•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
From April 3, 2026, more than one billion Chinese travelers will be able to use the Alipay wallet to pay for goods and services in Vietnam, supported by expanded cross-border QR payment connectivity between the two countries. The launch was jointly organized by the National Payment Services of Vietnam (NAPAS), Ant International, and Vietcombank.
The event, held on April 3, 2026, was attended by Deputy Governors of the State Bank of Vietnam Pham Tien Dung and Pham Quang Dung, along with leadership from NAPAS, Vietcombank, and Ant International.
Under the collaboration between NAPAS, Ant International, and Vietcombank, Chinese tourists can use the Alipay digital wallet (an Ant International member wallet) to scan VIETQRGlobal and pay at points of acceptance within NAPAS member organizations across Vietnam.
Payments can be made at retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and tourist sites. The bilateral QR code payment process runs over connectivity infrastructure linking NAPAS with Ant International, alongside Vietcombank’s clearing and settlement infrastructure, enabling direct settlement between Renminbi and the Vietnamese dong.
China has long been one of Vietnam’s largest tourist markets. Expanding cross-border QR payment connectivity is intended to provide a seamless, fast, and secure payment experience for Chinese visitors, supporting their choice of Vietnam as a destination.
The initiative is also positioned as a way to help Vietnamese businesses reach and serve a growing international tourist flow, improving competitiveness and supporting trade and services.
Nguyen Quang Minh, General Director of NAPAS, said NAPAS is building and expanding a cross-border payment platform with safety, high performance, and scalable expansion aligned with international connection standards. He described the collaboration with Ant International as a milestone for expanding Vietnam’s retail payments ecosystem by connecting the domestic retail payments infrastructure directly with China’s payment ecosystem, which has “over 1 billion users.”
Vietcombank CEO Le Quang Vinh said Vietcombank views cross-border QR payments as a common solution for international payments and has focused resources to deliver a “home-like” experience for Chinese users paying in Vietnam via Alipay. He also cited the goal of expanding business opportunities for Vietnamese retailers and SMEs serving visitors from China.
Douglas Feagin, Chairman of Ant International, said the collaboration among Ant International, NAPAS, and Vietcombank reflects a commitment to advancing the digital economy and supporting small and medium enterprises in Vietnam. He added that strengthening payment connectivity can help Vietnamese businesses access a global customer base, and noted that Ant International supports international payments, including Alipay, accepted by retailers worldwide.
Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Banking State Bank of Vietnam’s Payment Department, said the Vietnam–China bilateral QR code payment link is among the initiatives highlighted in a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the State Bank of Vietnam and the People’s Bank of China, part of President To Lâm’s state visit to China on Aug 19, 2024. He said the central bank has promoted cross-border retail QR connections to facilitate customer payments and support cross-border trade and tourism.
Vietnam welcomed over 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, up 20% from 2024. China was the leading market with nearly 5.28 million visitors, up 41.3% year-on-year, and representing 25% of total international arrivals. Vietnam also ranked among the top five countries for visitors from China in 2025.
NAPAS said the cross-border QR payments are expected to deliver benefits by allowing tourists from China to pay in their home currency when visiting Vietnam, and enabling Vietnamese travelers to pay in their own currency when visiting China, supporting broader efforts toward cashless economies in both countries.
NAPAS added that it will continue expanding cooperation with partners in the region and strengthen connections with banks, payment intermediaries, and domestic businesses to broaden the VIETQRGlobal acceptance network.
To date, NAPAS has completed cross-border QR payment connections with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and China, and plans to expand to additional markets in the region.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
