Vietnamese parents' rising spending on children's experiences and overseas education

Parents in Vietnam are increasingly investing large sums in their children's activities, from costly trips and enrichment classes to purchasing toys and digital content. Experts caution that when enjoyment is constantly bought and instantly delivered, it may foster a short‑term, consumption‑driven sense of happiness that fails to develop lasting curiosity or independence. One mother described spending tens of millions of đồng on a multi‑province tour that, after returning home, left her child quickly reverting to phone games and online spending.

At the same time, financial firms such as ABBank are responding to the long‑term financial needs of families sending children abroad to study. The bank now offers free international money transfers, aiming to reduce the cumulative fees families incur when sending tuition, living expenses, and other payments over several years of overseas education. The service is positioned as a way to make the financial side of study‑abroad smoother and more affordable for Vietnamese families.