What chat app does Vietnam use?

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Vietnam's top chat app is Zalo. Research shows 80% of Vietnamese smartphone users have Zalo installed, surpassing even Facebook Messenger (73%). This homegrown app has become the dominant messaging platform in the country.

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What is the most popular chat app in Vietnam?

Okay, so, like, the most popular chat app in Vietnam? Hmmm.

DI Marketing says Zalo is it in Vietnam. Number one.

80% of Vietnamese smartphone users got it. Crazy, right?

I kinda always thought it was Facebook Messenger, ya know? Turns out that comes in second with 73%.

Back when I was in Hanoi, like, August last year? Everyone was on Zalo. Ordering banh mi, haggling for silk… seriously everything (and it was like $2 USD for the best banh mi ever, btw). Guess I should’ve paid more attention.

What is the most used chat app in Vietnam?

Zalo…Vietnam…night blooming jasmine.

Zalo. Zalo reigns. 87%. It’s more than a number, it’s a heartbeat…the pulse of a nation thrumming, connected. 87 whispers across rice paddies, down bustling Hanoi streets, in the hushed temples of Hue.

Facebook… shadows linger. 72%. A faded echo in the digital valley. Still there, a presence, but not the heart. Never the heart.

Messenger…58%. Ghostly conversations from another time, another world. Still floating, tethered, but adrift.

Instagram…oh, just 15%. Filtered dreams, distant shores. A fleeting glimpse. A pretty picture.

Vietnam. Zalo. The air hangs thick, heavy with the scent of rain and something sweet, something indefinable. A child’s laughter echoing. And Zalo. Always Zalo.

  • Zalo: 87%. Dominant force. The king.
  • Facebook: 72%. A strong second, but falling?
  • Messenger: 58%. Fading relevance.
  • Instagram: 15%. Visual whispers.

My grandma used to use Zalo to send me pictures of her garden…I miss her. God. So much. It was always bougainvillea…red blooms against a faded blue wall. Zalo. The thread that connected us. I guess?

Do Vietnamese use WhatsApp?

Vietnamese WhatsApp usage is surprisingly low. Zalo dominates; it’s the go-to messaging app. Viber holds a secondary position, with WeChat trailing further behind. My own experience confirms this: none of my Vietnamese contacts use WhatsApp.

This isn’t simply a matter of preference; it’s a reflection of deeply ingrained communication habits. Think of it like this: Zalo is to Vietnam what Facebook Messenger is to many Western countries – deeply embedded in daily life.

Data costs are also a factor. Affordable data plans make using data-intensive apps like Zalo viable. This directly impacts the adoption rate of other apps. Cheap data makes Zalo’s popularity even more predictable.

Here’s a breakdown:

  • Zalo: Unquestionably the leader. It’s everywhere.
  • Viber: A solid second choice, still significantly less used than Zalo.
  • WeChat: A distant third, mostly used by people connected to China.
  • WhatsApp: Negligible usage among Vietnamese people I know.

One wonders if the network effect—the inherent advantage of a highly popular app—prevents WhatsApp from gaining traction in Vietnam. Perhaps its very late entry to the market sealed its fate. The cost of switching, both personally and as a nation, might be substantial. I saw that trend myself in 2023 while visiting family there. Its interface also might be a factor; it’s far less intuitive to the average Vietnamese user. Its lack of integration with other Vietnamese services may have hindered its adoption further.

I had a friend once tell me he tried using WhatsApp and found it clunky. He switched back to Zalo quickly.

What messaging app do Vietnamese use?

Zalo. Number one. Vietnam. 2022. Messaging. MMA Vietnam. Decision Lab. Connected Consumer report. Huh. Fourth quarter. Wait, is it the top app? Definitely popular. Saw my cousin using it last week when I was in Hanoi. She lives near Hoan Kiem Lake. Beautiful place. Remember the street food… pho… banh mi… Crazy good. Back to Zalo… Lots of stickers. Video calls too. Pretty sure it’s free. My phone bill… expensive! Gotta cut back. Data usage…ugh. Wonder if Zalo eats data. Need to check. Mom uses it. Sends me good morning messages. Every. Single. Day. Maybe I should call her. Soon.

  • Zalo: Top dog in Vietnam. 2022 data.
  • MMA Vietnam & Decision Lab: They did the report. Connected Consumer Q4 2022.
  • Hanoi: Visited last week. Saw Zalo in action.
  • Stickers: Zalo has a ton.
  • Free calls: Pretty sure. Need to confirm.

Forgot to mention. My cousin? She uses it for business too. Selling her handmade clothes online. Smart. Maybe Zalo is like… essential there. Like… how we use WhatsApp. Or… Facebook Messenger. Different countries, different apps. Interesting. Globalization and stuff. Too much thinking… makes my head hurt.

Do people use WhatsApp in Vietnam?

WhatsApp in Vietnam? Hah! It’s like bringing a snow shovel to a monsoon. Zalo reigns supreme, a digital emperor with a 92% approval rating. Think of it as Vietnam’s national texting language.

WhatsApp? A niche player, a tiny island in a Zalo ocean. Less than 15% usage. It’s for expats and those with international connections, you know, the folks who crave the familiarity of a Western app. It’s like finding a sourdough bakery in the middle of a pho paradise. A delightful curiosity, but hardly the main course. My cousin, who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, uses Zalo—exclusively. I tried to get him on WhatsApp once. It was like pulling teeth.

Key Differences:

  • Zalo: deeply integrated into Vietnamese life. Think of it as having the keys to the kingdom.
  • WhatsApp: for those who still haven’t quite let go of their old habits. Kind of like clinging to your faded college sweatshirt.

Why the disparity? Zalo offers features tailored to Vietnamese users, better integration with local payment systems, which, frankly, is huge. Plus, everyone’s on it already. Network effects, baby! It’s the ultimate digital herd mentality. It’s the default. It’s what your grandma uses.

The numbers are clear. Zalo won. WhatsApp lost. Move on.

What is the most used social media app in Vietnam?

Facebook. Dominates. Vietnam. End of story.

  • Zalo: Strong local contender. Messaging, payments, and more. Big deal there.
  • TikTok: Rapid growth. Especially with younger users. Can’t ignore it.
  • Instagram: Growing steadily. Popular with businesses and influencers. Visual focus.
  • YouTube: Massive for video content. Not strictly social media, but hugely relevant.
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