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Digital Payments and Smart Tourism Enhance International Visitor Experience in Vietnam
๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam /Technology

Digital Payments and Smart Tourism Enhance International Visitor Experience in Vietnam

From Tuแป•i Trแบป · () Vietnamese

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Vietnamese businesses are enhancing their digital payment ecosystems to better serve international tourists, reducing reliance on cash.
  • International visitors, like Liam from Australia and Chloe from the UK, seek seamless payment experiences, often finding cash or domestic QR codes more prevalent than international cards outside major hubs.
  • Both tourists and local businesses benefit from the adoption of diverse payment methods, including international cards and QR codes, improving convenience and potentially boosting sales.

Vietnam's tourism sector is actively upgrading its digital payment infrastructure to cater to the growing expectations of international visitors. As convenience becomes a crucial aspect of travel experiences, numerous Vietnamese banks and intermediary platforms are promoting cross-border digital payments. This initiative aims to make spending easier for tourists and lessen their dependence on cash.

How to pay like a Vietnamese?

โ€” LiamAn Australian tourist expressing his desire for easier payment methods in Vietnam.

International travelers often express a desire to "pay like a local." Liam, visiting Ho Chi Minh City and northern provinces from Australia, observed that while major cities and establishments accept Visa and Mastercard, many local eateries and street vendors still favor cash or domestic QR code payments. This necessitates tourists planning ahead or carrying extra cash for seamless transactions, especially when venturing beyond central areas.

Similarly, Chloe from the UK shared an anecdote about the challenges of using cash, including difficulties in recognizing Vietnamese currency denominations and ensuring vendors have enough change. She hopes for a wider adoption of modern payment methods, extending beyond urban centers into rural areas. Local businesses are also adapting, with cafe manager Nguyen Thu Thao noting lost sales opportunities before implementing international card and QR code payment options.

I am still trying to remember the Vietnamese currency denominations because there are so many zeros, so sometimes I get confused.

โ€” ChloeA British tourist describing her challenges with using Vietnamese cash.

Recognizing the trend, particularly with the peak tourist season approaching, businesses like Ms. Thao's are integrating solutions that accept international cards and QR codes directly via smartphones, eliminating the need for dedicated POS machines. This flexibility benefits both customers seeking convenient payment options and businesses aiming to serve a diverse clientele more effectively. The Vietnam National Tourism Administration and Mastercard are also collaborating to enhance these payment ecosystems.

Customers have more convenient payment options, and the store is more flexible in serving them.

โ€” Nguyen Thu ThaoA cafe manager in Hanoi explaining the benefits of adopting new payment methods.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tuแป•i Trแบป in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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