Vietnamese travelers will be able to pay with QR codes in Singapore using Vietnamese bank accounts this year, after the reverse-direction connection begins operating earlier in Q3. The information was shared by Mr. Nguyễn Đăng Hùng, Deputy General Director of the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (Napas), in a press briefing on July 2. The company is collaborating with Liquid Group (Singapore) and VietinBank, and is expected to connect the reverse direction within this year, allowing Vietnamese to use domestic payment apps to scan QR codes in Singapore and pay as in Vietnam. Singapore is the sixth country in the world where Napas has deployed cross-border QR connections, after Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China and South Korea. The transaction processing will operate in real time, with direct conversion between SGD and VND to help travelers pay at stores, restaurants, hotels and other points nationwide without cash or currency exchange. In addition to Napas, VietinBank will play a settlement role in cross-border QR payments between Vietnam and Singapore. According to Deputy General Director Tran Cong Quynh Lan, in the initial phase the bank will prioritize services in areas with many Singaporean visitors. Mr. Quynh Lan also said that the exchange rate will be real-time, based on market movements. Accordingly, unlike some services that have delays in rate updates, the cross-border QR payment system will display the rate at the moment of the transaction. This helps customers know the exact amount payable, how the foreign exchange is calculated, and the total amount recorded when the transaction is completed, thus enabling more prudent spending. According to Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, the connection of cross-border QR payments between Vietnam and Singapore will bring practical benefits to travelers of both countries. This activity will make transactions faster and more convenient, while contributing to the goal of promoting cashless payments for both Vietnam and Singapore. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first five months of 2026, international arrivals to Vietnam reached 10.6 million, up 14.9% year-on-year and the highest in many years. Among them, Singapore is recognized as one of Vietnam’s prominent tourist markets with positive growth. A survey by Changi Airport Group shows that one in five Singaporeans have visited Vietnam, and 95% of those surveyed express desire to return. Regarding security, VietinBank's deputy general director said the security standards for cross-border QR payments are applied similarly to domestic payments. Accordingly, all authentication, security and fraud prevention features are deployed in a coordinated manner as in Vietnam.
