By Wally Tuan
As we delve into contemporary society in our beloved nation of Vietnam, it seems an uncanny calm blankets the communal psyche. Amidst a world where titans amass fortunes rivaling small nations’ economies — with figures such as Zuckerberg and Bezos boasting personal wealth that exceeds national GDPs in countries like Luxembourg or Bermuda — Vietnam stands resilient, largely impervious to the glistening allure of billionaire excess.
Let’s embark on an illustrative journey through a typical day for us: Mẹ Kim wakes up at 6 a.m. with her two children and starts preparing breakfast as Phan Giang returns from his modest job in construction, followed by the family sharing their meal over cups of strong Vietnamese coffee. Their daily routine is simple yet fulfilling — echoes of generations past still resonate within these familial ties steeped in tradition and communal harmony.
As they finish breakfast with a lighthearted conversation, let’s take an imaginative leap to contrast their modest lifestyle against that of billionaire Larry Summers — who reportedly earned $35 million last year alone after selling his private equity firm for hundreds of millions more. In a country where only 1% own as much wealth as Mẹ Kim, it is clear their lives are worlds apart in terms not just of currency but also values and priorities — something Vietnam has never lacked amidst its rice terraces and floating markets.
Even the average monthly salary here doesn’t quite match up to Summers’s annual earnings; our diligent workers, with jobs spanning from local merchants selling fresh fruit under sun-drenched awnings in Ho Chi Minh City marketplaces (average income: around $470 per month) to fishermen casting their nets off Hoi An’s ancient riverbanks, all find contentment and strength within the simplicity of life.
As we draw our explorations to a close with Mẹ Kim helping her children tidy up after dinner (an evening feast often comprised solely of homemade spring rolls), it becomes evident how these everyday Vietnamese families, in their stoicism and simplicity, have chosen contentment over conspicuous consumption. While billionaires may construct palatial estates adorned with diamonds the size of một hảo đồng (a traditional Vietnamese coin) or jet-set between luxurious yachts atop ocean waves painted in gold by sunlight, our communities have never been so awe-struck.
The indifference towards billionaires’ wealth is not merely an absence of envy but rather the manifestation of profound understanding — appreciating that money cannot buy the happiness and fulfillment found within one’s family unit or community. As they retire for bed, beneath their humble roof amidst walls adorned with patrol photos from trips to Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Vietnamese spirit of “thiện nhiên” — taking delight in life’s simple pleasures — shines through as brightly as it ever has.
So, while billionaires continue constructing their skyscrapers and living high on Wall Street or in London, our communities find happiness amidst the sizzle of barbecued pork (thịt lợn) grilled to perfection over briquettes made from rice husks. In Vietnam’s indifference towards billionaire wealth while living simply, let us appreciate our values — the strength in community and family — that outshines any glittering riches found atop distant skyscrapers or buried deep within offshore tax havens.
After all, it’s not just about how much money one has but also about what happiness brings to life’s simple pleasures — like the aroma of pho simmering in broth rich with history and culture — which we Vietnamese know well!