Li xi is the small gift of money in a red envelope that adults give to children, and sometimes to younger or junior people, during Tet. The amount is less important than the gesture: new notes, a red or gold envelope, a short new year wish, and the envelope given and received with care. For expat families, the custom matters in two directions. Your child will receive envelopes from Vietnamese adults, and you will probably want to give some yourself to children you know and to people who help your household.
This guide explains how the custom works, who usually gives to whom, how to prepare your child to receive an envelope politely, and the questions families most often ask about teachers, nannies and staff. Customs vary between families and regions, so treat this as a map of common practice rather than a set of rules, and when in doubt, watch what the Vietnamese parents around you do.
Where the custom comes from, and what it means
The word li xi comes from the Cantonese term for the same custom, and in the north of Vietnam people often say mung tuoi instead, which means something like celebrating a new year of age. In the past, everyone in Vietnam counted as a year older at Tet rather than on their own birthday, so the envelope was a way of marking that every child had grown up a little.
The red colour is associated with luck and celebration, and the new notes inside stand for a fresh start. Many families go to some trouble to get crisp, uncreased notes before the holiday, and some prefer amounts that feel lucky. Giving worn or folded notes is not a disaster, but it does look like an afterthought.
What matters most is that li xi is a blessing more than a payment. The adult is wishing the child health, growth and good fortune for the year, and the envelope carries that wish. This is why the moment of giving is accompanied by words, why the amount is not discussed, and why it would be odd to treat the envelope like a tip.
For a young child, this distinction is easy to teach through the ritual itself. The child wishes, the adult blesses, the envelope passes with both hands, and the child says thank you. Whatever is inside, the exchange is the same. Children who learn it this way tend to treat li xi as a pleasant part of visiting family rather than as a collection to count.
Who usually gives to whom
The general principle is that the older or more senior person gives to the younger or more junior one. In practice, the patterns most international families meet look like this:
| Giver | Receiver | How common it is |
|---|---|---|
| Grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends | Children in the family and children of friends | Very common; the heart of the custom |
| Parents | Their own children, on the first morning of the year | Common, often after the children wish them a good year |
| Adults visiting a home | The children of that household | Common when you visit a Vietnamese family at Tet |
| Employers | Nannies, helpers, drivers, building staff | Common, often in addition to a Tet bonus |
| Adult children who earn their own money | Their elderly parents | Common; a gesture of respect and care |
| Parents | Their children's teachers | Varies widely; depends on the school policy |
Once a young adult starts working, they usually stop receiving li xi and start giving it. There is no fixed age, and many Vietnamese relatives will still slip an envelope to a university student who is home for the holiday.
As a guest in a Vietnamese home over Tet, expect that the hosts may give envelopes to your children, and that you would normally give to theirs. Bringing a few prepared envelopes on any Tet visit avoids the awkward moment of being given something with nothing to offer in return. If you are visiting the family of a classmate, a small envelope for each child in the household, together with a gift of fruit or sweets for the family, is the usual shape of a polite visit. Elderly grandparents in the home are often given a small envelope too, by adults rather than by children, as a wish for long life.
Preparing your child to receive an envelope
Young children love li xi, but the polite way to receive it is something they need to practise. A few rehearsals at home before Tet make the real moment easier for everyone:
- Teach your child a simple new year wish, such as "chuc mung nam moi", happy new year. Older preschoolers can add a wish for health, such as "chuc ong ba manh khoe" for grandparents.
- Practise the order: the child greets and wishes first, and the adult then gives the envelope. Children rushing to take the envelope before saying anything is the classic small mistake.
- Show your child how to receive with both hands, or with the right hand supported by the left. This is a basic gesture of respect in Vietnam for anything given by an older person.
- Teach a thank-you: "cam on" for adults in general, or "con cam on" for an older relative or teacher, said with a small nod or with arms folded across the chest as many Vietnamese preschoolers are taught.
- Explain that we do not open the envelope in front of the person who gave it. Many families expect children to put it away and open it later.
- Agree in advance what happens to the money. Many parents keep most of it for the child, or let them choose one small thing to buy, which avoids arguments later.
Do not worry if your two-year-old forgets every step on the day. Vietnamese adults are used to small children who grab, giggle or hide behind a parent, and they will usually find it charming. The point of practising is to give your child the satisfaction of doing it well when they are ready.
Giving li xi yourself: practical points
Get envelopes and new notes early. Red envelopes are sold everywhere in the weeks before Tet, often decorated with the animal of the coming year. New notes can be harder to get in the last days, so plan ahead and ask your bank how it handles requests for new notes at that time of year.
Keep amounts simple and consistent. There is no official scale. What matters is that children of similar age and closeness get similar envelopes, because children compare. Ask a Vietnamese friend or colleague what is usual in your circle rather than guessing.
