Cross-border QR payments expanded to ease Chinese tourists’ spending in Vietnam

The expanded service was jointly announced in Hanoi on Friday by the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), Vietcombank, and Ant International, a Singapore-based global digital payment and fintech company.

The system enables real-time QR transactions between the Chinese yuan and the Vietnamese dong through an integrated settlement infrastructure, providing what stakeholders describe as a seamless ‘home-like’ payment experience for Chinese travelers.

Under the arrangement, starting April 3, Chinese visitors can use China’s Alipay to scan VietQRGlobal codes at merchants within the NAPAS network nationwide, including shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, and tourist destinations.

Transactions are processed through the systems of NAPAS, Ant International, and Vietcombank, enabling direct settlement in local currencies.

The roll-out comes amid strong growth in bilateral tourism.

In 2025, Vietnam welcomed more than 21.2 million international visitors, with Chinese tourists accounting for nearly 5.28 million arrivals, or about 25 percent of the total.

China remains one of Vietnam’s largest source markets, while Vietnam is also among the top destinations for Chinese outbound travelers.

NAPAS CEO Nguyen Quang Minh said the partnership marks a milestone in developing a cross-border payment platform that meets international standards on safety, performance, and scalability.

He noted that the system connects Vietnam’s national retail payment infrastructure with a global ecosystem serving more than one billion users, expanding opportunities for both tourism and local businesses.

Vietcombank CEO Le Quang Vinh said cross-border QR payments are becoming a global trend in international transactions.

As the designated settlement bank, Vietcombank aims to deliver a ‘home-like’ payment experience for Chinese users, while creating new growth opportunities for millions of Vietnamese merchants and small businesses.

Ant International President Douglas Feagin said Vietnam has strong potential for QR-based cross-border payments, supported by rapid digital transformation and a dynamic tourism sector.

He added that the initiative will help Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises reach a broader international customer base while further strengthening the country’s digital economy.

Authorities and project partners are also working to enable two-way functionality, which would allow Vietnamese tourists to use domestic banking apps to scan Alipay QR codes when visiting China.

Once fully implemented, the system is expected to further boost tourism flows, trade, and regional economic integration.

NAPAS said it is expanding cooperation with international partners to broaden VietQRGlobal acceptance across additional markets.

The system has already been linked with several countries in the region, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and China, reflecting Vietnam’s push toward a more interconnected digital payments ecosystem.