Vietnamese lottery '5.8 billion jackpot' winner is South Korean, a record for foreigners

A South Korean living in Vietnam has hit the jackpot, winning approximately 5.8 billion won (US$5.79 million) from the Vietnamese state lottery. This monumental win sets a new record for the largest lottery prize ever claimed by a foreigner in Vietnam.

The winner, who works for a foreign-invested company in Bac Ninh province, purchased the winning ticket at a lottery retailer on Nguyen Dang Dao Street in the same province. According to Vietlott, the state-run lottery company, the individual had been a consistent player for about five years, purchasing 20-30 tickets twice a week. On occasions with larger accumulated jackpots, the winner reportedly bought up to 50 tickets.

The previous record for the highest lottery payout to a foreigner in Vietnam was 32.6 billion dong (approximately US$1.83 million), a prize also won by a South Korean national. To maintain anonymity, the winner was pictured wearing a black hoodie, mask, and sunglasses.

Under Vietnamese tax law, lottery winnings exceeding 20 million dong (approximately US$1,100) are subject to a 10% income tax. Consequently, the South Korean winner is expected to pay around 1.03 billion dong (approximately US$580,000) in taxes, with the remaining amount being the net payout.