Ho Chi Minh City – Nhan Dan Newspaper, the Ho Chi Minh City Press Center, and Coteccons Construction Joint Stock Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, officially expanding the “Xây Tết 2026” program in Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to care for 8,000 workers in the city, including construction workers, environmental sanitation workers, and urban drainage workers.
Representatives of Nhan Dan Newspaper, the City Press Center, Coteccons, Ho Chi Minh City departments, enterprises, and charitable organizations jointly performed the ceremony marking their commitment to organizing “Xây Tết 2026” for 8,000 workers within and beyond the construction sector in Ho Chi Minh City
“Xây Tết”: A Year-Round Journey of Companionship
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Press Center, Xây Tết is a large-scale social welfare initiative aligned with the city’s orientation toward comprehensive care for workers’ well-being during the Lunar New Year.
Mr. Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Director of the City Press Center, delivers remarks at the ceremony
“The program not only brings a more fulfilling Tet to workers, but also spreads humane values, a culture of occupational safety, and self-protection awareness within the community”, Mr. Khanh emphasized.
The Ho Chi Minh City Press Center will act as the coordinating and communication hub, working closely with Nhan Dan Newspaper, Coteccons, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the program is implemented effectively, in line with its objectives, and generates positive social impact.
Highly appreciating the “Xây Tết” program, Mr. Le Nam Tu, Director-General and Head of Nhan Dan Newspaper’s Southern Representative Office, noted that Xây Tết should not be viewed as a one-off or seasonal activity, but rather as a year-round series of initiatives accompanying workers through safety skills training, life skills development, and health protection—sustainable values that go beyond material gifts.
Mr. Le Nam Tu, Director-General and Head of Nhan Dan Newspaper’s Southern Representative Office, speaks at the ceremony
Mr. Tu reaffirmed the role of the press in amplifying a deeply responsible social initiative that benefits not only Coteccons workers, but also subcontractors, environmental sanitation workers, and urban drainage workers—those who work under particularly demanding conditions.
“Xây Tết is an opportunity to spread kindness and show greater care for silent contributors”, he said.
Simple Happiness: Going to Work and Returning Home Safely
From an operational perspective, Mr. Le Nguyen Vu, Head of Safety Department at Coteccons, shared: “At construction sites, our safety teams strive every day with a simple belief: when we do the right things and do them decisively, workers can return home safely after each shift”. According to Mr. Vu, safety does not stem solely from regulations, but from people—from strong empowerment that enables safety teams to firmly protect workers. “Protecting workers is, ultimately, protecting their happiness”, he emphasized.
Mr. Le Nguyen Vu, Head of the Safety Department, Coteccons Construction Joint Stock Company, delivers remarks at the ceremony
Sharing at the ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Trinh Thuy Trang, Deputy CEO of Coteccons, stated that for Coteccons, happiness is simply ensuring that every worker returns home safely after each working day.
Ms. Trang noted: “For workers, a Tet gift is not only material support, but also a source of pride to bring home and offer at the family altar. From on-site surveys, Coteccons has identified many unspoken needs, particularly among female workers, such as health knowledge, nutrition, and life skills. Therefore, “Xây Tết” goes beyond gift-giving to embrace more comprehensive care”.
After four seasons, “Xây Tết” has become a genuine festival for workers
Ms. Trang added that “Xây Tết” is a heartfelt expression of gratitude to silent contributors—construction workers and sanitation workers—who quietly safeguard society’s happiness every day.
Nationwide, “Xây Tết 2026” will be implemented from December 2025 to February 2026 across 72 Coteccons construction sites, with an estimated 30,500 Tet gift packages to be presented to workers, including construction workers, environmental sanitation workers, and urban drainage workers.
In Ho Chi Minh City alone, the program is expected to care for approximately 8,000 workers, including 1,000 sanitation and urban drainage workers and around 7,000 construction workers across the city.
During the ceremony, Coteccons’ leadership responded to questions from the press regarding “Xây Tết 2026”
Question: How does Coteccons establish a unified safety standard across all construction sites, and how are Tet bonuses and welfare for workers working through the Tet holiday implemented?
Mr. Bolat Duisenov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Coteccons Construction Joint Stock Company:
Mr. Bolat Duisenov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coteccons Construction Joint Stock Company, shares his remarks at the ceremony
Coteccons does not accept disparities in safety standards between construction sites. A unified safety standard is applied and enforced across all projects, regardless of location or project type. While we are always ready to meet higher requirements from clients, Coteccons’ safety standards must be consistently upheld.
Regarding income, workers at Coteccons currently receive remuneration above the market average. For sites operating through the Tet holiday, we implement the “Tet at Construction Sites” program, organizing online activities that allow workers and engineers to celebrate Tet on-site while staying connected with their families. Personally, I consider “Xây Tết” to be Coteccons’ most meaningful initiative, one that will be sustained for many years, with occupational safety as this year’s core focus.
Question: After four seasons of “Xây Tết”, how does Coteccons assess the program’s long-term impact? Does it truly improve workers’ lives, or is it merely a festive event?
Ms. Nguyen Trinh Thuy Trang, Deputy CEO of Coteccons:
After four seasons, we can confidently say that “Xây Tết” is not merely a festive event, but a program that has generated long-term and tangible impacts across three levels: society, workers’ lives, and the construction industry as a whole.
Ms. Nguyen Trinh Thuy Trang, Deputy CEO of Coteccons, delivers remarks at the ceremony
From a societal perspective, “Xây Tết” contributes to reshaping perceptions of workers. They are no longer seen merely as a labor force, but as individuals who directly create value and happiness for society. At Coteccons, some workers have been with the company for more than 15 years, demonstrating that construction work offers not only income, but also pride and a sense of security for long-term commitment. In terms of safety culture, the story of Mr. Quang—a Coteccons worker who helped save accident victims at Phu My Bridge—illustrates how safety training translates into real-life skills.
With “Xây Tết 2026”, Coteccons has chosen Safety as the central theme. We hope that care for workers will be elevated to a new level—working together to protect the safety of those who are contributing every day to the city’s development.
