How to Make QR Code Payments in Vietnam: Guide for Foreigners & Tourists

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Increasingly, payments by QR are the norm, allowing frictionless transactions which avoid the need to carry cash. If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam you may like to learn about how to make a Vietnam QR code payment for foreigners.

This guide covers how to pay with QR code in Vietnam step by step. Plus we’ll also introduce Wise for paying in Vietnam with QR code or card, with the mid-market rate and low conversion fees every time.

What is Vietnam QR Code Payment?

If you’re visiting or relocating to Vietnam, pay by QR code is a convenient option for day to day expenses. A common question is whether every QR code in Vietnam is the same. In practice, no. Some are purely local. Some are set up for cross-border use. Some can be scanned by bank apps, while others work through wallet networks.

Vietnam has its own QR system - called VietQR¹, and there’s also a recently launched VietQR Global option which is intended to cater to foreign tourists, particularly from China². As well as VietQR, you can also see different QR options on display in stores and restaurants, which may be from individual banks, or from global providers like Alipay+.

Just scan the QR with a compatible app, to pay using your preferred method. Generally, to use a local Vietnam QR you’ll need a specific Vietnamese app - but Alipay+ and other more global QRs can be used with a foreign bank card, or using your Wise app.

Where is QR Payment Accepted in Vietnam?

QR payments are more and more commonly used in Vietnam. In cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh you’ll find QR codes are on display in many stores, restaurants, cafes and stalls.

Uptake is increasing in more rural areas as QR codes are convenient - but it’s still a smart idea to have some cash on you if you’re traveling off the beaten path. Take along your Wise card for some free ATM withdrawals each month whenever you need cash on hand.

Vietnam QR Payment for Foreigners

If you live in Malaysia and already use a Malaysian bank account or local e-wallet, QR payments can be quite straightforward. DuitNow QR is built to work across participating banks and wallets, so the local ecosystem is broad. We’ll look at a couple of commonly used local wallets which offer QR services later.

Vietnam QR Payment for Tourists

For short-term visitors in Vietnam, using Wise for QR payments can be an ideal solution. While you could download a local app, or use Alipay if you have it, using the Wise app means you don’t need to sign up for multiple local services for your travels, and gets you the mid-market exchange rate too.

Wise QR payments work wherever you see the Alipay+ symbol, which is very common in tourist hubs. You can choose to convert your balance to VND before you travel to lock in a rate, or simply let Wise’s auto-conversion tool handle the exchange instantly when you pay.

How to Pay with QR Code in Vietnam

If you are wondering how to pay with QR code in Vietnam, the basic process is usually simple:

Look for a payment code at the merchant, and check whether it shows VietQR, VIETQRGlobal, Alipay+, or another supported network.

• Open the app you plan to use.
• Scan the merchant’s QR code.
• Check the amount and currency before you approve.
• Confirm the payment in your app.
• Keep a card or cash backup for merchants that do not support your app.

The key question is not how scanning works. It is whether your app supports the specific code in front of you. If you already have a Wise account there’s no need to download a specific QR payment app for your trip to Vietnam. Just use the Wise QR reader to pay from your balance for Alipay+ QR.

Using Wise for QR Payments in Vietnam

You can use Wise to pay without cash anywhere in Vietnam you see an Alipay+ QR displayed. This is available in stores and restaurants, particularly where tourists go often.

The process to pay with a QR in Vietnam is simple and saves you carrying around a lot of cash in VND. To give an example, here’s how to pay a merchant in Vietnam who is displaying an Alipay+ QR code:

1. Log into the Wise app and open your Card tab
2. Swipe left on the image of your card to bring up Pay with QR code or Pay like a local
3. Tap Scan QR code to open your phone’s camera
4. Scan the Alipay+ QR code for the merchant you want to pay
5. Follow the steps to confirm your payment
6. You’ll see the transaction listed as completed in the Wise app

It’s also possible to pay using an Alipay+ QR you have saved as a photo to your phone. When you’re in the Wise app, follow the steps above, but select the option to Import QR code instead of ‘Pay with QR code’ in step two. You can then open the photo of the QR you want to use, and follow the prompts to pay that way.

QR Payment Fees and Charges in Vietnam

The exact QR payment fees and charges you pay depend on the specific service you choose, as well as the funding method.

If you’re a foreign resident of Vietnam and use a local QR payment app, with a linked local VND bank card, you may find there’s no fee for the service. This depends on the bank that has issued your card.

Tourists using traditional foreign bank cards via QR tools often face foreign transaction fees added by their home bank. Again this depends on the provider you use - but in many cases, card issuers will add a fee of around 3% to payments processed in a currency different to the underlying account.

A good solution here is to use Wise. As we’ve seen, paying by QR with Wise is simple, and it also allows you to skip the foreign transaction fee. You can spend from a VND balance with no additional Wise fee, or leave your balance in whichever currency you happen to have, and let the card convert to VND at the point of payment. In this case you get the mid-market rate, which you can see below, and the low, conversion fees.

What Other Apps Can Be Used for Vietnam QR Payments for Foreigners?

Here are a few other Vietnamese wallets which are popular for QR payments. Some wallets may be suitable only for long term residents, so you’ll need to compare your options before you sign up, based on your own situation:

• MoMo³ - Super popular financial app which has options for bill payments, loans, investments and transport payments as well as QR services
• Zalopay⁴ - Wallet built into the popular Zalo messaging app in Vietnam, which allows you to keep chat and payments all in one place
• VCB Digibank⁵ - Digital payment solutions from VCB, one of the largest banks in the country, which offers QR services
• Wise - A global financial technology company offering a multi-currency account and debit card

Pay in Vietnam Like a Local with Wise

Whether you’re grabbing street food in Hanoi, shopping in Da Nang, or taking a weekend trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Wise gives you flexible ways to pay while you travel. With Wise, you can:

• Scan and pay via QR: Easily scan Alipay+ QR codes with the Wise app to pay like a local at thousands of merchants across Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and other Asian destinations.
• Tap and pay: Add your Wise card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless payments.
• Make chip and PIN payments: Use your physical card to make payments.
• Withdraw cash when needed: Get free international ATM withdrawals up to $400 AUD (or equivalent) per month for those cash-only shops.
• Generate instant digital cards: Create virtual cards in seconds for safer online bookings or to use immediately with mobile wallets.
• Purchase discounted airport lounge access: Relax before your flight with access to 1,400+ lounges globally, bookable directly in the Wise app for up to 30% less than walk-in rates.

Whether you’re tapping your card in a boutique or scanning a QR code at a local cafe, Wise ensures your money goes further on every Vietnamese adventure.

🚀 Sign up for Wise today

1. VietQR
2. VietQR Global launch - article
3. MoMo
4. Zalopay
5. VCB Digibank