ETC toll station on the Trung Lương - Mỹ Thuận expressway. VNA/VNS Photo

From October 1, the decree on electronic payments for road traffic officially came into effect. In light of this development, the Voice of Việt Nam's traffic information channel spoke with Tô Nam Toàn, head of the Science, Technology and International Cooperation Department at the Vietnam Road Administration under the Ministry of Transport about the benefits the public might expect from this new system.

What advantages will citizens and road users gain from the introduction of electronic payment solutions for road traffic?

Previously, toll collection accounts were restricted to a single function – collecting road usage fees. Now, with the introduction of traffic accounts linked to cashless payment methods, citizens can use these accounts for multiple purposes. In addition to road use fees, they can also be used to cover charges for airport parking and urban parking facilities. Looking ahead, these accounts may even facilitate payments for vehicle registration fees.

In the past, toll accounts could only be reloaded and offered no option for withdrawal or diverse usage. With the new cashless payment integration, users can now deposit, withdraw, and make payments across a range of services. This shift aims to improve digital payment solutions, particularly cashless transactions, in line with banking regulations.

What steps or processes do citizens need to follow in order to take advantage of the policies and benefits you mentioned?

To make this transition, citizens must collaborate with service providers to convert their existing toll accounts into traffic accounts linked to cashless payment methods.

Service providers are gradually introducing these options. For instance, Việt Nam Electronic Toll Collection (VETC) Company offers a cashless payment solution through its VETC wallet, while Việt Nam Digital Transport Joint Stock Company (VDTC) has the Viettel Pay wallet available. Vehicle owners only need to register for these wallets to smoothly transition from traditional toll accounts to those that support cashless payments.

What challenges do you think could arise during the implementation of electronic payments for transportation?

As the decree on electronic payments for road traffic took effect on October 1, 2024, payment service providers must upgrade their systems to facilitate road users' transition from the current toll accounts, established under Decision 19, to traffic accounts that support cashless payment methods.

Vehicle owners will need to collaborate with these service providers to convert their existing toll accounts into traffic accounts designed for cashless payments.

To ensure the effective implementation of this decree, the Ministry of Transport must establish a comprehensive electronic payment management database. Addressing these three priorities promptly is essential for a smooth transition.

What measures does the Vietnam Road Administration plan to implement to assist service providers and road users ?

The Vietnam Road Administration will work with service providers to conduct extensive outreach, educating vehicle owners, including individuals, businesses and Government agencies about the steps necessary to transition from toll accounts to traffic accounts linked to cashless payment methods.

Additionally, the agency will provide guidance and support to service providers in upgrading their systems and implementing the new traffic account management framework, facilitating connections with cashless payment options. — VNS