Some banks and fintech firms have taken the opportunity to promote the safety of cashless payments, especially after news that the People’s Bank of China is using ultraviolet light and high-temperature ovens to disinfect incoming cash. The bank also started replacing old notes with newly minted bills on February 4.

A customer pays her bill in Co.op Mart in HCM City with Momo.

Nguyen Ba Diep, CEO of Momo, an e-wallet with more than 12 million users, told: "Tests have shown cash harbours a wide variety of bacteria which can be transmitted by contact. The coronavirus is spread through normal contact, so cash is likely to be a risky source."

Diep quoted health experts as saying as 90 percent of people in Vietnam use cash, banknotes are sources of pathogens and pose a threat to public health.

While e–wallets like Moca and Airpay promoted the use of online payments, some banks are following suit and telling their customers to switch to online transactions while the epidemic continues.

On its Facebook page, SeABank told its customers to use electronic banking to check balances, transfer money and pay bills instead of going to the bank.

Ocean Bank told its customers to use the #EasyOceanBankMobile if they did not want to go to a branch.

Le Thi Thanh Hang, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)'s Branch in Ho Chi Minh City, told local media on February 5 that the SBV has boosted the use of non-cash payments for a long time.

She added that passing from hand to hand, the banknotes were definitely not clean, adding: “It is advisable to gradually switch to digital payment methods and e-commerce instead of direct exchange with each other using cash during an outbreak.”

According to banking experts, Vietnam, with a population of 97 million people, is a great market for fintech firms, including e-wallets, as more than 80 percent of the retail market uses cash.

Payments for electricity bills go cashless

Vietnam Electricity (EVN) will promote electricity bill payment via digital mode of transactions in 2019.

Cashless payments record strong growth

The number of non-cash payments in Vietnam has steeply risen so far this year. The information was revealed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment during a conference on the implementation of the Government’s Resolution 02/NQ-CP on improving the business climate and raising the national competitiveness.

Vietnam takes lead in global mobile payment growth

The growth of the number of people making mobile payments in stores in Vietnam is at the fastest, according to the Global Consumer Insights Survey 2019 by PwC.

Government intensifies support for non-cash payment methods

The Government has issued measures to boost non-cash payment methods in the country this year.

Experts discuss modern medical payments in Vietnam

Domestic and international experts gathered at a workshop held by the Ministry of Health and the World Bank in Hanoi on October 9, to discuss measures to boost diagnosis-related group (DRG) payments in Vietnam.

Source: VNS/VNA