If you want to expand into Vietnam, you cannot ignore Zalo, the messaging app most widely used by Vietnamese users. This guide explains Zalo’s features, web version and registration process, and shows how exporters can use Zalo OA official accounts, advertising and communities to acquire customers in Vietnam.
For exporters targeting Vietnam, focusing only on Facebook, WhatsApp and LinkedIn is far from enough—Zalo is the instant messaging tool most commonly used by Vietnamese customers. In Vietnam, Zalo is both an everyday social app and an important gateway for business communication and e-commerce transactions. This guide gives you a five-minute overview of Zalo and explains how to use it for customer acquisition in Vietnam.
What Is Zalo?
Zalo was launched in 2012 by Vietnamese internet company VNG. It is one of Vietnam’s leading instant messaging apps by market share, with a large registered user base and activity concentrated mainly in Vietnam. It combines chat, calls, social features, payments (ZaloPay) and mini apps in one platform. Its usage is similar to other popular messaging apps and it has become part of everyday life for many Vietnamese customers.
Zalo’s Main Features
- Text chat and group chat: one-to-one messaging and group discussions, with emojis and stickers;
- Voice and video calls: supports high-quality voice and video calling;
- Social updates: post status updates, images and videos, with likes and comments from friends;
- ZaloPay payments: transfers, mobile top-ups, utility payments and shopping payments;
- Mini apps: services such as ticket booking, food ordering and weather;
- Business features: official accounts (Zalo OA), the advertising platform (Zalo Ads), Zalo Shop online stores, API access and community operations form a complete toolkit for customer acquisition and service.
Which Devices Can Use Zalo?
Zalo is not limited to phones:
- Mobile app: iOS / Android, with the most complete feature set;
- Desktop version: Windows / macOS, available to download and install;
- Web version: visit chat.zalo.me in a browser and use it directly without installation.
For exporters, the web and desktop versions make it easier to handle inquiries from multiple customers on a computer at the same time.
How to Register for Zalo
- Install the Zalo app by searching for it in your mobile app store; the interface language can be switched to English at the bottom;
- Tap Register and enter your mobile number (non-Vietnamese numbers can be used; make sure to select the correct country code);
- Receive the SMS verification code and complete verification;
- Complete your profile and set a password to start using Zalo.
Use a phone number that can reliably receive SMS messages and make sure your network can access Zalo normally. Follow Zalo’s terms of service and the laws and regulations of your location. Businesses that use Zalo for customer communication should consider applying for a verified Zalo OA official account instead of using personal accounts to add customers in bulk.
How Exporters Can Use Zalo to Develop the Vietnam Market
Register a Zalo OA official account An OA is the brand’s official presence on Zalo. It can push product and promotional content, automatically reply to customer messages and provide customer interaction data. Add the OA link to product catalogs, email signatures and your independent website so Vietnamese customers have a stable official contact channel.
Run targeted campaigns with Zalo Ads Zalo Ads supports image, video and carousel ad formats, with targeting by location and audience interests. Landing pages can direct users straight to a Zalo OA or Zalo Shop, shortening the path from discovery to action.
Operate communities and local content Join or create local Vietnamese industry groups on Zalo and share useful content to build trust. Use the OA to publish Vietnamese-language content regularly and align it with local buying habits and holiday moments. Avoid flooding groups with ads from a personal account, as this can lead to reports and account restrictions.
Connect with Zalo Shop / API Retail sellers can use Zalo Shop to display products directly on the platform. Teams with development capabilities can connect chat to a customer service system through the Zalo API, enabling automated welcome messages, FAQ replies and ticket routing.
Account Management for Team Collaboration
If a company has multiple salespeople handling different Vietnamese customers, each person can use their own personal account. However, when several team members need to jointly operate the customer-service backend of the same Zalo OA, login sessions may need to pass between members. PurpleMark can provide an isolated browser environment for this type of collaboration: keep the OA backend login environment fixed, share it with the team member on duty, and record actions. This lets the team change operators without changing the environment, improves accountability, and reduces repeated QR-code logins and accidental messages. Personal Zalo accounts should still follow a one-person-one-account approach, while business communication should primarily use official commercial features such as OA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Vietnamese phone number to register for Zalo? No. Any phone number that can receive SMS messages can be used, as long as you select the correct country code.
Do Zalo Web and the mobile app stay in sync? Yes. After you sign in to the same account, messages are synchronized. Once you scan the code or complete verification on your phone, you can continue using the web version.
Can I use a personal account for bulk marketing messages? It is not recommended. Adding large numbers of friends or sending mass messages can lead to restrictions. Businesses should use a Zalo OA official account for compliant message distribution and customer management.
