Those early days of the new year saw communities sharing heartwarming videos of children returning home to reunite with their families. Recently, a one-minute video capturing a son secretly returning home after two years working in South Korea has garnered nearly a million views on TikTok.
The video begins with a mother standing at the gate, waiting for a “special guest.” As she sees her son, fully masked and carrying a suitcase, she remains puzzled. When he speaks, she is taken aback, and then rushes to him, playfully slapping his cheeks before tightly embracing him.
The young man in the video is Đậu Thanh Đức, 21, from Nghệ An. He told Dân trí that he had been in South Korea for two years under a student visa in Seoul. Seeing fellow countrymen return for Tet, Đức decided it was time to reunite with his family.
“My parents always said they didn’t miss me so I could focus on my work abroad, but I knew they were waiting for me. That’s why I decided to come back for Tet this year. The night before my departure, I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep and went to the airport at 1 AM, even though my flight was at 9,” Đức shared.
The mother’s unique way of expressing her emotions brought many viewers to laughter (Photo: Screenshot).
To create a surprise, Đức kept his return a secret. On January 20, while traveling from Incheon Airport to Noi Bai Airport, he called his sister to pick him up and instructed her not to tell anyone. His sister complied, quietly picking him up without revealing the news to the family.
“I only informed my sister to pick me up because Tet was approaching, and I was worried about my parents traveling long distances. Upon arriving home, my sister lied to them, saying we had guests. My mother came to the gate, but she didn’t recognize me when I approached with my suitcase. It wasn’t until I teased her that she realized who I was and ran over, playfully slapping me out of joy,” Đức laughed as he recounted the moment.
His mother’s playful slaps left Đức both surprised and touched. She then held him tightly, overwhelmed with happiness. For the 21-year-old, despite being away for a short time, reuniting with his family was a profound joy. He was delighted to see his parents in good health and finally returned to his familiar home after a year spent celebrating Tet abroad.
Đức is currently a student in South Korea (Photo: NVCC).
Netizens were amused by the “surprise return from South Korea,” creating an unexpected moment for Đức’s family. Many commented humorously on the mother’s special way of expressing her feelings. “Afterwards, call dad to come and greet, mom’s slaps hurt too much,” one user named Thông joked.
This emotional reunion not only represents Đức’s story but also symbolizes the deep familial bonds, sacrifices, and longing of loved ones when family members are far from home.
