Mr. Tam's wife, and the sisters in the neighborhood discussed going to the market and cooking their own dishes. "I want to make everyone feel like this place is like a cozy family meal and ensures food safety" - Ms. Sen said.

This year, the party took place earlier, so everyone could attend. Mr. Tam said he does it almost every year, only the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had to be canceled, but he still gives Tet gifts to his neighbors.

To prepare for this year-end party, Mr. Tam raised free-range chickens, ordered spring rolls, and banh hoi from the countryside to bring in.

More than 30 years ago, Mr. Tam moved from Binh Dinh to Saigon to start a business. He used to work as a worker and live in a boarding house, so he understood the feelings of people far away from home when Tet comes, always looking forward to having a family meal.

That's why, he and his wife spend their own money to organize a year-end party every year for residents, especially workers who cannot afford to return home to celebrate Tet.

Besides organizing the year-end party, Mr. Tam and his wife also prepared 165 gifts including cooking oil, candy, fish sauce, coffee... (each worth 400,000 VND) to give to each room.

The entire rent for the last month of the year was spent by Mr. Tam and his wife to organize a year-end party for the workers. The cost of organizing this activity is about more than 150 million VND, Mr. Tam expressed, "it's nothing after a hard year for workers and unemployed workers" . The year-end party in the boarding house does not have great material value but is an opportunity for people in the same situation and living environment to gather, gather, and relieve the pressure of a difficult year.

"You have to play until you play! I don't think I'm doing this to show off, but to feel responsible for my boarding house," Mr. Tam thought.

This year, the economic situation is difficult, the landlord still continues to organize a spring party for the neighbors, even though he has not yet paid off all his debt to the bank.

He and his wife specially raised 30 chickens and grew vegetables throughout the year to use for cooking and banquets. The year-end party was also planned and prepared by the couple 3 days ago.

Mr. Tam said that from 40 rooms built in 2005, it has now been expanded to 152 rooms with about 410 residents, mainly couples, families of workers, and laborers. Each room has an area of about 27-28m2 (with attic) with rental price from about 1.5-1.7 million VND/month. To ensure the safety of the boarding house, Mr. Tam also installed a camera system and fingerprint lock at the entrance gate. There are tenants who have been renting for more than a decade and still stay in his apartment.