On August 20, VETC, a leading provider of electronic toll collection services in Vietnam, announced that it would halt the collection of fees for its electronic wallet service. This decision comes as a response to numerous user complaints and feedback regarding the implementation of the fee policy, which was set to begin in August.

According to VETC, the company recognized that its communication efforts regarding the new policy were insufficient and failed to achieve customer consensus. As of now, VETC has not collected any fees from users for the electronic wallet service.

Initially, VETC planned to charge a monthly fee of 6,600 VND for individual users and 66,000 VND for organizations and businesses. The electronic wallet service, Viettel Money, which is connected to the ePass traffic account, was also expected to implement similar fees starting in August. However, on August 19, ePass confirmed that it had not yet charged any service fees prior to the new policy taking effect.

It is important to note that the proposed fees would only apply to accounts that had transactions through toll stations in the previous month. Therefore, users whose vehicles did not pass through toll booths would not incur additional service charges. Despite the relatively low fee, many vehicle owners expressed dissatisfaction, as they had already preloaded funds into their wallets to ensure seamless payments at toll stations. These users felt they were being unfairly charged for maintaining a connection between their traffic accounts and electronic wallets.

In response to the backlash, both VETC and ePass clarified that the new fees were intended to support the maintenance and upgrading of technological infrastructure, as well as to facilitate real-time transaction processing. The fees would also enhance security, service quality, and ensure continuous connectivity between electronic wallets and traffic accounts 24/7.

Regarding the funds in the electronic wallets, VETC stated that, per regulations from the State Bank of Vietnam, customer funds must be managed in a separate payment guarantee account. Consequently, electronic wallet providers are not permitted to pay interest on these balances. Thus, the recent policy concerning electronic wallets should not be viewed as a management fee for traffic accounts or road usage.

Looking ahead, VETC plans to collaborate with banks and payment intermediaries to optimize its system and introduce additional payment methods to reduce costs for users. As of early 2026, approximately 6.3 million vehicles in Vietnam are expected to utilize electronic toll collection services, representing nearly 100% of the vehicles eligible for these services.