Digital Finance Day 2026: Developing a Comprehensive Digital Financial Ecosystem

Attending the opening ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Pham Duc An, Deputy Governor of the SBV Pham Thanh Ha, and leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; representatives from ministries, sectors, localities, credit institutions, technology companies, payment intermediaries, and a large number of citizens.

The event was organized by Tuoi Tre Newspaper in collaboration with the Payment Department (State Bank of Vietnam), the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnam National Payment Corporation (NAPAS).

The highlight of Digital Finance Day 2026, themed “Smart Payments – Promoting Digital Finance,” marks a shift from the “Cashless Day” program implemented over the past years toward a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem development strategy.

From Digital Payments to Digital Finance

According to the organizing committee, after seven years of implementing the “Cashless Day” program, cashless payments in Vietnam have seen significant development in terms of infrastructure, transaction volume, and public access.

Electronic payment methods are now present in nearly all sectors of economic and social life, ranging from commerce, services, education, and healthcare to public services. QR code payments are growing rapidly, with new payment models continuously being rolled out, while banks and fintech companies are accelerating the adoption of digital technologies to enhance the customer experience.

In this context, development goals no longer stop at reducing cash usage or increasing the number of electronic transactions. Digital transactions are generating a vast amount of valuable data, serving as a foundation for developing more modern financial products and services.

The shift from “Cashless Day” to “Digital Finance Day” is seen as the next step in the digital transformation process within the banking and finance sector. If digital payments are the starting point, then digital data, digital connectivity, and digital financial services will be the key components of this new phase of development.

According to experts, smart payments not only help reduce transaction costs and enhance economic transparency but also facilitate the emergence of new business models. Data generated from payment activities can support credit assessment, risk management, the development of financial products tailored to specific customer groups, and expand access to financial services for both individuals and businesses.

This is also a crucial foundation for promoting financial inclusion, one of the key objectives currently receiving special attention from the Government and the State Bank of Vietnam.

Data connectivity, building a digital financial ecosystem

Immediately following the opening ceremony, the seminar “Smart Payments in the Digital Age” was held with the participation of approximately 350 delegates, including regulatory agency leaders, economic experts, financial institutions, technology companies, and the business community.

At the seminar, delegates focused on discussing new development trends in the payment and digital finance sectors against the backdrop of the rapid global digital transformation.

Presentations covered a wide range of topics, including institutional frameworks for smart payments; the role of digital data in digital economic development; cross-border payments; the application of new technologies in the financial and banking sectors; as well as solutions to ensure safety and security in the digital transaction environment.

One of the key topics of interest is the role of data in shaping the digital financial ecosystem. According to experts, when payment data, identity data, and transaction data are effectively interconnected, financial institutions can offer new services at lower costs, with faster processing speeds, and higher levels of personalization.

Effective data utilization is also expected to help businesses access capital more easily, promote digital financial models for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), business households, and customer groups underserved by the traditional financial system.

Alongside these development opportunities, delegates also emphasized that the expansion of digital finance must go hand in hand with ensuring data security, protecting consumers, and enhancing capabilities to combat high-tech crime. This is a critical condition for building public trust in digital financial services.

As part of the program, the organizing committee also set up a “Safe Wall” experience zone to help the public identify various forms of online fraud, AI-generated forgeries, deepfakes, and schemes to steal assets online. This activity is expected to help raise public awareness and improve skills in safe digital transactions.

Concurrently with the seminar, the 2026 Digital Finance Festival will take place over two days, June 6–7, featuring various experience zones on smart payments, digital finance, financial technology, and cross-border payments. The public can directly access new payment solutions, participate in personal financial management counseling programs, and experience modern digital financial services.

According to the organizing committee, the festival is expected to attract between 100,000 and 120,000 visitors. This marks the first time a specialized digital finance festival has been held on such a large scale in a public space in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Digital Finance Day 2026 will run from May through September 2026, featuring a variety of activities aimed at promoting smart payments, fostering comprehensive digital finance development, and supporting the national digital transformation process. Through this series of activities, the organizers hope to help spread knowledge about digital finance, expand access to modern financial services, and gradually build a safe, inclusive, and sustainable digital finance ecosystem in Vietnam.