Digital Finance Day opens in downtown Ho Chi Minh City

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Pham Duc An, vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha, along with foreign consuls, officials, and business leaders.

Expanding access to modern financial services

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Le The Chu, Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, said the transition from the Cashless Day initiative to Digital Finance Day represents far more than a change in name.

It marks a new stage to build a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem serving both citizens and businesses, he said.

He recalled that seven years ago, Tuoi Tre, together with the central bank and its partners, launched the Cashless Day program in an effort to bring modern payment methods closer to consumers and encourage a gradual shift away from cash transactions.

“At that time, digital payments were still unfamiliar to many people.

“Many were hesitant to make their first electronic transactions. Our biggest concern was finding ways to help people overcome that hesitation and gain access to safer, more convenient payment methods,” Chu said.

Over the past seven years, the initiative has evolved from a communications campaign into a nationwide social movement.

Activities such as financial seminars, cross-country cashless roadshows, cashless markets, promotional campaigns, and digital payment festivals have enabled millions of Vietnamese consumers to experience modern payment solutions, he noted.

The scale of participation has expanded steadily.

The first Cashless Town festival in 2023 attracted more than 50,000 visitors.

Attendance nearly doubled to around 100,000 people in 2024 and surpassed 120,000 in 2025.

He said that the figures reflected not only the event’s growing popularity but also significant changes in public attitudes and behavior toward digital payments.

He underscored that the initiative has contributed substantially to the implementation of Vietnam’s national cashless payment development strategy while laying the foundation for the country’s broader digital economy and digital finance ambitions.

New phase for digital finance

The change to the Digital Finance Day comes as Vietnam advances major national policies, including Resolution 57, Resolution 68, and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy for the 2026-30 period.

The strategy aims to build a modern, secure, and inclusive financial ecosystem that provides equal access to financial products and services regardless of location or occupation.

“This vision seeks to give every household business better tools to expand operations, every worker greater opportunities to manage personal finances effectively, and every enterprise stronger capabilities to participate in the digital economy,” Chu said.

He emphasized that smart payment technologies are creating new opportunities for modern consumption, e-commerce, tourism, services, private-sector growth, and innovation.

Also, digital finance is becoming a critical pillar of the digital economy, while financial inclusion is increasingly recognized as a key indicator of sustainable development.

To support these goals, the Digital Finance Day 2026 was designed to offer a diverse lineup of activities tailored to different segments of society.

Highlights include the ‘Upgrade QR Codes – Unlock Multiple Utilities’ campaign for merchants and small businesses, the ‘Financial Arena’ game show targeting younger audiences, hands-on fintech experiences, smart payment demonstrations, and cross-border payment showcases.

The event also features workshops on personal finance management, digital financial security, and fraud prevention, as well as the ‘Smart Payments in the Digital Era’ seminar, where policymakers, firms, and consumers can discuss the future of digital finance in Vietnam.

“Through these activities, the organizers expect to bring digital finance closer to the community, enabling people not only to experience new technologies but also to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become proactive, safe, and financially savvy digital citizens,” Chu said.

Strong public interest in Digital Financial Day

Crowds grew steadily as the opening ceremony approached, with many visitors arriving early to explore technology booths, learn about promotional offers, and experience emerging payment solutions.

Across the exhibition area, representatives from banks, fintech companies, and tech firms worked to finalize installations, test demonstration systems, and prepare gifts and interactive activities for visitors.

Nhat Linh, a Ho Chi Minh City resident, shared that she had learned about the event through media coverage and while passing the venue in recent days.

“After my morning run, I decided to stop by and see what the event had to offer.

“The booths are beautifully designed, and there are plenty of interactive activities. It’s quite exciting. I’ll probably return this evening,” Linh said.

Many visitors had registered for promotional programs before the event began.

One of the most popular attractions during the morning was the HDBank booth, where visitors expressed particular interest in the AI Future PhotoBooth experience.

H. Thuy An, 27, said the integration of AI into interactive experiences had made her particularly excited, and she planned to return in the afternoon with her family to take part in the activities.

During this year’s event, HDBank is treating visitors to financial advisory services, AI-powered technology, and hands-on interactive experiences, said a representative of the bank.

Visitors have the opportunities to have their photos taken and see AI-generated predictions of what they may look like in five, 10, or 15 years.

Meanwhile, VietinBank unveiled a modern exhibition space designed to make digital finance solutions more accessible and engaging.

The bank showcased the latest version of its VietinBank iPay 6.0 mobile banking platform, featuring a redesigned interface and enhanced personalization capabilities.

Visitors were also introduced to QR payment solutions for individuals, merchants, and businesses.

Various digital payment experiences await visitors

A representative of VP Bank told Tuoi Tre ahead of the opening ceremony that the bank has brought its ‘Prosperity Boulevard’ to the Digital Finance Day 2026, one of the largest exhibition spaces at the event.

The fully digitized visitor journey enables guests to participate in interactive games, collect reward points, and earn opportunities to win tickets to an evening e-concert featuring leading Vietnamese artists.

Nearby, MoMo is introducing its expanded travel ecosystem through a series of interactive activities demonstrating services such as eSIM purchases, exchange-rate checks, and airline ticket bookings.

The company is also offering a photobooth experience for younger visitors and educational quizzes focused on digital fraud prevention.

Following the opening ceremony, officials, financial institutions, and firms toured the event’s technology exhibition areas.

At the NAPAS booth, a representative introduced several cutting-edge payment solutions, including Tap to Phone technology, which enables smartphones to function as payment acceptance devices without requiring dedicated point-of-sale terminals.

NAPAS also demonstrated biometric palm-payment technology, which allows users to complete transactions using palm recognition.

The technology reduces dependence on physical devices, shortens transaction times, and enhances user convenience.

The company further highlighted ongoing efforts to expand cross-border payment connectivity to meet growing international transaction demand.

Organized by Tuoi Tre in collaboration with the Payment Systems Department under the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), the Digital Finance Day was designed as an open, creative, and inclusive platform serving a broad range of audiences.