The packages are not simply to offer visitorsspecial and reasonable rates, but more importantly to provide them withbasic services and full and quick information and explanation, so theycan feel satisfied, insiders were quoted as saying.
Diversifying packages to users’ demand is actually a trend recommendedby international experts. Telcos have to always meet the best ofcustomers’ requirements through a flexible system of packages.
However, the introduction of packages exclusively designed for foreigntourists in the recent past is a smart move and it shows how fastVietnamese telcos have been in catching up with the market.
Happy Tourist launched by MobiFone on January 1 is an example.
As designed only for foreign visitors to Vietnam, the package contains very special functions.
It’s not a package for first-timers. But for the first time, foreignvisitors in the country can use both call and data services exactly asthey need to.
The package has two options - Happy TouristData allowing data and SMS services and Happy Tourist Voice & Datafor call, SMS and data services. Each subscription costs 250,000 VND (12USD) for a SIM card and an account card worth 200,000 VND.
It is designed for pre-paid subscribers and especially built with usageinstructions in six languages: English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese,Korean and Vietnamese.
If one needs to know more detailsabout the package, they can even call to the network number 9393 forfree information in five languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Japaneseand Khmer.
That will save visitors from awkward situation caused by language barriers when using Vietnamese mobile phone services.
The package rates also protect them from huge phone call bills.
The SMS rate at Happy Tourist Data package is 350 VND a message todomestic networks and 2,500 VND to international ones, which is aroundthe rates for post-paid subscribers in Vietnam and surely much betterthan roaming or using normal SIM cards.
The users can alsomake overseas calls for less than 4,000 VND a minute, a rate insidersconsidered “really comfortable” compared to those in nearby countries.
Happy Tourist’s first customers was Andromeda, the Swedish rock bandwho joined MobiFone Rockstorm 2013, a rock tour across Vietnaminitiated and organised by MobiFone. The band members said they decidedto try the package after being convinced by its introduction aboutspecial rates and other advantages they could enjoy.
Uponpositive response from foreign tourists to the package, Nguyen DinhChien, Deputy General Director of MobiFone, said the tourists’ demandfor telecommunications services in Vietnam has increased significantlyof late.
Chien said his company will continue upgrading its network and building more special packages.
“We want to contribute to boost Vietnam’s tourism industry,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.-VNA