Cross-border QR payments open new opportunities for Vietnamese businesses
Cross-border payment integration opens doors for Vietnamese businesses as international tourists skip cash exchange. Vietnam–China cross-border QR payment connectivity established Vietnam, Laos launch cross-border QR code payment connectivity
Recent developments in cross-border payment integration are revolutionizing the Vietnamese business landscape, particularly by attracting international tourists who prefer using their home country's payment apps. During a visit to Ho Chi Minh City in May 2026, Singaporean tourist Lee Wei Loong found success with QR payment applications such as LiquidPay, Aleta Planet, and DCS DeCard.
He even noted that the exchange rate was displayed directly on the app, giving him confidence in making payments without the need for physical cash or foreign currency exchange.
Another example is Lu Suan, a tourist from Beijing, who utilized WeChat and WeChat Pay to pay for a meal at a Japanese restaurant in Vincom shopping center in Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Since August 2026, she has been able to do this without needing to exchange cash or carry a credit card. Similar experiences are being reported from tourists across South Korea, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.
According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam has seen a 6.6 percent increase in international visitor arrivals in the first 7 months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Moreover, transactions by tourists from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia have surged nearly 8 times, with transaction values rising sixfold. Similarly, Vietnamese tourists visiting these countries have shown increased activity, with a nearly 5-fold increase in transactions and a 4-fold rise in transaction values.
In addition to tourism, QR payments are also becoming popular in traditional markets and souvenir stalls. More than 20 banks and payment intermediaries in Vietnam have joined forces to promote cross-border payments. BVBank, for instance, has integrated WeChat Pay into VietQRGlobal codes, allowing Chinese visitors to use their WeChat and WeChat Pay to scan VietQRGlobal codes and make payments at BVBank's acceptance points.
This system automatically converts Chinese yuan to Vietnamese dong at the transaction's exchange rate, eliminating the need for additional POS machines or foreign currency small change.
Similarly, Alipay wallets can be used to pay at many Sacombank's acceptance locations, with Vietnamese dong credited to the household enterprise's account upon transaction. Ms. Duyen, an owner of a food stall at Ben Thanh market, observed that a significant majority of her customers now prefer cashless payments, with young customers showing an even higher inclination towards this payment method.
Written by urgent.news from SGGP English Edition Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
