The National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), in collaboration with Ant International, a unit of China-based Ant Group, and Vietcombank, on April 3 announced an expansion of cross-border QR code payment services between Vietnam and China.
The move marks a significant step in digital payment connectivity, aimed at facilitating trade and tourism flows between the two countries. Under the new arrangement, Chinese tourists can use Alipay, a member wallet of Ant International, to scan VIETQRGlobal codes and make direct payments at merchants within NAPAS’ network across Vietnam.
Bilateral QR transactions are processed through the integrated infrastructure of NAPAS and Ant International, alongside Vietcombank’s settlement system, enabling direct payments in local currencies, the Chinese yuan and the Vietnamese dong.
The rollout comes as China remains one of Vietnam’s largest sources of inbound tourists. Cross-border QR payments are expected to improve visitor convenience by offering familiar payment methods, while enabling businesses in retail, services and tourism to better capture international customer flows.
At the launch event, NAPAS chief executive Nguyen Quang Minh said the corporation is developing a cross-border payment platform designed to ensure security, high performance and scalability in line with international standards. He described the partnership with Ant International as a milestone linking Vietnam’s national retail payment infrastructure with one of China’s largest payment ecosystems, serving more than one billion users.
Vietcombank chief executive Le Quang Vinh said cross-border QR payments are becoming an increasingly common solution in international transactions. As the designated settlement bank, Vietcombank has committed substantial resources to deliver a “home-like” payment experience for Chinese users, while creating new growth opportunities for Vietnamese merchants.
Ant International president Douglas Feagin highlighted Vietnam’s strong potential for cross-border QR adoption, citing rapid digital transformation, a dynamic payment ecosystem and robust tourism growth. He said the initiative would not only benefit travellers but also help small and medium-sized enterprises access global customers.
According to the State Bank of Vietnam, the initiative aligns with bilateral commitments on retail payment connectivity. Authorities are also working to enable outbound payments, allowing Vietnamese users to scan QR codes in China.
Once fully implemented in both directions, the system is expected to significantly boost tourism and trade between the two countries, while strengthening Vietnam’s position in the regional digital economy.
