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On April 23, 2026, Vietnam's National Payment Corporation (NAPAS), in cooperation with GLN International and settlement banks BIDV and Hana Bank, announced the launch of a cross-border QR payment service between Vietnam and South Korea. The service marks a major step in retail payments integration and will enable more than 115 million people—Korean tourists and residents in Vietnam—to use e-wallets and GLN International payment apps to scan the VIETQRGlobal QR code and pay at hundreds of thousands of acceptance points nationwide. Bilateral transactions are processed quickly and securely in real time, with settlements directly in Korean won (KRW) and Vietnamese dong (VND) through the Hana Bank and BIDV infrastructure. The initiative aims to boost cashless payments, facilitate tourism and trade, and remove currency and exchange-rate barriers, while expanding opportunities for Vietnamese businesses serving Korean travelers and vice versa.
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…
