Paying for everyday purchases in Vietnam is becoming easier for international travelers. Visitors from several Asian countries can now use payment apps from home to scan VNPAY-QR for international tourists and pay directly at participating businesses in Vietnam.
VNPAY-QR for international tourists enables cross-border payments; travelers can use their existing banking apps or digital wallets. The payment is processed through the traveler’s existing account in their home country.
Currently supported payment networks include WeChat Pay and UnionPay International for travelers from China, ITMX for Thailand, LAPNet for Laos, ACLEDA for Cambodia, and GLN-connected payment apps for visitors from South Korea.
The service is particularly relevant in major tourist destinations, where businesses are increasingly adopting QR and cashless payment options. For travelers, it can make smaller everyday purchases more convenient, especially when they do not want to carry large amounts of Vietnamese cash.
However, this does not mean that every tourist can use every foreign payment app at every VNPAY-QR merchant. Availability depends on the payment network supported by the traveler’s home country and the participating merchant.
Cash and international bank cards therefore remain useful backup options when traveling around Vietnam.
For more practical information about paying for things in Vietnam, see our Vietnam Currency: Cash or Card? guide and our Vietnam for First-Timers guide.
Sources
- Tuoi Tre News — International tourists can pay in Vietnam using familiar apps through VNPAY-QR
- Vietnam.vn — Foreign visitors can scan VNPAY-QR to make direct payments in Vietnam
Build your Vietnam route — free.