Lunar New Year lucky money in the digital age.

Convenient and modern, but will "online lucky money" diminish the traditional meaning of the first day of the year?

Báo Tin Tức•18/02/2026

Photo caption

Illustration photo: lpbank.com.vn

Every Lunar New Year, red envelopes (li xi) become a familiar symbol of good fortune and family reunion. However, with the development of digital technology , the custom of giving lucky money during Tet is gradually changing as many people choose to send it via e-wallets, banking apps, etc. Convenient and modern, but will "online lucky money" diminish the traditional meaning of the first day of the year?

When "lucky money" comes knocking on every door.

In Vietnamese folklore, giving New Year's greetings is a ritual with the meaning of wishing good fortune. Adults give children lucky money to wish them good health, rapid growth, good behavior, and academic success. Children give lucky money to their grandparents and parents to wish them good health and peace. The red envelope – the color of good fortune and joy – symbolizes good things and a smooth start to the new year.

However, the fast-paced modern lifestyle, along with the widespread use of smartphones and cashless payments, has gradually changed this habit. Especially after the COVID-19 lockdown, when face-to-face meetings were restricted, giving lucky money online became a suitable solution for many families.

Currently, numerous platforms such as MoMo, ZaloPay, Viettel Money, ShopeePay, and various digital banks integrate the electronic lucky money feature. With just a few simple steps, users can send monetary gifts along with greetings to relatives and friends anywhere.

Ms. Lan Huong, originally from Hanoi but having moved to Ho Chi Minh City many years ago, said that her family is large, so in recent years they have often chosen to give lucky money via e-wallets. It's quick and convenient, and they don't have to worry about exchanging new banknotes or preparing many envelopes. The children also like it because they receive a very pleasant "ting ting" notification.

According to statistics from a major e-wallet, during Tet 2025, Vietnamese people sent over 150 million digital lucky money envelopes, double the amount from the previous year. Beyond simply transferring money, these digital envelopes were also "decorated" with images of auspicious animals, greetings, and lively e-cards, creating a unique Tet atmosphere in the digital space.

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For many young people, this is a modern and creative way to wish Happy New Year. Ha Anh, a student in Hanoi, shared that giving lucky money online still evokes emotion if it's sent with sincerity. Each envelope has its own greeting and cute icon. Friends who receive it immediately reply, which feels heartwarming.

Especially in the context of many people studying and working far from home, online lucky money has become a bridge across distances. Quang Anh, a PhD student in the US, said that every year he sends lucky money to his parents online. Receiving New Year's greetings from home, even though he is half a world away from his family, still feels like he is very close.

Preserving the spirit of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) amidst tradition and technology.

Besides the obvious benefits, the rise of digital lucky money has also raised concerns for many. For many older people, Tet is not just about receiving money, but about moments of reunion, about glances, smiles, and wishes exchanged in person.

71-year-old Ms. Minh Tam from Hanoi shared that in the past, giving lucky money meant meeting in person, exchanging greetings, and watching children and grandchildren grow up year after year. Now, with only text messages on phones, it feels incomplete, especially for elderly people like her who aren't tech-savvy.

“I have four grandchildren, two of whom are studying abroad. Even on New Year's Eve, they still call us via video to chat with the whole family. Besides sending New Year's greetings over the phone, I also prepare enough red envelopes for them so that when they come home, they will still receive gifts from their grandparents,” Mrs. Tam shared.

Indeed, the essence of the custom of giving lucky money lies in the ritual of giving – in the respectful bow of the children and grandchildren, in the gentle smile of the grandparents, in the joyful laughter when the whole family gathers together. When everything is condensed into a few seconds of screen time, that feeling sometimes fades. Even some young people admit that while online lucky money is convenient, it lacks the excitement.

Cultural researchers argue that when a traditional custom is digitized, the greatest risk lies not in the form, but in people gradually forgetting its original meaning. If giving lucky money becomes merely a financial transaction, the spiritual value of Tet will fade away.

However, change is inevitable in the flow of time. Just as Vietnamese people have gradually become accustomed to text messages instead of handwritten letters, and online shopping instead of traditional Tet markets, electronic lucky money is a manifestation of the adaptability of the national culture.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh, an expert in folklore research, commented: "Tradition is not something immutable; it only disappears when we no longer understand and appreciate its meaning."

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Therefore, instead of placing tradition and modernity at two opposing extremes, Vietnamese people can perfectly reconcile the two. For grandparents and parents, giving lucky money in person remains a way to show respect and connection. For friends and relatives far away, giving lucky money online is a suitable option to share good fortune at the beginning of the year.

Recognizing this, many e-wallets are also striving to "breathe the spirit of Tet" into the digital space. Electronic envelopes are designed with vibrant spring colors, accompanied by greetings, poems, and even simulating the sound of opening red envelopes, aiming to evoke the familiar feeling of Tet in the past.

In many Asian countries, especially China, digital red envelopes have become a new cultural trend, both fun and maintaining the spirit of giving New Year's gifts in a modern way. Vietnam is also following this path – a traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) in a digital form. The important thing is that digital red envelopes should not become a competition of value or a display of "digital envelopes." Whether paper or virtual, the core meaning remains wishes for peace, sharing, and connection.

Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) may change in form, but the spirit of "wishing each other good fortune" remains. An electronic red envelope, if sent with sincerity, can still be as warm as a handshake at the beginning of spring. Amidst the digital age, Vietnamese Tet is still evolving every day. While red envelopes may no longer be as common as before, as long as wishes for good fortune are still exchanged, the spirit of Tet remains intact – whether in hand or displayed on a phone screen.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/li-xi-tet-trong-nhip-song-so-20260218100046481.htm