VietNamNet Bridge - Winning the lottery but later returning to a thatch hut is the tragedy that befalls many people who suddenly were “hit” with a pile of cash.

Realising the way of this world after winning the raffle

Hinh is now penniless.

Tran Duc Hinh, 27, was born in Go Quao district, Kien Giang province in 1987. His parents were divorced and the he lived with his father.

In April 2009, he spent his last VND5,000 banknote ($0.3) to buy a lottery ticket. That evening, he won the special prize of VND125 million (over $6,000).

Having a large amount of money in hand, the worker quit his job in HCM City to do nothing.

Hinh piled up his old clothes and burnt them. He rented a spacious house in the center of Binh Thanh district and bought a luxury scooter. When night fell, he went to bars and discotheques in the city.

At the same time, Hinh was acquainted with a illegal betting service provide and they accepted him as the adoptive father. Every day he spent millions of dong (tens of US dollars) to bet on the last two numbers of the first lottery prize and to buy lottery tickets. He also gambled and got involved in football betting. He spent to the last penny and borrowed from usury. He lost everything and all of his “friends”.

Farmer loses everything

Mr. Nam man used to be one of the richest men in Can Giuoc district in the southern province of Long An, thanks to winning the lottery’s special prizes twice.

Nam won the lottery for the first time in 2009. From starting as a poor farmer, he became the owner of a big bonsai garden and a big house. However, he lost all of the assets within a short period of time, after his trips to flesh-pots in Saigon.

But he once again hit the jackpot and became a rich man. However, once again he lost everything after over one year. At present, he lives in a tent and works for a pig farm in Long Khanh district in Dong Nai province, with a huge debt.

Couple’s children take lottery winnings

Mr. Luu is sad for the broken family after winning lottery.

A poor couple of over 60 years old in Can Giuoc district, Long An province had never dared to think that one day they would become millionaires until one day in June, when the husband named Luu bought several lottery tickets and hit the jackpots worth over VND2 billion ($100,000).

However, the godsend was the source of misfortune for this family. After winning the lottery, the couple and their seven children met to discuss how to use the money. The children competed for the bigger share. After sharing the money, they spent it on luxury motorcycles and jewelry rather than investing in business.

The old couple, after building a house, deposited several hundred million dong at bank as savings but the savings were gradually bled dry by their children. When they were out of money, their children did not come to visit them anymore.

Lottery destroys uncle, nephew relationship  

Mr. Tuan cannot claim back the lottery tickets from his nephew.

In 2011, Mr. Tuan in HCM City bought four lottery tickets. He gave the tickets to his nephew. After knowing that four lottery tickets won the jackpot, his nephew Minh did not return the lottery tickets to his uncle. Tuan brought the case to court but he did not have any proof to take back the lottery tickets.

The nephew bought a piece of land to build a spacious house next to the house of his uncle.

Going insolvent after winning the lottery

A man named Tam in Tan Tru District, Long An province suddenly become a billionaire after buying 42 lottery tickets and won the special prizes in 1991. With VND2.2 billion ($150,000), Tam was the richest man in Tan Tru at that time.

Tam opened a cafe of up to 5,000 m2 and recruited beautiful girls as waitresses. Some time later, he established a transportation company with 10 ferries, three trucks and two excavators. Without education and experience in running business, he suffered losses.

With a lot of money from somewhere, the man also became a player. He lost everything and carried a huge debt of VND17 billion. The man had to flee to avoid debtors.

Tam’s story is still remembered by locals as a big lesson in life.

My Lan