Duc travels each weekday from Hung Yen Province to Hanoi, a distance of more than 50 km. When traffic is light, the ride takes about 45 minutes. He returns home the same day to have dinner with his wife, children and parents.

He chose to stay in his hometown because his parents are almost 70 years old and need his help. He also wanted to avoid the high cost of living in Hanoi.

Duc and his wife earn about VND30 million a month together. An apartment of 60‑65 m² in Hanoi costs around VND2 billion, which would need a large mortgage. Building a house on their parents’ 360 m² plot cost about VND2.5 billion, but they did not borrow any money.

After years of saving, the couple finished the nearly 200‑square‑meter, two‑story house in 2024. A year later they bought an electric car, which makes the daily commute more comfortable and less affected by weather.

"I had no idea when I would be able to save enough money," Duc says. "With about VND2.5 billion, it would be difficult for my family to own a similar property in Hanoi," he adds. "I feel I have gained more than I have lost," he says.

Duc’s story shows that a long commute can be a deliberate strategy to keep housing affordable, stay close to family, and keep a stable job, even though it means spending time traveling each day.