There is no shame in expecting inheritance from parents

When I was younger, I did not care if my parents passed down their money or land to me or my two older brothers. However, as I slowly approached 30, my perspective on finances and investments changed. I have thought of inheriting my parents’ assets but did not make any demand as I believe it was their decision.

After turning 28, I started my own business, earned money, and bought land. Unexpectedly, when my parents saw my success, they decided to give me their assets to invest further. Unlike some people who insist on refusing inheritance, I welcomed their support, seeing it as recognition of my growth and a way to make them happy.

Everything in life has its rules. Giving someone more than they can handle can be detrimental, and I think my parents’ gift came at a reasonable time. They only provided assets when I was ready to manage them. With their help, instead of buying a VND2 billion (US$80,000) plot on my own, I could acquire a VND4 billion plot with greater potential. Therefore, do not overthink when it comes to accepting inheritance.

Reader Nguyen Huu Tai

Many other readers shared the same sentiment:

Reader Hoang Hanrill:

“Some argue that a head start provided by parents is unnecessary, but I think many can leverage this advantage to multiply their inheritance by a hundred times. I admire those who can earn 100 units from the 10 they inherited. On the other hand, if you only earn 10 units on your own and your parents own 10 units, the total is only 20 units. The more individuals who can create wealth, the more society can progress.”

Reader LV Khang:

“Expecting an inheritance is entirely reasonable and not inherently negative. It is natural for parents to provide for their children. Money and wealth do not always corrupt people. What matters is how they manage the money they receive. Refusing inheritance out of self-respect is fine. However, rejecting it simply out of pride or ego is meaningless. Ultimately, how parents divide assets reflects their concern for their children. It is important for parents to distribute wealth fairly and not assume that, since they started with nothing, their children must do the same.”

Reader Huy Vinh:

“In today’s society, the rich are getting richer, and having a good starting point provides access to more opportunities. Many of the world’s billionaires inherited wealth from their parents—whether it be money, connections, or influence. Although many of them choose to leave only a small portion of their wealth to their children, it is still significantly more than what the average person might receive. I agree that striking out on your own is like having a car but choosing to walk. By the time you get a bicycle, others will have already moved on to cars or even planes. It is not necessarily wrong to use your parents’ money, as long as you use it wisely. Reckless spending is shameful, but using it to advance your career and improve your family’s situation is commendable.”

Is it wrong for children to expect an inheritance from their parents?

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.