A friend of mine once had a stable job, a gentle personality, and a strong sense of responsibility toward his family. But he also had a habit of drinking after work.

There are always a few cloth bags in the trunk of my motorbike, and food containers in my backpack. When a vendor hands me a plastic bag, I simply say no.

I’m 34 years old and work as a manager at a private company. My current salary is VND55 million (US$2,090) a month, plus a Lunar New Year bonus worth more than two months' pay. To many, that might sound like a dream job and a stable life. But in truth, I feel adrift.