Vietnam National Payment Corporation (NAPAS), a payment service in Vietnam, Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), a top bank in Vietnam, and China’s Ant International have jointly launched a cross-border QR payment service linking Vietnam and China, marking a step forward in digital payment connectivity between the two countries.

Last Friday (April 3), the three sides held a ceremony for the service launching. The launch came amid a rise in the number of Chinese visitors to Vietnam and it can improve payment convenience for tourists while supporting local businesses.

Under the system, Chinese tourists can use the Alipay e-wallet to scan VietQR Global codes and pay at merchants within the NAPAS network across Vietnam, including retail outlets, restaurants, hotels, and tourist sites.

Transactions are processed through connectivity between NAPAS and Ant International, alongside Vietcombank’s clearing and settlement system. Payments are settled directly between the Chinese yuan (RMB) and Vietnamese dong (VND).

Officials said the service is designed to provide a faster and more seamless payment experience for visitors, while enabling Vietnamese businesses to better serve international customers, particularly from China. The initiative is also expected to support broader trade and service sector activity by simplifying payment processes and expanding access to overseas consumers.

Building on Vietnam’s strong digital growth, Ant International will “continue supporting the ambition of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City to become an International Financial Center, helping businesses participate more fully in the digital economy, driving inclusive growth and accelerating Vietnam’s digital transformation,” the Chinese giant said in a post on Tuesday.

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