As the lunar New Year is approaches, the online market is bustling with auctions for US$2 banknotes as Tet gifts.

Members of the 5giay website last week joined an online auction for 10 US$2 banknotes.

Tuan, from HCM City, pursued the auction but wasn’t fast enough with his final bid as his computer lost its connection.

“20,000-30,000 dong for a US$2 banknote is very cheap. I need around 30 US$2 banknotes each Tet to give as presents to my friends. Last year I had to buy one $2 banknote for 50,000 dong,” Tuan said.

A small ad on 5giay offered US$2 banknotes issued in 2003, priced at 49,000 dong/banknote. The price would go down to 47,000 dong per banknote for anyone who buys at least 10 banknotes and 46,000 dong/banknotes for 20 banknotes upwards.

On the raovat website, one seller offered for sale brand-new $2 banknotes at 50,000 dong. This person explained: “According to oriental concept, number 2 is a couple and a pair so anyone who holds the $2 banknote at the New Year time would receive good luck.”

The common price for a $2 banknote is 50,000 dong but the real prices depend on the year of issue and the serial number on the banknotes. Many people also like buying $1 banknotes as Tet gifts for children. A $1 banknote is equivalent to 30,000 dong.

Do Thi Thang, who is in charge of buying US goods for Vietnamese customers on eBay, said that the demand for $2 banknotes is on the rise along with Tet coming. “In November and December 2009, we bought nearly 80 $2 banknotes from the US,” Thang said.

PV