Hanoi Lotto is a highly popular gambling game in Vietnam that draws many participants from different nations. Although many Vietnamese use this pastime responsibly, Hanoi Lotto can lead to addiction and financial ruin if played irresponsibly; but lottery has also become an important way of supporting families and communities within Vietnam.
Vietnamese believe playing the lottery to bring good fortune and luck. Popularly known as Vietlott, this legal lottery game can be found throughout Vietnam’s provinces and allows participants to select six numbers between 1 and 45 in an attempt to win its jackpot prize of VND12 billion ($538,000), starting with VND1 billion and continuously rolling until there is a winner.
Lottery results are posted online, enabling players from across the country to participate. It also serves as an easy way for women who cannot leave home to work due to family responsibilities to make some extra cash at home without leaving their family obligations behind. Furthermore, many foreign tourists come specifically for this experience of Vietnamese culture and tradition.
Hanoi Lotto offers not only entertainment to foreign visitors, but is also a profitable venture for local residents selling tickets. They may earn as much as 100,000 dong (US$5-7) daily depending on how many tickets are sold; for some this provides enough of a steady income and savings for future needs.
Although lottery sales is an attractive business option, it can be challenging to sustain. Unfortunately, some sellers have even fallen into bankruptcy as a result of unsold tickets; moreover, lottery agents often refuse to buy back sold tickets from sellers after sale, making it hard for sellers to manage expenses and provide for their families.
Vietlott recently held a ceremony to present a cheque worth VND64.8 billion ($2.9 million) to one of their lucky players from Dong Nai province in southern Vietnam. Unfortunately, his identity and province of residence remained confidential at this event; only disclosed during this presentation ceremony was his ethnic group being Iu Mien who served alongside American forces during WWII before migrating later to Thailand or America.
The lottery has become an integral part of Vietnamese culture and should be seen as a legitimate source of revenue for both government and people. Furthermore, its growth has helped generate employment and social welfare initiatives for less fortunate members of society. Although not without drawbacks, lottery should be promoted as an excellent alternative source of income for those who cannot afford work or lack hope of finding employment; especially important among rural dwellers with few other employment prospects available to them. Nonetheless, in order for it to reach its true potential in Vietnam it must address certain key issues first.