Apple opens service in Vietnam

iPhone 16 on display at an authorized Apple dealer in Vietnam. Photo: Phuong Lam .

Since the launch of the iPhone, Apple has been one of the most popular mobile brands in Vietnam, with a large number of iFans. However, for a long time, domestic users have not fully experienced the Apple ecosystem like other major markets. The situation has gradually changed since 2020, when Apple adjusted its sales policy, expanded software support and increased its official presence in Vietnam.

Recently, Siri officially supports Vietnamese. In addition to tasks using the assistant, domestic users can exploit this tool to optimize the usage process with supported apps. The ride-hailing app Be and the fintech app MoMo can work with Siri starting this month.

5 years of Apple in Vietnam

Apple increased its presence in Vietnam from 2020, with the iPhone 12 generation. The line marked the company's discount sales, providing more accessible prices for Vietnamese users.

Also from 2020 to now, domestic users can access new iPhone product lines with a time not much different from the world. In the company's financial reports, Vietnam is often mentioned as one of the most important emerging markets. Sales growth has sometimes reached 3 digits.

Apple provides almost full online services to Vietnamese customers. Photo: Apple.

In 2023, the company will open an online store, offering a full range of products, configuration options, and customization and engraving services for fans.

In 2024, CEO Tim Cook visited Vietnam on a business trip to Southeast Asia. This event marked the commitment of one of the world's largest corporations. Many of Apple's global campaigns also sought Vietnamese partners. Tlinh and Wren Evan are domestic artists who collaborated with Apple to release a music video shot entirely on iPhone.

“Fair” to Vietnamese users

In addition to sales and communication programs, Apple has begun to fully popularize its services to Vietnamese users. Since 2019, Apple has cooperated with MoMo to open an official payment channel on the App Store, allowing users to use it without a credit card. This move helps remove one of the major barriers to accessing the company's services in Vietnam.

At that time, the credit card ownership rate of domestic customers was only about 4.7% of the adult population, equivalent to about 2.65 million, according to the World Bank report, 2020.

By this April, domestic customers will officially be able to use Siri in Vietnamese after more than 10 years since this virtual assistant was introduced. Users can give commands such as setting alarms, asking about the weather, and viewing personal calendar information. The tool is especially effective for owners who are exploiting AirPlay in cars or HomeKit smart homes.

MoMo or Be are developers in Vietnam that cooperate with Apple, bringing transfer orders and using services to work with Vietnamese Siri.

Users can transfer money on the Vietnamese app by giving commands to Siri.

For example, users can now say “Hey Siri, top up MoMo phone” instead of opening the app, finding a function, entering the amount. Of course, the payment confirmation step by password or biometrics is still required. But the user’s operations have been shortened, limiting manual control.

In addition to the above command, Siri also supports opening QR codes to receive money, buy movie tickets or transfer money on MoMo. These are not all the functions of the e-wallet. However, they are important services, used frequently by Vietnamese customers. According to the developer, many other Vietnamese commands will also be available in the near future.

The Be ride-hailing app has also integrated Vietnamese Siri, allowing you to book a ride by voice, open the app or quickly look up a trip. These features help shorten operations, bringing a more seamless experience in daily life.

The current version of Siri does not yet integrate Apple Intelligence. Users need to read the correct voice commands for the virtual assistant to understand, which is not really natural. Tasks are mainly run through the Shortcut tool. This problem can be fixed soon when Vietnamese is also on the list of AI support from Apple.

Source: https://znews.vn/apple-opens-service-in-viet-nam-post1548029.html