National Citizen Commercial Joint Stock Bank has introduced VietQR Global, a cross-border QR payment service that lets international visitors pay Vietnamese merchants directly through their home-country banking apps or digital wallets. The service launched on July 15, 2026, with initial support for payment apps from China, South Korea, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, and plans to add Japan, Singapore, India, and Malaysia.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Launched by National Citizen Commercial Joint Stock Bank (NCB) on July 15, 2026
- Branded as VietQR Global, a cross-border extension of Vietnam’s domestic VietQR system
- Initial supported markets: China (Alipay, UnionPay), South Korea (GLN, Hana Financial Group, Naver Pay), Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
- Planned expansion markets: Japan, Singapore, India, and Malaysia
- Merchant network includes Sun World entertainment venues, Sun Group hotels such as Capella Hanoi and InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways
- Transactions are authenticated and processed instantly within the visitor’s existing banking or wallet app
- No currency conversion or local SIM/cash requirement disclosed as necessary for use
Vietnam Extends Domestic QR Rail To Inbound Travelers
NCB has rolled out a cross-border payment mechanism that allows visitors to Vietnam to pay local merchants using banking apps or e-wallets issued in their home countries. The service, called VietQR Global, works by having users scan an NCB VietQR code displayed at checkout, then confirm and authenticate the payment within their own familiar app rather than a Vietnamese one. The transaction settles instantly once authenticated.
The initial rollout targets several of Vietnam’s largest inbound tourism markets. Support currently covers Chinese travelers through Alipay and UnionPay, South Korean travelers through GLN, Hana Financial Group, and Naver Pay, and travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. NCB has said it plans to extend the service to payment applications from Japan, Singapore, India, and Malaysia, broadening the pool of visitors who can transact without exchanging currency or opening a local account.
Merchant Network Centers On Tourism And Hospitality
The service has launched with a merchant base weighted toward tourism and hospitality operators. Participating venues include Sun World entertainment destinations nationwide and a group of Sun Group hotels and resorts, among them Capella Hanoi, Oakwood Ha Long, Serena Resort, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, and JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and Spa. The network also includes Sun PhuQuoc Airways, alongside other participating retail merchants.
NCB, which the bank describes as one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing lenders by charter capital over 2021 to 2026, positioned the launch as part of a broader push to expand its digital payment ecosystem and its connections with international payment networks. The bank did not disclose transaction volume targets, merchant onboarding numbers, or fee structures for the service at launch.