On Ram Thang Bay, many families, shops and companies in HCM City worship wondering souls. This was also a money-making chance for “professional thieves of worship items”. The “robbers” are hundreds of young people and children who flock to the areas where Chinese families live (Districts 5, 6 and 8) with baskets to snatch small change. Normally, after worshipping wondering souls, small change is thrown to the road while food is delivered to passers-by.

Many people gathered at the corner of Tran Hung Dao-Phung Hung Street in District 5, preparing to “rob” small change and food delivered by a company.

In Saigon, many wealthy families, shops, and companies, particularly those run by Chinese Vietnamese, organized huge rituals for the dead, with valuable offerings. They also threw VND1,000, VND2,000 and VND10,000 banknotes to the road.

The owner of a shop in District 5, Mr. Tran Huu Thuan, prepared small change totaling VND20 million (nearly $1,000) for the worship ritual on Ram Thang Bay.

After the ritual, he threw money on the road, from the 2nd floor of the store.

Dozens of people waited with baskets to catch the money.

Traffic was partly affected by money “robbers”.