State Bank of Vietnam instructs banks and payment intermediaries to ensure safe cash and uninterrupted payments over Lunar New Year 2026

The State Bank of Vietnam issued instructions to its units, credit institutions, foreign bank branches and payment intermediary service providers on measures to keep banking operations safe, stable and continuous during the Lunar New Year 2026 period. The document calls for proactive and flexible monetary policy management with close coordination alongside expansionary fiscal policy, while prioritising inflation control and macroeconomic stability. It sets expectations for safe and effective credit growth, directing credit to production and business, priority sectors and growth drivers, tightening control of lending to potentially risky sectors, simplifying and digitising credit processes, and strengthening gold market management. Operationally, firms are required to strengthen cybersecurity and the security of banking information systems, ensure stable operation of core payment infrastructure including interbank payment and clearing and switching systems, and meet seasonal peaks in cash demand with adequate denomination structure and secure treasury management. Banks are also asked to enhance ATM oversight and incident handling, strengthen fraud prevention in payments and cash transactions especially around payment accounts and cards, improve customer complaint handling and communications on emerging scam methods, and ensure compliant foreign exchange services while coordinating with authorities to detect and handle illegal FX trading and money changing. Units are required to complete pre-holiday reviews, arrange on-duty staffing during Tet, and comply with information and reporting requirements, with an expectation of immediate post-holiday resumption of work to avoid backlogs in administrative procedures.