I made a decision that many people consider risky: I did not let my child spend all their time buried in books, even though they were capable of studying more to maintain strong academic results.

Vietnam's prevailing 48-hour work week - often extended further by overtime - is pushing many workers into chronic exhaustion, making them reluctant to spend on shopping, travel, or even healthcare.

I have long been familiar with the reality of public noise, from loud conversations and casual video calls to people watching TikTok or YouTube on their phone speakers.