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VIMO to provide Wechat payment at Airport outlets in Vietnam

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The leading mobile payment platform in Vietnam VIMO.vn has signed strategic e-payment partnership with Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO) to accept WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay) from Chinese tourists at duty free stores of Ho Chi Minh City’s (HCM) international airport, before expanding to other airport stores of SASCO across the country.

SEE ALSO : Vietnam’s economic growth to accelerate in 2018

According to the announcement, starting from 2 January 2018, Chinese tourists coming to and from HCM city international airport in Vietnam will be able to use WeChat mobile application to scan QR-code generated by cashier upon checkout at SASCO’s duty free shops to make payment quickly and easily without needing to bring cash or credit cards. Chinese customers will be able to easily buy popular souvenirs and Vietnamese specialties like aloe wood, coffee, food and wines, perfume and cosmetics, fashion, and jewelry.

SASCO owns the largest network of duty-free shops, retail outlets, business class lounges, and food chains at airports in Vietnam. “SASCO is always ahead of the trends, leveraging technology to optimize business and bring convenience and high quality products to customers. Our plan for 2018 is to accept WeChat payment through VIMO at all airport outlets to create convenience for Chinese customers,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Hung Cuong, Deputy General Director of SASCO.

VIMO is the largest mobile wallet and the first and only mobile payment platform in Vietnam to allow Chinese customers to pay with WeChat while traveling to Vietnam. Currently VIMO has nearly 500 higher end stores accepting WeChat payment at popular tourist destinations in Vietnam, including more than 50 stores at five international airports with direct flights to and from China.

General Director of VIMO, Mr. Do Cong Dien, stated that in 2018 VIMO will expand its acceptance network to 2,000 more shops to provide convenient payment method for Chinese tourists, as well as boosting revenue for local merchants.

SEE ALSO : H&M makes bricks-and-mortar debut in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the most attractive destinations in the region for Chinese tourists, with an estimated 3.5 million arrivals and turnover of nearly 3 billion USD in 2017. By enabling WeChat payment to thousands of stores locally, VIMO targets to boost spending by Chinese tourists while travelling to Vietnam by 10% in 2018, from 638 USD averagely per capita in 2017.

(Source: PRN Asia)