Hanoi Lottery (Vietlott) is a beloved part of Vietnamese culture and people believe that participating will bring them good luck. Millions are generated each year through participation which are used for social welfare programs and infrastructure development, creating jobs for lottery ticket sellers and operators as well.
At the end of the day, however, winning the lottery remains a game of chance and can cause financial hardship for those who can’t afford tickets or don’t want to risk their hard-earned cash by buying tickets directly – those without access can still experience the thrill of the draw online platforms – regardless of its outcome, lottery is an enjoyable and addictive hobby that can be played anywhere in Vietnam.
Vietnam operates lottery games through 63 provincial companies and Vietlott, its national operator. Each ticket costs VND10,000 or 50 US cents and lottery sellers earn 10% of each purchase as their commission; many rely on this income source as there are no unemployment benefits or old age or disability pensions provided in Vietnam.
Lotto is a beloved tradition in Vietnam, with players selecting numbers from a selection of six from which they draw one to six from. Winners could receive millions in reward, while many locals use this activity as a form of relaxation or socialization with others. You’re likely to encounter lottery games on most market corners or street corners across Vietnam!
Every night in Hanoi’s streets are alive with grunts of resignation and triumphant fist pumps during nightly lottery draws. Thirteen-year-old Pham Quang Huy dashes past crowds gathered to watch, clutching a notepad on which he has written down the top prize number on it.
Huy witnessed his mother sell lottery tickets in Thanh Hoa province as a child and has become one himself, earning around VND132,000-165,000 per day if all his tickets sell. Part of this earnings are sent back home while another portion goes toward supporting younger siblings.
Though many Vietnamese enjoy playing the lottery, some are concerned about its effects on society. Gambling-related games have the potential to lead to addiction and bankruptcy while disrupting family life and relationships. Therefore, the government has implemented several new rules and regulations designed to safeguard citizens against gambling-related harms. These new regulations require people to be aged 18 or over before purchasing lottery tickets, retailers to verify customer identities before selling tickets to customers and educate customers on gambling-related risks as well as limit sales to just one ticket per person per transaction starting January 1. These measures will come into force beginning January 1, 2019.