Say a few words as you give. A short wish turns an envelope into a blessing. "Chuc con ngoan, hoc gioi", wishing the child to be good and to do well at school, is a classic line for small children. Saying it in English with a warm smile is also perfectly fine.
Give with both hands. The same courtesy you teach your child applies to you. Passing an envelope with one hand while looking at your phone is the main thing to avoid.
Include children of people you see often. Your building guard's grandchild, your nanny's children or the children of a neighbour you greet every day will remember the gesture. It does not need to be large to be meaningful.
Teachers, nannies and staff: the delicate cases
Many families want to thank their child's teachers at Tet, and this is where you should check before acting. Some private preschools have a written policy asking parents not to give money or valuable gifts to staff, partly to protect teachers from awkwardness and partly to keep things fair between families. Others accept small envelopes or gifts at Tet as part of local custom. Ask the school office or your class teacher directly; it is a normal question and nobody will be offended.
If money is not appropriate, a card made by your child, a box of fruit or Tet sweets for the class staff room, or a short message in the parent app thanking the team are all well received. The gesture matters far more than its size.
For your nanny or helper, Tet is the most important moment of the year, and many employers in Vietnam pay a Tet bonus, often called the thirteenth-month salary, in addition to a red envelope given as a personal gesture. The bonus is a matter of your agreement and of local practice; the envelope is a blessing. If you have an agreement, check what it says. If not, ask other employers and agree the details before your helper leaves for the holiday, not after.
When customs meet: families with their own red envelope traditions
Many international families at Saigon preschools already have a red envelope custom at home. Chinese, Korean, Singaporean and Malaysian families, among others, give money at the Lunar New Year in their own way, with different words, colours and conventions. For children growing up between these traditions, Tet is a chance to notice what is shared and what is different.
Some details differ quietly. In some traditions certain numbers are avoided or favoured; in Korean practice, children bow deeply to elders before receiving, while Vietnamese children more often greet and wish with folded arms. None of these differences cause offence in a mixed classroom, where teachers are used to many customs side by side.
Families with no envelope tradition of their own sometimes worry about getting it wrong. It helps to remember that Vietnamese people generally welcome foreigners who join in, and they will not judge the amount or the envelope design. Showing interest and trying the words is far more important than precision. If you are unsure whether to give in a particular situation, a small gift of fruit or sweets is always an acceptable alternative.
Small mistakes, and how to recover gracefully
Your child asks how much is inside. Young children often do this in front of the giver. A light laugh, a quick "we will look later" and a thank-you prompt is all that is needed. Vietnamese adults have heard it many times from their own grandchildren.
You run out of envelopes. It happens to everyone during a busy visit. Saying that you will bring an envelope next time, and actually doing so, is perfectly acceptable. Keep a few spares in your bag during the holiday week.
You forget to give to a child you see often. The first weeks of the new year still count. Giving an envelope a few days late, with a new year wish, is far better than skipping it, and it is usually received with real pleasure.
Your child refuses to say the wish. Shyness is normal, especially with adults they do not know. Say the wish yourself on their behalf with a smile, and let the child simply nod or wave. Forcing a performance in front of guests usually backfires.
You give with one hand without thinking. Nobody will make a fuss. Simply use two hands the next time; people notice and appreciate the effort to adopt the custom more than any single slip.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
How much lucky money should I put in a red envelope?
There is no fixed amount, and it varies with region, family income and how close you are. Ask a Vietnamese friend what is usual in your circle, keep amounts consistent for children of similar age, and use new notes. The gesture matters more than the sum.
Should my child open the red envelope straight away?
It is usually more polite to wait. Many Vietnamese families teach children to thank the giver, put the envelope away and open it later at home. Opening it on the spot and commenting on the amount can feel awkward for the adult.
Can I give li xi to my child's teacher?
It depends on the school. Some private preschools ask parents not to give money to staff, while others accept small Tet envelopes. Ask the school office first, and if money is not appropriate, a card made by your child or a box of sweets is a warm alternative.
Is a Tet bonus for my nanny the same as giving li xi?
Not quite. A Tet bonus, often a thirteenth month of pay, is part of the employment arrangement and should follow your agreement. A red envelope is a personal blessing on top of it. Many employers give both, and agree the details before the holiday starts.
What should my child say when receiving lucky money?
A simple new year wish before receiving, such as chuc mung nam moi, and a thank-you after, such as cam on or con cam on for an older relative. Receiving with both hands completes the gesture. Toddlers who simply smile are forgiven.
Do Vietnamese families give li xi only at Tet?
Red envelopes are most strongly linked with Tet, but money in an envelope is also given at weddings, at a baby's first month or first birthday and on other family occasions. The Tet envelope is the one children grow up expecting and remember most.