Mobile services app

Passenger transport service app rolled out in Hanoi By Van Ly Passengers wait at a coach station in Hanoi. Vihago has launched a transport service app that connects passengers and transport operators – PHOTO: VNA HANOI - Hanoi Innovative Business Incubator of Information Technology and Vihago JSC on March 5 launched a transport service website and a mobile app, called Vihago, to help connect passengers with transport operators. Vihago’s operations are similar to those of ride-hailing service firms, such as Grab, but Vihago will not take part in the pricing policies of and not collect commissions from its transport service provider-partners. Instead, it will charge VND200,000 per vehicle serving 100 passengers per month through the Vihago service. Transport operators joining the Vihago platform can map out pricing policies and access and connect with passengers more easily, stated Nguyen Tuan Vinh, director of Vihago, at the launch event. In addition, each … [Read more...] about Passenger transport service app rolled out in Hanoi

Mai Linh rolls out QR payment service By Le Anh A customer pays the taxi fare by scanning a QR code – PHOTO: HOANG NGUYEN HCMC - Mai Linh Corporation, a traditional taxi operator, signed a cooperation agreement with Vietnam Payment Solution JSC (VNPAY) today, March 7, to enable taxi fare payments through scanning quick response (QR) codes. Customers of Mai Linh can now pay taxi fares in a fast, convenient and safe manner without using bank cards or cash. They just need to scan QR codes on mobile banking apps. The QR code payment solution has been integrated into the mobile banking services of 19 local banks and four international card service providers in Vietnam, such as BIDV, Vietcombank, Agribank, VietinBank, VPBank, TPBank, Visa, MasterCard and UnionPay. Mai Linh Chairman Ho Huy remarked that passenger transport services have been developing rapidly and taxi firms need to always improve their services and apply new technologies to enhance their … [Read more...] about Mai Linh rolls out QR payment service

Lê Lai Street in front of the New World Hotel is one of three streets in District 1, HCM City, where the My Parking app is starting a trial run from now to the end of this year. — VNS Photo Lê Anh Vũ Viet Nam News HCM CITY – Military-run mobile carrier Viettel on October 21 piloted its My Parking app to allow car owners to find a parking lot and pay parking fees on several streets in downtown HCM City. The pilot programme, which runs from now to the end of the year, was jointly launched by the city’s Department of Transport and Viettel. The “My Parking App,” which is available for both Android and iOS, will allow drivers to find available parking slots, the best routes to get there and make a reservation, charging VNĐ5,000 (22 US cents). The app can collect information about the time a car enters and leaves a parking space to calculate the fee. Drivers can use the app to pay parking fees via SMS, bank transfer or by cash. The three-month pilot programme will cover … [Read more...] about Smart parking app debuts in downtown city

Fitness app receives US$1 million investment By Van Ly A person downloads WeFit app. The Vietnamese fitness startup has attracted US$1 million investments from CyberAgent Capital, KBInvest and other angel investors - PHOTO: WEFIT HANOI – WeFit, a Vietnamese fitness startup, has attracted US$1 million in investment from CyberAgent Capital, KBInvest and other angel investors for its pre-series A fundraising drive. Nguyen Manh Dung, director of CyberAgent Capital Vietnam, said that his firm was impressed with WeFit’s achievements over the past two years and believed that it would create a new healthcare and beauty movement in Vietnam in the near future. With the financial support of CyberAgent Capital, alongside other angel investors, WeFit could considerably shorten the time needed to tap into the local fitness market and offer its services to customers faster, according to Nguyen Khoi, founder and CEO of WeFit. The capital will be used for developing the next … [Read more...] about Fitness app receives US$1 million investment

VNA launches new mobile app By Le Anh A screenshot of Vietnam Airlines’ new mobile app – PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) released a new mobile app on February 5 to support its passengers with flight-related issues, aiming to improve its digital service quality and offer a better flight experience to passengers. The new app is more modern and user-friendly and helps users stay updated on the latest trends of major airlines around the world. In addition, the app’s features that support passengers have been completely revamped. With the app, passengers can search for flights and itineraries and book flight tickets online more conveniently, or they can book flight-related services at any time. Users can also check-in online and get mobile boarding passes to save time, while the notification function enables passengers to closely follow their flight itineraries. VNA puts the latest promotions, such as discounted flight tickets and … [Read more...] about VNA launches new mobile app

