Mid-June witnessed the launch of the ‘Cashless Payment Streets 2022’ programme under which digital payments are recommended at food establishments, shops and entertainment venues along the streets of Nguyen Van Linh and Tran Van Tru in Hai Chau District.

Customers experience cashless service payment services at a shop located on Nguyen Van Linh Street - a cashless shopping street in Hai Chau District. Photo: DIEP NHU

The debut of the 2 above-mentioned Cashless Payment Streets aims to call on local consumers to use modern and convenient payment methods to make their transaction run smoothly.

Vice Chairman of Hai Chau District People's Committee Phan Thi Thang Loi said that, towards the implementation of the digital transformation plan in the current period, Hai Chau District, in coordination with the Viet Nam E-commerce Association (VECOM), the MoMo Wallet and the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB Bank) has kicked off the cashless shopping programme at the 2 aforementioned downtown streets with a bustling trading ambiance.

Initially, the programme is being piloting at companies, agencies, establishments and family-run businesses active in the food and beverage, consumer goods, fashion, handicrafts, food services and telecommunications sectors.

Accordingly, city dwellers and business establishments can directly experience the incentive programme from credit institutions, payment intermediaries, retailers and service providers.

Actual records on these two streets show that customers as well as businesses are quite excited to use cashless payment services.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, an employee of NEM Fashion Store located on Nguyen Van Linh Street said, “In the past, most people when shopping often pay in cash for goods they bought as the long-lasting traditional habit of shopping. However, at present, the trend of payment being conducted via points of sale, scanning QR codes or online money transfer is thriving, especially when the so-called recently-opened Cashless Payment Streets have been highly appreciated by both local residents and tourists. I think that the form of cashless payment will help ensure more civilised and modern consumption”.

The De Ante café, located on Tran Van Tru Street, every day, serves a large number of customers for enjoy drinks and relaxing moments. Mr. Le Chi, a 35-year-old regulart customer, said, “I am very supportive of making payments via mobile applications or by credit cards because it is more convenient than in cash. It's unsafe for you to shop at many places with a lot of cash”.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong, Director of the Da Nang branch of MB Bank informed that, up to now, about 200,000 people in Da Nang have opened accounts via the bank's applications. “We will continue to open payment codes and accounts for people so that they can find it easy and convenient to make cashless payments for their purchases along Nguyen Van Linh and Tran Van Tru streets. In the coming time, we will expand out this service into many other districts in a bid to promote the city’s cashless payment programme".

Hai Chau District eyes to reach a target that over 80% of the total service businesses on the 2 above-mentioned streets will join digital transactions with shoppers and customers via electronic devices, instead of in cash.

The programme is expected to carry its mission in building a digital society and digital economy in Hai Chau District, and Da Nang at large.

Reporting by DIEP NHU - Translating by A.THU