Gen Z and the " travel revolution" are not compared
The trend of cashless travel is becoming a popular choice even a new definition of Gen Z. In that trend, China has emerged as an attractive destination for discovery with the number of online payment users reaching 969 million, accounting for 88.1% of all Internet users.
From modern shopping malls to affordable shops, from shipping services to gas stations... platforms such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay domestic cards almost completely dominate the consumer ecosystem. Cash still exists, but is increasingly depleted and sometimes causes international tourists to fall into the situation of "having money but not being able to spend it".
Travel blogger Pham Thuy An - a person with travel experience in China said: "Once I went to Shanghai, I brought more than 10 million VND in cash but could not pay at any restaurant or shopping store".
Pham Huu Vinh - Ba Dinh (Hanoi) also shared his inconvenient experience when traveling to China. He said: "I just wanted to eat a bowl of 20 tael noodles and struggled for a long time because I didn't have a credit card attached, so I finally had to ask a young man to scan it and give me cash. At that time, I felt like I was eliminated from the cycle of life."
Thuy An and Huu Vinh's experience is not unique. In a society where nearly 90% of consumer transactions are conducted through digital platforms, not having a suitable payment method means you will miss the rhythm of modern life.
For Gen Z, this is unacceptable. They not only require an easy-to-use payment method, but also require versatility: usable in many countries, no foreign currency fees are too high, with refunds, maintenance fees and clear incentives. These seemingly "difficult" requirements open up opportunities for domestic banks if they know how to grasp new consumption trends of the younger generation.
UnionPay FreeWays Financial Passport for the transfer generation
With the boom in international tourism, especially trips to China, VPBank has developed the UnionPay FreeWays credit card line as a specialized financial solution for Vietnamese people. The product not only follows the "Smart Travel" trend of the younger generation, but also aims to directly solve difficulties in cross-border payments, especially in markets with a separate financial ecosystem such as China.
The first and unique highlight of UnionPay FreeWays is the 100% exemption of foreign currency transaction fees in China - a rare thing in domestically issued credit cards. Not stopping there, foreign currency fees in other countries are only 1.5%, significantly lower than the current general level. With this preferential structure, VPBank's card line gives users the ability to spend internationally economically, easily controlled and in line with regular travel habits.
UnionPay FreeWays is also designed for three distinct customer groups: people who regularly travel to the border for work, short-term tourists who need flexible payment means, and long-term residents living, studying or working in China. Each group has different financial needs - from paying for restaurants, hotels, transportation, to transferring money, shopping. The product has been built by VPBank to optimize each specific consumer behavior.
In addition, the competition refund policy is a notable plus. UnionPay FreeWays cards bring 4% refund for international spending (maximum 500,000 VND per statement period), 3% for transactions in the domestic tourism and culinary group, and 0.1% for the remaining spending. With simple conditions - total spending in the period of 5 million VND or more, users can easily take advantage of incentives to save on daily and international trips.
Not only focusing on long-term value, UnionPay FreeWays also offers attractive start-up incentives. Customers who open a new card will immediately receive 400,000 VND as gifts when spending from 2 million VND within the first 30 days.
At the same time, the first year of annual free cards will be issued if there are at least 3 valid transactions (each transaction from VND500,000 or more) and will continue to be free for the following year if the total annual spending reaches VND150 million or more. Clear, transparent promotional structure and no need for complicated conditions - this is the point that makes the card line popular with mass users, especially Gen Z.
Sharing about his experience, Mr. Nguyen Binh Minh - a customer in Ho Chi Minh City said: "I spent nearly 50 million VND on a two-week trip, if I used another card, I could lose 1-2 million VND just for the conversion fee. But with the UnionPay FreeWays card, I don't lose that fee and get an additional refund. For people who often go on business trips and travel like me, this is very worth it.
The launch of UnionPay FreeWays also shows VPBank's strategic move in building a card ecosystem according to the 3 pillars of Travelling - Shopping - Wellbeing. Each pillar represents an increasingly clear living need of customers from the experience of discovery, modern consumption to comprehensive health care. In particular, the UnionPay card line is being introduced as part of the travel - Travelling card group, aiming at the young generation of customers who love to move, love convenience and seamless cross-border experience.
Not just a credit card, with UnionPay FreeWays VPBank is gradually realizing a comprehensive "preferential map", helping customers easily choose a card that suits their own life journey. Whether you depart from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or stop in the middle of a night market in Shanghai, this card still brings absolute peace of mind in the spirit of "A thousand thousands of miles as desired, spending no fee".
