Since 2020, in alignment with the Government’s Project on developing non-cash payments, and in pursuit of the Government’s goals for digital transformation and digital economic development, Tien Phong newspaper has launched an initiative to organize Vietnam Card Day event - the first experiential event for young people. The initiative has been supported by the Payment Department (State Bank of Vietnam - SBV), and NAPAS collaborated with participation from commercial banks.

After two years of organization, the Vietnam Card Day series of events has played a significant role in cultivating cashless payment habits among the youth. With its numerous advantages, bank card payments and various fintech applications have gradually become an essential part of daily life.

Entering its third year, Vietnam Card Day 2023 is themed "Breaking Limits" to continue spreading the spirit of innovation and breakthroughs driven by digital technology and application of advanced payment technology to make cashless transactions more accessible and familiar to an even wider range of customers. Furthermore, it continues to contribute to the realization of the Government’s goals in the Project for developing the habit of non-cash payment for the period 2021-2025 (Decision No.1813/QD-TTg) and the National Comprehensive Financial Strategy.

Speaking at the press conference to announce Vietnam Card Day 2023, Mr. Le Anh Dung - Deputy Director General of the SBV Payment Department stated: Non-cash payments are an inevitable trend in the process of moving towards a cashless society and developing the digital economy in Vietnam. New technologies and modern payment solutions are applied by banks such as contact and contactless chip card technology, quick response (QR) codes, card information encryption… Accordingly, the banks also promote the electronic issuance of physical and virtual bank cards through electronic identification. The activities within the Vietnam Card Day series, in its third iteration, will contribute to popularizing and propagating the bank’s new services and payment methods to people, starting with the youth.

Sharing about the highlights of Vietnam Card Day 2023, Journalist Le Xuan Son, Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper, Head of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that this year’s event is larger in scale than before, spanning approximately 10 non-consecutive days with a diverse range of activities. Vietnam Card Day 2023 boasts participation from over 25 banks and credit institutions, featuring hundreds of booths representing various businesses. The giveaways for this year are also significantly larger and more diverse, including over 1 billion VND in student cards handed out during the Song Festival event.

Besides promoting non-cash payments and universal financial inclusion through communication efforts, technology plays a pivotal role. Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NAPAS, Co-Head of the Organizing Committee of Vietnam Card Day 2023, stated "With the ever-evolving nature of technology, NAPAS, banks and partners will bring modern and innovative payment products and services to the 3rd Vietnam Card Day, enhancing participants’ experience. Simultaneously, to strongly spread the message "Breaking Limits", NAPAS also coordinates with banks and partners to launch enticing promotional programs for customers, including a program that offers tuition fee discounts for students from 20 universities nationwide."

During the exchange with journalists, the Chairman of NAPAS also shared plans to expand and develop domestic credit card products: Up to now, NAPAS has deployed domestic credit cards to 15 member organizations, including 11 banks and 4 financial companies, with the number of domestic credit cards in circulation reaching over 800,000 by August this year, a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2022. In the near future, domestic credit cards will become a "national" card used by banks as a means of providing consumer credit, enabling vulnerable groups to access convenient and fast credit with favorable terms. In addition, domestic credit cards can also be used for direct payments at retail outlets, online payments, public transportation payments, and cash withdrawals/expenditures in South Korea through the BC Card network.

At Vietnam Card Day 2023, NAPAS will introduce the new payment trend "Tap to Pay - Tap To Phone", making cashless payment methods more convenient and inspiring the adoption of such payment habits. This contribution aids in advancing the Government’s goal of developing non-cash payments and the National Digital Transformation Strategy.

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THE VIETNAM CARD DAY 2023 SERIES OF EVENT INCLUDE:

1. Seminar on Promoting Card Payment Activities and Future Payment Trends

- Date: held on September 26, 2023

- Participants: Financial institutions, banks and domestic and international experts.

- Topic: The seminar consists of 2 sessions:

+ Promoting Vietnam’s Card Payment Activities from a Policy Perspective;

+ Prospects for Vietnamese Card Market and Future Payment Trends.

2. Song Festival event - Breaking Limits

- Location: the stadium of Hanoi National University of Education

- Date: October 6 - 8, 2023

- Participants: Financial institutions, banks, payment intermediaries and hundreds of reputable brands in Vietnam.

- Participating industries: Food and Beverage, Fashion, Health care and beauty, Technology, Culture, Entertainment.

The program will offer thousands of gifts to young participants.

2.1. Open Your Future program where banks, payment intermediaries, technology transfer providers will participate in promoting job opportunities and career orientation solutions for students.

2.2. Entertainment stage for young people including performances and interactions with famous artists; art performances by students’ bands and dance groups; a knowledge contest on payment methods and digital technology by banks; modern and innovate technology demonstrations by banks in digital payment applications.

2.3. The Song Journey space area is an idea to review the success of the biggest event of the year for the Banking - Finance industry. Located in the area center, it attracts the attention of attendees with special imagery and impressive QR codes containing lucky gifts.

2.4. The Rabbit and Card Show brings a vibrant and joyful festival atmosphere with mascots of the two characters, Rabbit and Card, performed by professional dancers.

3. Charity Activities:

Building on the success and significance of community activities in the first and second editions, Vietnam Card Day 2023 continues to recognize this as a social responsibility of the Song Festival. Therefore, the Organizing Committee, accompanying units and guests of Vietnam Card Day 2023, will contribute to a "Computer Room" for a school on Bach Long Vy Island or a disadvantaged mountainous province via the voluntary account 1611 at MB Bank.