According to the report, as of the end of April 2025, a total of 23,738 out of 44,788 social welfare beneficiaries in Son La province had opened bank accounts for payment purposes. Specifically, 21,300 out of 42,127 social protection beneficiaries and 2,438 out of 2,661 people with meritorious service had opened accounts.

The number of social welfare beneficiaries receiving payments via bank accounts was 18,146, accounting for 76.44% of those who had opened accounts and 40.05% of the total number of social welfare recipients across the province. The total amount disbursed via bank transfers exceeded VND 18.6 billion, with cumulative payments from 2023 to April 2025 reaching over VND 242.8 billion.

Regarding the implementation of cashless payments for social insurance benefits, the number of beneficiaries receiving social insurance and unemployment benefits via bank accounts in urban areas reached 26,202 people. Of these, 13,921 individuals received monthly pensions and social insurance benefits through personal accounts; 1,843 received one-time social insurance payments; and 1,473 received unemployment benefits via bank transfers.

In terms of tuition fee payments, all 608 educational institutions across the province have organized communication and advocacy activities to promote the implementation of cashless payment models for tuition and other school-related fees. Currently, 113 out of 610 educational institutions in the province are collecting tuition fees, enrollment fees, and other regulated payments using non-cash methods.

Son La power company has partnered with banks and intermediary organizations to provide cashless electricity bill payment services, including automatic deductions via e-wallets and bank accounts, reaching 58.62% of all customers. Moreover, 100% of provincial- and district-level general and specialized hospitals have developed and implemented Hospital Information Systems (HIS) and introduced cashless payment methods for medical examinations and treatment.

The Tax Department Region IX continues to guide and urge the implementation of e-invoices and e-invoices generated from cash registers across the province. It is also promoting the use of e-invoices generated from cash registers and the electronic tax service system to support the declaration and payment of taxes related to vehicle registration fees for cars and motorcycles via the National public service portal. The province is actively deploying the electronic invoice system in accordance with Government Decree No. 123/2020/NĐ-CP. In April 2025 alone, 172 organizations, businesses, and individual entrepreneurs registered to use e-invoices; bringing the total number of registered users since the beginning of the year to 257. Across the province, all 174 petrol stations have registered and are issuing retail invoices per transaction, achieving a 100% implementation rate.

Cashless payment methods are becoming increasingly widespread, with businesses actively offering electronic payment services that allow people to pay anytime, anywhere—enhancing service quality and improving customer experience. In the coming time, the province will continue to intensify public awareness campaigns, invest in synchronized technical infrastructure, and introduce more convenient payment methods to attract broader public participation and further accelerate the digital transformation process in the region.

Le Hong

Translated by Huyen Vu