Many students from other provinces in HCM City choose to findtemporary jobs or do social work during Tet instead of returning homefor the festival.

Nguyen Thi Nga, a fourth-year studentat the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, works at arestaurant in District 1 for 250,000 VND a day.

Nga, fromthe central province of Thanh Hoa , says this is for the secondyear in a row that she has decided to stay back.

"I cansave several millions of dong by doing the work during Tet as well asgain some work experience," she says, adding that many of her friendsplan to do the same.

Nguyen Trong Hoang, an official atthe HCM City Centre for Students Support, says more and more studentsare spending Tet in the city and finding jobs because their hometownsare far away and they want to get some money as well as experience.

The centre has found nearly 4,000 seasonal jobs for students this year, he says.

Entertainment sites, Tet flower fairs, supermarkets, restaurants, andcoffee shops are among places with high demand for seasonal workers, hesays.

Many students also join the charitable Voluntary Spring Camp organised by the city to experience a meaningful holiday.

Tran Van Nam of the HCM City University of Technology plans to call onorphans and disabled children at shelters, poor patients at hospitals,and underprivileged families living in remote areas to spread some Tetcheer.

"Though I cannot spend the holiday with my family, I feel happy doing good deeds," Nam says./.