Tet in the digital age: Smartphones replace red envelopes 

THE HANOI TIMES — The familiar rustle of red envelopes is no longer the sole soundtrack of Tet (Lunar New Year) as the soft “ting” of smartphone notifications increasingly marks the giving of lucky money, with digital transfers steadily gaining ground over the time-honored tradition.

As technology reshapes daily life, it is also transforming how Vietnamese families celebrate the Lunar New Year. Once defined by crisp new bills slipped into scarlet envelopes, the ritual of wishing prosperity and good fortune is now often carried out through e-wallets and banking apps, reflecting a holiday tradition adapting to the digital age.

Platforms such as MoMo, ZaloPay, Viettel Money, ShopeePay and digital banking applications all integrate the e-lucky money giving function.

With the online lucky money feature, e-wallets are helping promote digital transformation for a very meaningful customer during the traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday, allowing good wishes to spread without the limitations of time and distance.

Alongside traditional bank transfers for a prosperous New Year, intermediary money transfer applications like e-wallets have added cheerful music and witty, self-composed greetings, making the giving of lucky money more exciting and auspicious.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, who often spends Tet in her husband’s hometown in the northern province of Phu Tho, said digital lucky money has become her preferred option as she cannot return to Hanoi on the first day of the lunar year to meet all her nieces and nephews.

“With just a few taps, I can send money and New Year wishes anywhere. It’s quick and convenient, without the need to prepare envelopes or new banknotes,” she told The Hanoi Times.

For many young people, the practice offers a modern way to extend greetings. Truong Ngoc Hanh, a third-year student at FPT University in Hanoi, said online transfers still convey warmth when accompanied by sincere messages, as recipients often respond immediately.

For those living abroad, digital lucky money also bridges distance. Nguyen Viet Phuong, a doctoral researcher in the Netherlands, shared with The Hanoi Time that sending online gifts to his parents alongside New Year video calls helps him feel closer to home, despite being thousands of kilometers away.

Preserving Tet’s spirit in the digital age

Despite its convenience, digital lucky money has sparked concern among older generations, who view Tet as a time for face-to-face greetings rather than simple money transfers.

Nguyen Thi Bao, 65, from Hanoi, said lucky money was once inseparable from family reunions. “Messages alone feel incomplete,” she said, adding that she still prepares traditional red envelopes to give her grandchildren in person.

For many, the ritual’s meaning lies in direct exchanges - the bows, smiles and shared laughter -  moments that can be lost when reduced to a brief transaction on a screen.

Nguyen Hung Vi, a folklorist cum former lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi, noted that when a tradition is digitized, the greatest risk is not the change in form but the gradual loss of its original meaning. If lucky money becomes merely a financial transaction, Tet’s spiritual value may be diminished.

"However, change is an inevitable part of social development. Just as handwritten letters gave way to text messages and traditional markets to online shopping, digital lucky money reflects the adaptability of Vietnamese culture," Vi told The Hanoi Times.

He emphasized that tradition is not static and only disappears when people no longer understand or cherish its significance.

Recognizing this, many e-wallet providers are incorporating traditional Tet elements into digital envelopes through spring-themed designs, poetic greetings and even simulated opening sounds to evoke familiar festive emotions.

Nguyen Ba Diep, Vice President of MoMo e-wallet, said that the "Create QR Code with AI Image" feature of MoMo allows users to create and personalize red envelope QR codes from their own portraits, customizing the name and message.

Diep cited his company’s statistics as saying that Vietnamese users have sent more than 150 million digital lucky money envelopes during Tet 2026, double the figure recorded a year earlier.

“Beyond simple transfers, the envelopes are customized with zodiac mascots, animated cards and festive messages, creating a distinct Tet atmosphere in the digital space,” he said.

"I believe that in the future, online lucky money will be crucial in fostering connection and interaction, expressing the giver's sincerity and showing affection and care for family and friends anywhere during the Lunar New Year," Diep talked to The Hanoi Times.

Tet may change in form, but the spirit of exchanging blessings endures. A digital envelope sent with sincerity can still carry the warmth of a New Year handshake. In the rhythm of an increasingly digital life, the soul of Tet remains intact, whether held in one’s hands or appearing on a smartphone screen.

Digitalization is making family communication more convenient and flexible than ever. Family group chats become particularly active during Tet, as members share daily updates, festive greetings and digital lucky money through popular platforms.

People can easily send AI greeting cards and transform their personal ideas into meaningful wishes and images, making sending New Year's greetings to family and friends more unique and heartfelt.