Saigon – Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism’s Tourism Information Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Hanoi on January 19, establishing a strategic partnership for the 2026–2030 period.

Under the MoU, the two sides will promote innovation, digital transformation and technology adoption in tourism, with a focus on building a nationwide smart tourism ecosystem.

SHB will provide financial and technological solutions to support cashless payments, improve visitor experience and enhance transparency and efficiency in tourism management. The partnership also includes joint tourism promotion and marketing activities at home and abroad.

Following the signing, the national “Vietnam Tourism” digital platform officially integrated SHB’s financial solutions. The platform is the only nationwide tourism application operated by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and developed by Vietsens Technology Group Joint Stock Company (Vietsens), forming a core part of the country’s digital tourism ecosystem.

Beyond a conventional mobile app, “Vietnam Tourism” functions as a comprehensive digital ecosystem that integrates national tourism data. It provides travelers with essential information, including destinations, services, pricing, digital maps, experiential recommendations, as well as feedback and service quality evaluation tools.

A core strength of the platform is its ability to centralise authoritative data from localities, industries, service providers, and destinations nationwide. This approach addresses information fragmentation and delivers a more seamless and reliable experience for tourists.

The benefits of the “Vietnam Tourism” platform and SHB’s integrated financial solutions extend beyond user convenience. By operating within a transparent, secure, and closely managed digital environment, the platform helps protect travelers from misinformation, misleading advertising, and substandard services. Issues can be reported and resolved promptly, safeguarding customer rights while reinforcing accountability among service providers.

For travel agencies, accommodation facilities, and tourism service providers, participation in the platform opens direct access to a large domestic and international user base. This reduces dependence on high-cost intermediary platforms, supports revenue optimization, and enhances overall competitiveness.

At the signing ceremony, Hoang Quoc Hoa, director of the Tourism Information Centre, emphasised that the partnership marks an important step in embedding digital technology and finance throughout the tourism journey, supporting service providers, improving visitor experience and strengthening data foundations for state management and policy planning.

Meanwhile, SHB Chief Executive Ngo Thu Ha said the two sides would continue to coordinate communication and destination promotion campaigns across digital platforms and multimedia channels, helping to enhance the image and international standing of Vietnam’s tourism industry.

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