Job Discussion Forums

[clayrview]

A couple weeks ago in Ben Thanh area, I saw a strange thing. A 100 dollar American bill (most probably fake of course) sitting in the gutter, and on the sidewalk a bunch of men sitting in chairs hanging out.

Then walking by my work, I noticed the same thing, more than once- 100 dollar bills in the gutter, and men sitting on the sidewalk nearby.

So walking along Nguyen Van Cu street yesterday, and I saw the strangest thing. The bills in the gutter, and then a man in full army gear burning American money in a little pile.

I am certain this is some kind of scam- my boyfriend tried to ask the men in the chairs about the money on the ground and they got very excited, but we couldn't understand what they were saying.

Any ideas??

[Buffalo Boy]

That's fake money they burn as offerings to their ancestors.

[Bold As Love]

Saw a few bills scattered on the ground near the toll booth at PMH today. They sure do look real when just a casual glance. I can confirm that this is fake money being offered to ancestors to help them in the next life. Not sure when these are made, but think the anniversary of the death. I know Chinese also have a certain time of year when they sweep the ancestor's graves and burn money and paper Mercedes. It used to stink up Singapore for a couple of days every year when i lived there.

[epicbest]

burning money to ancestors is, it is believed, sends that money to the afterlife where it can be used to buy stuff. every Vietnamese person has a shrine in their homes dedicated to a deceased relative. At certain time of year (this being one of them) the Vietnamese offer food and burn the money.

burning bills similar to US dollars however, implies that the Vietnamese believe that the dollar is accepted even in the most unlikeliest of places.

[Buffalo Boy]

The burning US dollars thing is pretty normal, but I noticed that there did seem to be a bit of funny money floating aroundSaigon over the Summer. A colleague of mine got passed a fake 10,000VND note as change and didn't notice it until he tried to spend it later. At the start of one of my classes a student was passing around a plasticy looking 500,000VND note. I asked if it was a burning-for-the-ancestors one and he said it was an actual counterfeit made in China. Then I went to a sandwich shop at a big hotel and the staff refused to accept a 100,000VND note. I asked why and they said it was "too old" and giggled in the way people do here when you've done something embarrassing but they don't want to say so.

[Andy123]

We burned a couple million dollars at our house yesterday. It is widely done throughout Asia. In the after life, you need to buy food, housing and land.

Most Vietnamese are not religious and the official stats reflect approx 11% are Buddhist. Ancestor worship is deeply ingrained in Viet culture and is widely practiced.

On the lighter side, most practice these rituals to "cover" all their bases, just in case. I think it is a great idea. Who knows?

[clayrview]

surely they won't accept fake bills in the next life either....
Sort of a depressing thought this all is... slave to the almighty dollar in this life, and the next.

[Bold As Love]

Clayr, a BMW or Mercedes holds its value in any environment. Don't send cash, send me the Beemer and maybe a credit card to buy fuel. In Singers, they also burn paper houses, appliances, etc.

[AmanJivan]

In Taiwan some years ago the president of the country, in an attempt to reduce the pollution levels from money burning for ancestors, suggested it was better to burn a face credit card.

locals showed zero interest in the initiative

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

HCMC should open a Western Union for the AfterLife. That would take care of the extra pollution from the burning of dolla billz...