Chinese visitors can now use Weixin Pay QR codes in Vietnam

Speaking at the launch of the Vietnam-China cross-border QR payment service on Thursday, Pham Anh Tuan, director of the Payment Department at the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), said the integration with Weixin Pay marked a new milestone in the country's efforts to expand its digital payment infrastructure internationally.

Over 1 billion Weixin Pay users can now make QR payments in Vietnam

Weixin Pay, one of China's most widely used mobile payment platforms integrated into the Weixin/WeChat app with more than one billion users, can now be used to scan VietQRGlobal codes at participating merchants across Vietnam through a partnership between the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) and Weixin Pay.

Chinese visitors can make payments at retail stores, restaurants, hotels, accommodation providers, and tourist attractions nationwide without exchanging cash or using international bank cards.

Nguyen Quang Minh, chief executive of NAPAS, said the partnership completes Vietnam's cross-border QR payment network for Chinese visitors while extending the reach of VietQRGlobal to one of the world's largest outbound tourism markets. 

He added that growing tourism and trade are driving demand for seamless cross-border payments, benefiting both international visitors and Vietnamese businesses.

According to Vietnam's General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed about 13.9 million international visitors in the first seven months of 2026, up 6.6 percent from a year earlier. 

China remained the country's largest source market with around 3.1 million arrivals, accounting for 22.2 percent of the total. 

Vietnam is also among the largest source markets for visitors to China, underscoring growing demand for cross-border payment services.

Two-way cross-border QR payments

Hoang Viet Hung, chief executive of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), said expanding cross-border QR payments would provide a more convenient payment option for consumers and tourists while strengthening economic links between Vietnam and China through digital financial infrastructure. 

BIDV serves as the settlement bank and is responsible for developing the project's merchant acceptance network.

Ben Yang, chief executive of Weixin Pay for Southeast Asia and North America, said China remains one of Vietnam's largest source markets for international visitors. 

Allowing travelers to pay with a familiar payment method is expected to encourage higher spending, greater use of tourism services, and longer stays.

Beyond payments, Yang said Vietnamese businesses could eventually reach Chinese consumers through Weixin's digital ecosystem, including digital marketing, destination platforms, and Mini Programs.

NAPAS, BIDV, and Weixin Pay are studying the next phase of the partnership, which would enable Vietnamese users to make QR code payments in China using domestic banking apps and e-wallets. 

Once launched, the two-way payment system is expected to further facilitate tourism, trade and economic exchanges between the two countries.