Crypto vs Gold: How Minh Navigated Vietnam’s Inflation Crisis
When inflation began rising sharply in Vietnam, Minh faced a decision many Vietnamese investors now know well: crypto vs gold — which asset could truly protect his savings?
Minh, a 34-year-old office worker in Ho Chi Minh City, had been saving diligently for years. He watched the headlines as food prices climbed and the value of the Vietnamese dong seemed to lose ground. The memory of his parents storing gold bars at home during past economic slowdowns was still fresh in his mind. But this time, there was something new on the table: crypto.
Minh wasn’t chasing overnight wealth. What he wanted was simple — safety.
First Investment: Following Tradition with Gold
Minh’s first step was to visit a local gold shop. The process felt familiar and safe. He purchased a small gold bar, just as his family had done in the past. The staff offered clear pricing, and the transaction was fast.
“It was straightforward,” Minh recalled later. “I could see the gold in my hand. I could bring it home.”
For Minh, gold felt reliable, especially in times of uncertainty. In Vietnam, gold has long been treated as a trusted store of value, particularly when inflation rises or the local currency weakens.
But as he followed financial news and spoke with friends, Minh began hearing more about the potential of cryptocurrency as a modern alternative to gold.
Source by: Singapore Bullion Market Association
Exploring Crypto: Curiosity Meets Complexity
Minh’s colleagues talked about Bitcoin and stablecoins as potential hedges against inflation. Curious, Minh created an account on a local crypto exchange and began learning about digital wallets and security steps.
Unlike buying gold, crypto felt less tangible and more complex. The learning curve was steep, but the idea of having a mobile, fast, and borderless asset intrigued him.
Minh started small, buying a modest amount of Bitcoin and Ethereum. He appreciated how quickly he could make purchases and the ability to track his portfolio from his phone.
“It was exciting but also a little stressful,” Minh admitted. “The prices moved so fast. Some days I checked my phone every hour.”
Minh quickly learned that while crypto was accessible, it came with risks he hadn’t faced with gold. The constant price swings, concerns about scams, and uncertainty about regulations in Vietnam kept him cautious.
Balancing the Crypto vs Gold: A Split Strategy
As Vietnam’s economic situation continued to shift, Minh chose not to bet fully on either crypto or gold. Instead, he divided his savings between the two.
Gold remained his base — a slow-moving, steady asset that his family understood and trusted. Crypto became a smaller, flexible side investment, something he approached carefully.
Minh was particularly careful to store his crypto securely. After reading about cases where investors lost access to their wallets, he took extra steps to protect his keys and avoid suspicious platforms.
He also made sure to buy crypto through exchanges that provided Vietnamese language support and worked smoothly with local bank transfers. Minh knew that in a crisis, he might need to convert assets quickly.
Lessons Learned During the Inflation Period
Throughout Vietnam’s inflation spike, Minh saw his gold holdings retain value and even appreciate slightly. His crypto portfolio, however, went through dramatic swings — some gains, some sharp losses.
“I didn’t lose everything,” Minh said, “but I realized that crypto is not as stable as gold when prices are rising and falling so fast.”
Source by: statista
Minh’s story reflects a growing pattern among Vietnamese investors. The gold vs crypto question is not always about choosing one over the other. Instead, more people are finding value in balancing both — using gold as their financial foundation and crypto as a flexible tool with potential, but also with real risks.
Minh still holds both assets today. He continues to track trends in Vietnam’s economic policies, the local gold market, and crypto regulations. What began as a simple effort to protect his savings has become an ongoing process of learning and adjustment.
For Minh, crypto vs gold was never about winning or losing — it was about preparing for uncertainty with eyes wide open. His experience highlights that in Vietnam’s evolving financial landscape, thoughtful, balanced investing may offer the safest path forward.
