Souvenir shops in HCM City are selling currency bills and coins with images of swine a month before the Year of the Pig begins.
Le Van Tiep, owner of an online souvenir shop in Binh Thanh District, said he has been collecting banknotes with pigs’ images since he expects high demand for them in the new year.
“Customers seek animal banknotes every year. Since a pig represents prosperity, many will buy banknotes with this animal on them.”
He has been collecting banknotes for souvenirs for five years.
Tiep holds Papua New Guinea 20-kina banknotes, which he sells for VND50,000 ($2.16) apiece. The bills were printed in 2008 to celebrate 35 years of the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
“A hog and other local features are printed on the money. This image brings luck, health and fortune.”
50-kamberra bills printed in Australia as souvenirs are sold at VND100,000 ($4.31).
Each one million US dollar banknote is sold at VND20,000 ($86 cents). “A US company printed this money as a souvenir for tourists. As the number 2019 is printed on both sides, this is a great banknote to give as lucky money.”
Lucky money is a tradition in Vietnam, which involves people giving money to others at the beginning of the Lunar Year to wish them luck and happiness.
These coins were made in Australia.
“I got a company in China to make these boxes for the coins as I expect them to be sold out this year,” Tiep said. He sells each box with two coins at VND200,000 ($8.61).
A real Macao 10-pataca bill is worth VND100,000 ($4.31). Customers can buy souvenir banknotes made in China for half that price.
A two-dollar banknote Tiep bought from the US with a certificate of authenticity. “The bill was issued with a shiny gilded pig printed on it.” It costs VND300,000-350,000 ($12.92-15.07) depending on the serial number.
Vietnamese believe that some numbers bring more luck than others.
The souvenir banknote market in Vietnam often begins to heat up two months before Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, which falls on February 5 this year.
“I’ve sold these banknotes to many customers, even those living as far away as Hanoi.”
