Guide to Using Google Pay in Vietnam: Current Situation, Payment Methods, and Remittance Suggestions

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This Vietnam Google Pay guide first addresses your core question: Google Pay is available in Vietnam. You can use it for online payments and tap-to-pay at some NFC-enabled stores.

However, please note that its adoption is far less widespread than local digital wallets like MoMo. In daily transactions, it is not the mainstream choice.

Key Takeaways

• Google Pay in Vietnam is mainly used for online payments, such as in app stores or ride-hailing apps, with limited use in physical stores.
• In Vietnam, MoMo and ZaloPay are the dominant payment methods, widely used in daily transactions and street vendors.
• If you need to send money to Vietnam from abroad, Wise and Remitly are better options than Google Pay, offering more favorable exchange rates and faster service.
• When using Google Pay for payments, if your card is not in VND, your bank will charge a currency conversion fee.
• Google Pay uses virtual card number technology, which effectively protects your account security.

Vietnam Google Pay Guide: Status and Limitations

When preparing to use Google Pay in Vietnam, you need to understand its two main use cases: online payments and in-store payments. The experience differs significantly between these scenarios. In simple terms, Google Pay in Vietnam is a tool that is “strong online, weak offline.” This Vietnam Google Pay guide will detail its advantages and limitations.

Online and In-App Payments

Online payments are Google Pay’s core and most convenient advantage in Vietnam. If you’ve linked an international credit card like Visa or Mastercard to your Google account, online transactions in Vietnam become effortless.

You can directly select Google Pay to complete payments in many international and local mainstream apps, saving you the hassle of entering card details for each app.

Main applicable platforms include:

• App Stores: Purchasing apps, games, or subscriptions on the Google Play Store.
• Transportation Services: Using Grab for ride-hailing or food delivery.
• Travel Bookings: Booking hotels and flights on Agoda, Booking.com, and similar platforms.

Fee Reminder: Google itself does not charge additional transaction fees. However, you should be aware of two potential fees:

1. Currency Conversion Fee: If your card is in a foreign currency (e.g., USD or CNY), your card issuer will charge a currency conversion fee when converting the transaction to VND.
2. Merchant Service Fee: In rare cases, merchants may charge a small service fee for specific payment methods.

In summary, for users accustomed to using international credit cards for online purchases, Google Pay offers a seamless payment experience.

In-Store NFC Tap-to-Pay

Yes, you can use Google Pay’s NFC tap-to-pay feature (Tap to Pay) in Vietnam, allowing you to pay by tapping your phone. However, its availability is significantly limited.

This feature relies on merchants having POS machines that support contactless payments. Currently, some banks in Vietnam are actively promoting this service. For example, TPBank is one of the first banks to partner with Google, allowing its Visa cardholders to add cards to Google Wallet for tap-to-pay. Meanwhile, banks like Sacombank are also deploying Google Pay-compatible payment systems for merchants.

Nevertheless, NFC payment coverage is far less extensive than local QR code payments. Refer to the table below for usage scenarios:

Practical Tip: Single Transaction Limit: Note that single transactions via Google Pay are capped at 10 million VND (approximately $400 USD). This is sufficient for most daily purchases, but be mindful for large transactions.

Thus, this Vietnam Google Pay guide suggests using Google Pay as a backup payment option in upscale venues, but don’t expect it to handle all offline scenarios. In Vietnam’s daily life, QR codes are the true king.

Setting Up and Linking Payment Methods

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Adding your bank card to Google Pay is a straightforward process. You only need an NFC-enabled Android phone and a supported bank card, and you can complete the setup in minutes.

Linking Credit and Debit Cards

First, download and open the Google Wallet app. Then, follow these steps to add your payment card:

1. On the app’s homepage, tap the “Add to Wallet” button in the bottom right corner.
2. Select the “Payment Card” option.
3. You can scan the physical card with your camera or manually enter the card number, expiration date, and security code.
4. Agree to the card issuer’s terms and complete verification via SMS or your bank’s app.

More Features to Look Forward To: Google Wallet’s functionality goes beyond payments. It will soon support saving boarding passes directly from the Messages app, with Vietnam Airlines being one of the first partnered airlines. Additionally, its API now supports adding event tickets, membership cards, and coupons.

Supported Card Types: Currently, you can add the following types of cards to Google Wallet in Vietnam:

• Internationally accepted Visa and Mastercard cards.
• Some bank-issued JCB cards.
• Vietnam’s local Napas chip cards.

Online Payment Process

Online payments are Google Pay’s most convenient scenario. Using the popular ride-hailing app Grab as an example, the payment process is seamless.

1. In the Grab app, select your service (e.g., ride or food delivery) and proceed to the payment page.
2. In the “Payment Methods” list, choose “Google Pay” as your payment option.
3. Confirm the order amount, then authorize the payment with fingerprint, Face ID, or a password.

The transaction completes instantly, and you don’t need to re-enter any bank card details. This Vietnam Google Pay guide emphasizes that this seamless online payment experience is its core advantage over other methods.

Fee Note: When using a non-VND bank card (e.g., a USD credit card issued by a licensed Hong Kong bank), your bank may charge a currency conversion fee, typically between 1.5% and 2%.

Google Pay vs. Vietnam’s Mainstream Payment Solutions

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While Google Pay is available in Vietnam, it’s far from the only option. When you step onto Vietnam’s streets, you’ll find that QR codes are the true payment stars. To navigate daily life seamlessly, you must understand the local payment giants.

Local Wallet Giants: MoMo and ZaloPay

In Vietnam’s digital payment landscape, MoMo and ZaloPay are two unavoidable giants. They are not just payment tools but “super apps” integrated into Vietnamese daily life.

