French tourists receive unexpected lucky money during Vietnamese spiritual ritual

Having discovered Vietnam through videos on social media, Juliette Apollon and Egan Wolff decided to spend eight days exploring the country as part of a broader trip across Asia.

They arrived in Hanoi in late December 2025.

After visiting Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and sampling the city's famous cuisine, they spent one afternoon strolling around Truc Bach Lake.

“We happened to notice a beautiful little temple and decided to stop by. As soon as we reached the courtyard, we heard music and thought a performance was underway, so we went over to take a look,” Apollon said.

“In front of us was a vibrant scene. A woman dressed in a stunning traditional costume was performing while everyone watched attentively.”

The event that caught their attention was a 'hau dong' ritual at Thuy Trung Tien Temple, a 1,000-year-old temple on an islet in Truc Bach Lake surrounded by lush greenery.

'Hau dong' is a spirit-possession ritual practiced in the Mother Goddess religion that blends spiritual devotion with traditional folk performance, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Neither Apollon nor Wolff had ever witnessed a Vietnamese spiritual ceremony before.

“Everything was beautiful, from the temple and the costumes to the performer herself. Even without anyone explaining it, I could tell it was a deeply spiritual event,” Wolff said.

“When we came to Vietnam, we expected to see beautiful scenery and enjoy great food. We never imagined we would have the chance to experience something so unique.”

Apollon said France also has traditional dances that reflect the country's cultural identity, but they are generally not tied to spiritual or religious ceremonies.

“What impressed me most was how vibrant everything was, from the temple itself to the elaborate costumes worn during the ritual,” she said.

As the two watched the ceremony, the female medium suddenly approached the pair and handed each of them a few Vietnamese banknotes.

“At first, we didn't understand what was happening, so we politely refused because we thought the money wasn't meant for us,” Apollon recalled.

“But then someone explained that it was lucky money, traditionally given during the ritual. It was a complete surprise.”

For Wolff, receiving money from the performer was the opposite of what he would normally expect.

“Usually, we would thank the performer after watching a show. But here, not only did we get to watch the ceremony, we were also thanked by the performer. That was truly fascinating,” he said.

“Someone told me these banknotes would bring good luck. We'll definitely keep them safe and always remember this wonderful experience.”

The unexpected encounter became one of the highlights of the pair's trip to Vietnam, offering them a glimpse into one of the country's enduring cultural traditions.

According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam welcomed 12.3 million international arrivals in the first half of 2026, up 14.9 percent year on year.