“We Sold 3 Taels of Gold to Buy a Car – Now It’s Unused, and Gold Prices Have Doubled”

Below is a personal account shared by Ms. Hien (31 years old, Phu Tho)

Honestly, every time I see the news about gold prices soaring to 150 million VND per tael, it feels like someone is squeezing my chest. Earlier this year, my husband and I sold our 3 taels of wedding gold—at over 60 million VND per tael—to buy a car. Now, that gold would be worth nearly half a billion VND. Meanwhile, the car sits idle in the garage, collecting dust, with monthly parking fees still accruing.

When we sold the gold, it wasn’t out of vanity or a desire to keep up with the wealthy. We simply had a young child, and every long trip on a motorcycle felt nerve-wracking. My husband works night shifts, often in harsh weather, and I thought a car would make our lives safer and more convenient. So, we decided to sell the gold, took out a small loan, and bought a car for over 400 million VND—considering it an “investment” in our safety and future.

But life is full of surprises.

Since buying the car, expenses have piled up: maintenance, oil changes, monthly parking fees, fuel… When our income was stable, we managed to get by. But then my husband’s company downsized, leaving him temporarily unemployed. My salary was also reduced, and we struggled to make ends meet each month. The car began to gather dust, rarely used, if at all.

Looking at the car now, I don’t feel pride or joy—only a sense of burden. Every time it sits idle, I’m reminded of the 3 taels of gold we sold. I remember holding that gold in my hands, trembling with regret, but telling myself, “It’s okay, the car will make life easier later.” Little did we know, it would become a burden before we could even reap its benefits.

Selling the car now would mean a significant loss. Keeping it means more parking fees and maintenance costs each month. Meanwhile, gold prices continue to rise, almost mocking us.

Sometimes, when the news reports a sharp increase in gold prices, my husband looks down, sighing occasionally. I know he’s thinking about the gold we let go of, about the decision we once thought was right. But we can’t blame each other. We can only blame our youthful impulsiveness, risking our hard-earned savings on a single decision.