According to the 2018 e-commerce development plan recently approved by the municipal People’s Committee, Hanoi will pilot the running of a series of self-service automated stores and a network of vending machines, while buyers will use QR codes to make payments instead of physical cash.
This new shopping platform is considered convenient for those who have a habit of not carrying money, while meeting the global automation trend and making it easier for customers to pay.
Under the plan, in 2018, Hanoi aims to have online retail sales account for 8% of its total retail sales and service revenues, while maintaining a second-place ranking or above compared to other localities nationwide in terms of the electronic buyers’ index (EBI) annually.
The plan also aims to bring the proportion of Hanoi’s online shoppers in 2018 to 66% of its Internet users, up 3% from 2017. At the same time, 85% of Hanoi’s modern distribution and retail establishments, petrol stations, electricity and water supply companies, and telecommunications services accept non-cash payment when trading in goods and services.
From September 2017, Hanoi has installed and put into use a number of vending machines that serve bottled beverages, after the launch of the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake.
