Early morning is when the bustling atmosphere of the rural market in Trung Phu 2 hamlet comes alive with the sounds of vendors calling out their wares. Sitting in a corner of a small, casual breakfast stall, about 10 years old, owned by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuy (50 years old), a resident of Trung Phu 2 hamlet, we felt the lively atmosphere of a rural market. The stall is small but sells a variety of dishes from rice, noodles, and vermicelli, with a constant flow of customers.
While calculating the bill for a customer who had stopped by for breakfast at 44,000 dong, the customer pulled out a 500,000 dong note from his wallet and hesitantly said, "I don't have any change, could you please give me some change?" It was peak hour, several tables were waiting for their food, and Mrs. Thuy checked the cash register but didn't have enough change. Previously, this situation would have flustered both the owner and the customer, but now Mrs. Thuy smiled, quickly grabbed a sign with a QR code, and said, "Just scan the bank's QR code for the convenience of the restaurant!"
The customer happily picked up his phone, and with just a few taps on the screen, the transfer was complete. He beamed and said, "Luckily, your shop offers bank transfers." Mrs. Thuy looked at the screen, which had just lit up with the notification of the money received, and smiled broadly. This seemingly insignificant situation is proof of a new wave transforming rural areas – digital transformation starting from the simplest things.
Customers pay using QR codes at a grocery store owned by a member of the "Cashless Women's Small Business Group" model in Trung Phu 2 hamlet, Dinh My commune. Photo: PHUONG LAN
According to Ms. Thuy, thanks to participating in the "Women Small Traders' Group for Cashless Transactions" model, which was piloted right in the central market area of Trung Phu 2 hamlet with 20 members, the buying and selling activities of small traders have become more convenient. Recalling the early days of participating in the model, Ms. Thuy said: "At first, I didn't know anything about banking applications. Through many meetings at the commune and hamlet levels, receiving dedicated guidance and hands-on training from the other women, I and many other small traders gradually overcame the technological barrier. From downloading apps, scanning faces, using fingerprint security to checking balances and entering transfer amounts... we are now proficient."
According to Tran Thi Man, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Dinh My commune, the "Women's Small Business Group that Doesn't Use Cash" model originated from the plan to implement the "Digital Literacy Movement" in conjunction with the national target program for building new rural areas. Previously, the old Vinh Phu commune (now Dinh My commune) was oriented towards becoming a smart commune, with the mandatory criterion being the construction of smart hamlets.
To ensure the model's effectiveness, the Women's Union of Dinh My commune proactively coordinated with the Vietnam Foreign Trade Commercial Bank ( Vietcombank ) to support residents in opening accounts and obtaining QR codes completely free of charge. Gaining the agreement and support of the members was a major advantage, as they all recognized that cashless payments are an inevitable trend. Not only used for business transactions, the banking app also helps women easily pay their electricity and water bills without having to go to convenience stores to have money transferred.
Sharing about the initial difficulties in implementing the model, Ms. Tran Thi Man said: “Most of the small traders in the rural market are middle-aged, and until now, they have only been used to paying with cash. Many of them, even though they have smartphones, only use them for calls or browsing Zalo to see pictures of their children and grandchildren. When it comes to banking apps, accounts, and security passwords, everyone shakes their heads in dismay, afraid of being scammed or losing money. After more than a year of getting acquainted with the model, the women are now truly proficient in bank transfer operations.”
Not far from Mrs. Thuy's eatery is the convenience store of Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Lien, with a constant stream of customers. While quickly arranging bottles of soft drinks for customers, Ms. Lien happily chimed in: "Since I joined the 'Women Small Business Owners' Group for Cashless Transactions,' business at my convenience store has changed dramatically; it's much easier than before." Ms. Lien excitedly shared that customers paying by bank transfer account for about 50% of purchases, and in recent months, this has increased to 60-70%. Some days, customers spend the entire morning scanning QR codes to make bank transfers, making it easier for her and her husband to manage their cash flow.
PHUONG LAN
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/di-cho-bang-dien-thoai-a490808.html
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