displaying dollars and hidden wealth

I found it is interesting that people would display the green bills, which is dollars, to express their social power. This happened in reform-era Ho Chi Minh City. It reminds me of China in 1980s, Chinese people would exchange some dollars into their saving account. It is said that saving some dollars is the safest way to avoid currency devaluation. But, several years later, Chinese people started to buy gold and keep it at home instead of dollars. I think it is similar as Vietnam. dollars is the currency in America but the representative of the safety of personal property in Vietnam or China. Also, it is interesting that the gold shops would open until later after the other shops are closed without making itself very outstanding. Hiding their personal wealth is totally different from displaying the dollars.