Vietnam Airlines incorporates airport maps into its mobile app By Le Anh Passengers at the Noi Bai International Airport in the capital city of Hanoi. Vietnam Airlines has added 67 domestic and foreign airport maps to its mobile app to help passengers use its services at ease - PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – National flagship carrier Vietnam Airlines has added 67 airport maps, with nine of them in the country and the remainder abroad, to its mobile app, to help passengers breeze past gates, lounges and shops, as it continues investing in technology to enhance the airport experience. By incorporating the indoor maps app, InMapz, into the Vietnam Airlines mobile app, the carrier is the first Asia-based airline to offer digital wayfinding airport maps and has more maps than any other airline in the world. The airport maps will be available on the free Vietnam Airlines app and Vietnam Airlines website. Customers are provided with a clear and detailed view of their surroundings … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines incorporates airport maps into its mobile app

Taxi association calls for clear definition of transport service By Lan Nhi A rider opens the door of a Grab car. The Hanoi Taxi Association has voiced its disapproval of a recent proposal to define transport services using automobiles with fewer than nine seats as either taxi or contract transport – PHOTO: VGP HANOI – The Hanoi Taxi Association has written to the prime minister expressing disapproval of a recent Transport Ministry proposal to define transport services that use automobiles with fewer than nine seats as either a taxi or contract transport. The association said this proposal would not help resolve the protracted conflict between traditional taxis and ride-hailing firms. The association’s chairman, Nguyen Cong Hung, said in the proposal that if the ministry regards these vehicles, including the Grab service, as taxis, this would successfully tackle the lack of fairness in passenger transport, which has been debated for the past few years. However, the … [Read more...] about Taxi association calls for clear definition of transport service

Vietnam Airlines to launch phone check-in service By Le Anh Vietnam Airlines’ hotline operators are pictured in this file photo. Hotline operators will support customers in completing the check-in process through the phone check-in service – PHOTO: VIETNAM AIRLINES HCMC – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will roll out a telephone check-in service that allows passengers to use their phones to check in for their domestic flights. The service, provided by the Vietnam Airport Ground Services Co., Ltd., a member of the Vietnam Airlines Corporation, will start from April 26 and is applicable to flights departing from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It will later be expanded to other airports nationwide. Customers can call the hotline 1-900-6265 from 12 hours to two hours prior to the departure time to complete the check-in process. The call is charged at VND5,000 per minute. The hotline serves customers between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. Using the service, … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines to launch phone check-in service

HCMC proposes excise tax on mobile phones By Thanh Thom An individual checks the Facebook app on her mobile phone. The HCMC government has suggested slapping excise tax on mobile phones – PHOTO: THANH THOM HCMC – The HCMC People’s Committee has suggested the Ministry of Finance levy a special consumption tax on mobile phones and some other products and services that only high income earners can afford. The city government said in its proposal that the value-added tax (VAT), the special consumption tax and the environmental protection tax, among others, are areas with potential for further tapping. Products such as mobile phones, cameras, perfumes and cosmetics, as well as gaming business services and beauty services, should be subject to the special consumption tax. According to the city government, perfumes and beauty services fall within the category of high-end goods and services. This helps widen the adjustment of income taxes among high earners. The … [Read more...] about HCMC proposes excise tax on mobile phones

Mobile Money to boost noncash payments in Vietnam: minister The Saigon Times Daily A person uses ViettelPay app to make online payments. Mobile Money once launched in Vietnam will boost the growth of non-cash transactions - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Mobile Money, once being put into pilot service in Vietnam, will be an effective solution for promoting noncash payments, stated Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung. The Mobile Money service allows users to transfer and receive money as well as make payments through mobile accounts. It uses a network of transaction points such as customer service agents and ATMs. The service must also be available to people with no bank accounts. Many topics such as ecommerce, startups and innovation have been discussed at meetings, but an effective payment method, which is the most important tool for encouraging the growth of these areas in the digital age, has yet to be mentioned, Minister Hung told an international … [Read more...] about Mobile Money to boost noncash payments in Vietnam: minister