On the afternoon of December 28th of the lunar calendar, on road 12B section passing through Kim Boi commune, Phu Tho province, it was more crowded than usual.
People who work far away come back in droves, carrying gift bags, small peach branches and new consumption habits.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hao's water stall is located right in Bo market (old Bo town), still with an old plastic table, a hot green teapot, and a basket of peanut candy placed in the middle of the table. But next to it, a clearly printed QR code is pasted.
I'm old, I don't know much. My son came home and told me to keep up with the times. So he registered an account, printed codes for his mother. A cup of 5,000 VND iced tea can also be transferred," Ms. Hao smiled gently.
Young customers stop by the shop, pull out their phones to scan codes, the sound of "ting" echoes in the mid-Autumn Festival afternoon. No longer the scene of rummaging through pockets looking for small change. But what makes Ms. Hao happier is that customers still sit down, chat about business, and ask about their health.
That change is also happening in many families in Kim Boi.
Mr. Nguyen Van Lam (32 years old), a worker working in Luong Son, this year did not bring much cash back to his hometown.
For lucky money, gifts for relatives, and payment for goods, I transfer money. My parents were initially shy, but now they are used to it," he said.
His wife, Hoang Thi Thom, told another story – a story about how to teach children in the digital age. His 9th grade son asked to open a bank account from the beginning of the school year.
At first, I was very worried, afraid that my child would spend money uncontrollably. But then I thought, society has changed, we must teach our child how to manage money instead of prohibiting it," Ms. Thom shared.
Each month, she transfers a fixed amount to her child to pay for her own tuition and living expenses. At the end of the month, her child must report the used amounts.
On the days leading up to Tet, when the pots of banh chung are on fire outside the yard, the story of cash and transfers becomes a topic of discussion at the meal table.
Mr. Tran Van Hoa (61 years old), a retired official in the commune, pondered: "Technology makes life faster and more convenient. But Tet is not about how to pay. The important thing is still for children and grandchildren to reunite.
He recounted that there were years when his daughters were far away and could not return, sending money back through the bank. Money was abundant, but what was lacking was laughter in the house.
In fact, many families in Kim Boi still maintain the custom of giving lucky money envelopes. Although you can transfer money in just a few seconds, the New Year greetings and affectionate eyes when giving red envelopes still have their own value.
At Mrs. Hao's shop, young customers after scanning the code still raise their cups of tea, taking small sips, telling stories of a year of hard work to make a living. 5,000 VND is not much, but enough to start a conversation, enough to keep the slow pace of life in the busy year-end day.
Amidst the flow of digitalization, each family in the mountain town is learning to adapt, while preserving family traditions.
Because after all, what people expect at Tet is not in the way they pay, but in the presence of each other in the small house, where kitchen smoke blends with green tea, where family affection is still the most precious "denominator".
