There are five siblings in my family, four brothers and an eldest sister. My parents own about 2 hectares of rural land, where the whole family once lived in a single house. If sold, it would likely be worth around VND15 billion.
Two years ago, when my parents were already over 75, they called all of us home for a family meeting. My father said he wanted to divide the land while he was still clear-minded and in good health, to avoid complications later.
That day, each of us chimed in on the matter. My eldest sister said she already had a home and declined her share. I did the same as I already had a good career and a small family in Ho Chi Minh City. The second-oldest brother had a house but still faced financial difficulties, so he accepted 10% of the land but only if everyone else agreed.
Another brother already had a house on a small adjacent plot, so he only asked for about 10% of the land. The remainder was agreed by all of us to go to my youngest uncle and his wife, who live with our parents and care for them every day. Although we all contribute financially, acknowledging his daily care felt fair to everyone.
All the notarization, land subdivision, and ownership transfer procedures were completed the very next day. Everything went more quickly and smoothly than I had expected. Afterward, the whole family sat down to eat and chat.
Children sometimes forgo their inheritance to help their siblings. Illustration photo by Pixabay
But I still remember something my father said that day. He smiled, but his voice grew a little quieter: “After all these years of hard work, now I have nothing left.”
“If one day they (the youngest brother’s family) do not let me stay, I will just have to accept it,” he added, half joking.
Even so, I know he trusts his children. The way our parents raised us, and what we have gone through together, makes it hard to imagine any of us turning our backs on them.
Five years have passed since then and my parents still live on that land with my youngest brother and his wife. Everything remains peaceful and harmonious as we siblings visit often and support one another when needed. There has been no conflict, blame, or shirking of responsibility in caring for our parents.
I have heard people say that many parents end up struggling after handing over all their assets to their children. My family’s story is not meant to dismiss those cases, as they certainly exist. But I believe that dividing assets early is not necessarily a risk, as long as a family maintains respect, clarity, and strong bonds.
In the end, what matters is not the land or the value of the inheritance, but how each person understands responsibility and family ties. Assets can be divided, but if the bond remains, parents are not truly “left with nothing.”
*This opinion was submitted by a reader and translated into English. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.