With just an internet-connected smartphone, a customer can complete transactions in seconds with a few touches. — VNA/VNS Photos Trần Việt

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Digital Payment Day 2026 organising board has officially announced a series of activities to take place this year in celebration of the day under the theme Chạm Số - Sống Xanh (Digital Touch – Green Living).  

In changing its name from Việt Nam Card Day, this year's activities mark a transition to a broader programme, reflecting the rapid growth of cashless payment methods and the country's digital service ecosystem, according to the organising board's announcement on October 8. 

This is the event's sixth season, co-organised by Tiền Phong (Pioneer) newspaper and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), under the content direction of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Market shift

Organisers said the name change reflects the market's shift from physical card payments to many new methods such as QR codes, tap-to-pay, e-wallets, mobile payments and biometrics.

Speaking at a press conference, Phạm Anh Tuấn, director of the SBV's Payment Department, said that expanding the scope and renaming the event to Việt Nam Digital Payment Day represents an inevitable step, given how digital transformation is profoundly reshaping the way people access financial services.

Small traders in traditional markets are also shifting to cashless payment methods to offer convenience to customers and make revenue management easier.

According to Tuấn, the digital payment market is entering a new stage of development, moving beyond changing users' habits to focus on optimising their experience and ensuring sustainable development. Alongside this growth in scale, safety and security remain top priorities for the SBV.

Phùng Công Sưởng, editor-in-chief of Tiền Phong and co-head of the organising committee, noted that after five editions of Việt Nam Card Day, payment cards are no longer the only digital payment method; consumers can now pay bills via QR codes, settle taxes on their phones or shop abroad with just a single scan.

Sưởng said as digital payments become an integral part of daily life, the focus shifts beyond mere convenience to the broader value that each digital transaction can generate.

This is precisely why this year’s programme has adopted the theme 'Digital Touch – Green Living'.

He cites examples such as using an electronic invoice instead of paper, a QR code instead of cash – which requires printing, transport and counting – or completing a procedure on a mobile phone rather than making a trip and waiting in line. When millions of people make these small choices daily, the cumulative impact on the environment and society can be significant.

“We want young people to find that green living is not something far-fetched – it can start right with the phone in their hands,” said Sưởng.

Digital payments and safety

Aside from their convenience and environmental friendliness, Sưởng stressed that digital payments must go hand-in-hand with security.

"This year's programme gives special attention to protecting users, particularly the elderly and those new to digital banking, aiming to ensure that no one is left behind during the digital transformation process," he said.

Tiền Phong newspaper continues to partner with the SBV and relevant entities, contributing to the implementation of the comprehensive national financial strategy and the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW regarding the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.

The 'Digital Touch – Green Living' message aims for more than just the convenience of electronic transactions. Organisers hope that choices such as e-invoices, QR payments or completing procedures via mobile phones will help reduce paper and cash use, as well as unnecessary trips. When carried out on a large scale, these shifts in payment habits can generate a positive environmental impact.

Notably, this year’s programme expands its scope beyond the banking sector to the general public and businesses, with a particular emphasis on young people and young families that already demonstrate high levels of engagement with QR codes, mobile payments and digital services.

However, as digitalisation accelerates, the requirements for user protection are also becoming clearer. The organising board said the programme pays special attention to the elderly and those new to digital banking, with the goal of ensuring that the process of expanding digital payments does not create further gaps in access to financial services.

Digital payments closer to daily transactions

A highlight of Việt Nam Digital Payment Day is the Mega Sale 2026 Campaign, launched to integrate digital payments into everyday transactions through a range of incentives across the banking, e-commerce, retail, dining and entertainment sectors.

The programme plans two main categories of offers. For NAPAS domestic cards, participating banks – including ACB, OCB, Sacombank, Agribank, VietCredit and TPBank – are providing various benefits such as cashback, cash gifts and incentives for linking cards to e-wallets. The second category applies to payments made via VietQRPay or VietQRGlobal, featuring discount programmes from Vinpearl and Sun Group. Most offers remain valid until the end of 2026, while Agribank’s programme extends to April 30, 2027.

Cross-border payments are also among the focus of the programme. At the press conference, attendees experienced a QR code payment process for travelling abroad. Meanwhile, Vietcombank rolled out a travel campaign titled Có Vietcombank - Cùng Xê Dịch, Chạm Kỳ Quan (With Vietcombank – Travel, Touch Wonders), which includes cross-border QR payment offers via Alipay+ across 60 countries, enabling customers to use the VCB Digibank app for shopping, dining and travelling abroad without the need to exchange cash.

Đoàn Hồng Nhung, a member of the Executive Board and head of the Retail Banking Division at Vietcombank, said that the bank is working on payment solutions that are faster, more convenient, safer and greener, while simultaneously expanding connectivity with transportation, retail, tourism and ecosystems both domestically and internationally.

As part of the programme, a seminar titled 'Smart Connectivity: Building a Digital Ecosystem' will be held on October 14 in Hà Nội, focusing on developing the digital payment ecosystem, no-border connection and seamless protection. Discussions will cover topics such as integrating payments with sectors like healthcare, electricity, telecommunications, taxation, education and public services; cross-border payments; and detection of anomalous transactions, fraud prevention and user protection.

In addition, the programme includes a seminar for students on October 12 at the Banking Academy and the Sóng Festival on October 24 and 25 at the Trần Nhân Tông Walking Street in Hà Nội. At the Sóng Festival, all transactions at the booths will be conducted via digital payment methods such as cards, QR codes, e-wallets and biometrics, with the event bringing together nearly 70 booths representing 28 commercial banks, financial intermediaries and businesses. — VNS