Vietnam expands cross-border QR payments for international tourists

International tourists visiting Vietnam can now use familiar payment applications from their home countries to pay via VNPAY-QR, eliminating the need for cash exchange. This cross-border QR solution allows travelers from China, South Korea, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia to scan codes and pay directly using local apps such as WeChat Pay/UnionPay International, ITMX, LAPNet, ACLEDA, and the GLN network.

Currently, VNPAY-QR is accepted at over 600,000 points of sale across Vietnam, ranging from modern retail systems to small local shops. This development follows a period of significant growth in Vietnam's tourism sector, which saw approximately 6.76 million international visitors in the first quarter of 2026, a 12.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025.