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National Citizen Commercial Joint Stock Bank announced the introduction of VietQR Global on July 15, a cross-border QR payment service that lets international visitors complete transactions instantly and securely without exchanging currency or relying on cash. The solution integrates with popular apps from key tourism source markets, allowing users to scan a dedicated NCB code at merchant locations and authenticate payments through their usual mobile banking or e-wallet interface. According to the bank’s press release distributed via Media OutReach Newswire, the service forms part of broader efforts to simplify travel experiences amid Vietnam’s expanding visitor numbers.
The platform currently accommodates travellers from China through Alipay and UnionPay, South Korea via GLN, Hana Financial Group and Naver Pay, as well as users from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, with planned rollouts to Japan, Singapore, India and Malaysia. These linkages build upon earlier bilateral QR initiatives, including the Vietnam-China cross-border payment connectivity that the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam helped launch in December 2025 in coordination with UnionPay International and several domestic banks. The General Statistics Office of Vietnam reported that international arrivals reached 12.3 million in the first six months of 2026, a 14.9 percent rise from the prior year, underscoring the timeliness of enhanced digital payment options for tourists.
Participating merchants span Sun World entertainment venues nationwide and Sun Group properties, among them Capella Hanoi, Oakwood Ha Long, Serena Resort in Hoa Binh, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Novotel Danang Premier Han River, Ba Na Hills Golf Club, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and Spa, La Festa Phu Quoc, Eschuri Vung Bau Golf and Sun PhuQuoc Airways. The bank’s release positioned these partnerships as central to delivering convenient payment flows at premier tourism and hospitality sites. NCB stated that the network would continue expanding to additional outlets as adoption grows.
Users activate the service by opening their preferred banking or e-wallet application, scanning the displayed NCB VietQR code, verifying the transaction amount and completing authentication within the same app. The process eliminates the need for physical cards or cash while ensuring real-time settlement in the user’s home currency where supported. The announcement emphasised that such frictionless mechanisms help optimise itineraries so visitors can focus on experiencing Vietnam’s cultural, culinary and natural attractions.
Established in 1995 and later renamed, National Citizen Commercial Joint Stock Bank has ranked among the country’s fastest-growing banks by charter capital from 2021 through 2026 while prioritising technology-driven payment innovations. The institution has steadily broadened its digital ecosystem and global network connections to serve both domestic clients and overseas visitors engaged in travel, work or business. Its latest offering aligns with national momentum toward cashless tourism that complements initiatives overseen by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
The service arrives as Vietnam targets 25 million international arrivals for the full year, following a first-half performance that already positions the sector for robust growth. Industry data from the tourism authority indicate air arrivals accounted for more than 80 percent of entries in early 2026, with Asia remaining the dominant source region. NCB’s release highlighted how streamlined payments can reinforce the country’s appeal by addressing a practical pain point for foreign guests.