MoMo is the absolute market leader. As of 2024, it boasts over 40 million active users, covering nearly half of Vietnam’s population. Meanwhile, ZaloPay, backed by the national messaging app Zalo, has amassed 16 million users. Their market shares clearly reflect their dominance:

Their overwhelming advantages include:

• Ubiquitous QR Codes: From large supermarket chains to street-side coffee stalls and food vendors, you’ll see their pink (MoMo) or blue (ZaloPay) QR codes everywhere. MoMo has over 140,000 payment acceptance points in Vietnam, with an extensive network.
• Rich Lifestyle Services: You can easily pay utility bills, internet, and phone top-ups, eliminating the need for in-person errands.
• Localized Promotions: Both wallets frequently offer discounts, cashback, and coupons. For example, when paying with MoMo, you may earn cashback points, making your spending more cost-effective.

Core Difference: MoMo is a comprehensive financial lifestyle toolbox, while ZaloPay is seamlessly integrated into Zalo, the messaging app Vietnamese use daily, making social transfers highly convenient.

Bank Apps and VietQR

Beyond digital wallets, another rapidly rising payment force is VietQR. You can think of it as a unified QR code standard launched by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Its biggest advantage is enabling interoperability across banks. Regardless of which bank’s QR code a merchant uses, you can pay directly using the scanning function in your mobile banking app.

• Rapid Growth: VietQR’s adoption is skyrocketing. In 2024 alone, the number of transactions via QR codes grew by over 106%.
• Bank Support: Nearly all major banks, such as Vietcombank (VCB Digibank), Techcombank, and MB Bank, have integrated VietQR into their mobile banking apps.

For those with a local Vietnamese bank account, using a bank app to scan VietQR codes for payments is both secure and direct, eliminating the need for secondary top-ups or transfers via digital wallets.

Scenario-Based Choice: Google Pay vs. Local Wallets

After understanding these mainstream payment methods, how should you choose? The answer depends on your specific scenario. This Vietnam Google Pay guide provides a clear comparison table:

Conclusion: For short-term travelers, those preferring online payments, or users accustomed to international credit cards, Google Pay is an excellent supplementary tool. However, to truly blend into Vietnam’s daily life and handle all offline transactions, MoMo, ZaloPay, or a bank app with VietQR are the essential, go-to payment solutions on your phone.

International Remittance to Vietnam: Recommendations

Beyond local spending in Vietnam, you may need to send money to family or friends in Vietnam from abroad. Choosing a reliable and cost-effective channel is crucial. This guide analyzes Google Pay’s remittance capabilities and recommends more professional alternatives.

Google Pay’s Remittance Function

You might wonder, since Google Pay can handle payments, can it send money directly to Vietnam? The answer is no.

You should know that Google Pay’s direct remittance service is currently limited to transfers from the US to India and Singapore. If you want to send money to Vietnam, Google Pay does not offer direct transfer services. It will guide you to use integrated third-party platforms like Wise to complete the operation.

Thus, you cannot use Google Pay as a standalone remittance tool. You’ll need to seek more professional international remittance platforms.

Better Remittance Options: Wise and Remitly

For sending money to Vietnam, Wise and Remitly are two highly regarded professional platforms. They offer advantages in fees, exchange rates, and delivery speed, making them more transparent and cheaper than traditional bank wire transfers.

Wise is renowned for its near-mid-market exchange rates, meaning recipients receive more money. Remitly offers flexible speed options to meet varying urgency needs.

Suppose you’re sending $500 USD to Vietnam; here’s a fee comparison:

How to Choose?

• Best Exchange Rate: If you’re not in a hurry and want the recipient to receive as much as possible, Wise is your top choice. It’s ideal for direct transfers to Vietnamese bank accounts.
• Fastest Speed: If you need funds to arrive immediately, Remitly’s Express service is the best option, though fees are higher.
• User Feedback Reference: Remitly has a 4.9-star rating on the App Store, but reviews on sites like Trustpilot are mixed. Check the latest user feedback before using.

In summary, when sending money to Vietnam, prioritize Wise and Remitly. Choose between them based on your emphasis on speed or cost.

To make your financial transactions in Vietnam smoother, this guide’s core recommendations can be summarized in three points:

1. Treat Google Pay as an “available but non-mainstream” tool. You can use it conveniently for online payments, but don’t expect it to handle all offline daily transactions.
2. Prioritize local solutions for offline payments. MoMo, ZaloPay, or a bank app’s VietQR are the de facto standards for Vietnam’s digital life, with the widest coverage.
3. Use professional platforms for international remittances. When sending money to Vietnam from abroad, services like Wise offer better exchange rates and speeds than traditional banks.

FAQ

Can I Use a Chinese Bank Card with Google Pay in Vietnam?

Yes. As long as your mainland Chinese bank card is Visa or Mastercard, it can be linked. Google Pay does not currently support UnionPay cards. When paying, your bank will charge a currency conversion fee.

Is Using Google Pay in Vietnam Safe?

Very safe. Google Pay uses virtual card number technology, which does not share your real card details with merchants. This effectively protects your account security, making it safer than swiping a physical card.

Are There Extra Fees for Using Google Pay?

Google Pay itself does not charge transaction fees. However, if your card is not in VND, your card issuer will charge a currency conversion fee, typically between 1.5% and 2%.

Why Can’t I Use Google Pay in All Stores?

Because Google Pay relies on NFC-enabled POS machines. In Vietnam, most small shops and local restaurants lack these devices. They prefer QR code payments like MoMo or VietQR.