Every Tet holiday, red envelopes are cherished and handed over as symbols of luck, fortune and wishes for peace in the new year.
However, behind those brand new banknotes is not only material value, but also the subtle story of behavior between the two sides, both domestic and foreign, and also care in married life.
In Vietnamese culture, when you are married, the balance between the two families is always put first. Tet lucky money is therefore not simply lucky money for grandparents, parents or young children, but also a way to show respect, thoughtfulness and harmonious feelings between the two families.
As a married woman from the same hometown of Hung Yen, Ms. Ngoc Tuyet every year is busy traveling with her husband between the two families in the days leading up to Tet.
For her, preparing lucky money must be calculated early so that everything is neat and complete. "I usually give lucky money to my grandchildren 200,000 VND per envelope. For both paternal and maternal grandparents, I give each couple 1 million VND to pray for health and peace," Ms. Tuyet shared.
She smiled and added: "For my husband, I just give him a lucky money, the denomination depends on his'achievements' at the end of the year.
According to Ms. Tuyet, there is no common formula for how much to celebrate, but it depends on the economic conditions of each family in the year.
The most important thing is still practical care, such as seeing what parents lack, buying and giving more gifts to please them.
For Minh Chau, a young person who just graduated and is working in Hanoi, this year's lucky money envelope is more special than ever.
In previous years when I was still in school, I could not personally prepare lucky money for grandparents and parents as desired. This year, although I only have the first salaries, being able to use the money I earn to send wishes for health to my family, I feel very happy," Chau confided.
Meanwhile, Ms. Phuong Lien chose to express her feelings in a different direction. Instead of cash envelopes, she brought orchid pots, peach branches or kumquat trees to her parents' house on the 27th and 28th days of the twelfth lunar month.
Many times when giving money, my parents don't accept it, but giving ornamental plants for Tet, my grandparents are very happy. Looking at the house radiant, full of spring atmosphere, I feel warm-hearted," she said.
Reality shows that for many families, the value of lucky money envelopes does not lie in the numbers inside. What they desire most is the full presence of children and grandchildren, sincere wishes and moments of reunion at the beginning of the year.
Tet is not just about giving and receiving, but an opportunity to connect love, maintain the full affection between both sides and nurture family happiness.
