ChatGPT allows accounts with Vietnamese phone numbers

Users in Vietnam can sign up for a ChatGPT account without a need to switch regions or use a foreign phone number starting Thursday.

OpenAI, which developed ChatGPT, now also allows the purchase of ChatGPT Plus and its API using Visa, Mastercard cards and digital wallets in Vietnam.

Thanh Hung, an office worker in Hanoi, said he can now access ChatGPT Plus after paying VND475,000 ($19.33) using MoMo. However, he said some people could not properly receive the OTP codes sent to their phones, which are required for signing up.

Minh Tam, an administrator of a Facebook group regarding the use of AI chatbots, said users can resolve the issue by using WhatsApp.

"Several members of the group said WhatsApp can receive the OTP codes from OpenAI faster than the phones’ default text messaging applications," he said.

Users in Vietnam can download the ChatGPT applications from either the App Store or Google Play, then verify their email addresses and phone numbers and use it. The free version of the chatbot utilizes the GPT-3.5 model, while the Plus version, for a fee of $20, uses the GPT-4 model.