For South Korean travelers to Vietnam, paying for coffee, taxis or hotel bills may soon feel like paying at home.
BIDV, Vietnam National Payment Corporation (BREATH), South Korea’s KEB Hana Bank, And GLN International We launched a cross-border QR code payment service connecting Vietnam and South Korea, as both markets move further towards cashless retail transactions.
BIDV said the service allows South Korean visitors and Vietnamese residents to use their local banking apps and e-wallets to scan QR codes at payment acceptance points across the country.
NAPAS will operate the network on the Vietnamese side through VIETQRGlobal, while GLN International will connect participating South Korean banks and applications.
BIDV and Hana Bank will act as clearing banks and support the transaction process between the two markets.
The launch follows a cooperation agreement signed at the Vietnam-South Korea Economic Forum in August 2025.
BIDV said that system integration and infrastructure development works were completed in less than a year.
Pham Anh TuanPayment Department Director, State Bank of VietnamHe said the initiative aims to promote bilateral QR-based retail payment connectivity, increase user convenience and support trade and tourism between the two countries.
The move comes as Vietnam continues to attract strong inbound travel demand. The country recorded more than 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, a 20% increase year-on-year.
South Korea was the second largest source market with approximately 4.3 million visitors, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the total. Vietnamese travel to South Korea increased 9% to nearly 550,000.
For Vietnam, the service adds another layer to the digital payment infrastructure. For South Korean consumers, this eliminates one of the common problems of overseas travel: changing payment habits at the border.
Nguyen Quang MinhExpanding cross-border QR payment connectivity remains a priority in developing Vietnam’s payment infrastructure, NAPAS director general said.
Hana Bank and GLN International also stated plans to expand collaboration and expand digital financial services beyond payments.
