Vietnam: From Traditional Markets to QR Code Payments

1. A Digital Shift Born at the Marketplace

In Vietnam's traditional markets — long dominated by cash transactions — a quiet revolution is underway. Small traders and ordinary residents in Dong Thap province, in the Mekong Delta, are progressively embracing QR code payments. The growing presence of QR codes in rural markets signals a broader, more accessible form of digital inclusion.

This transformation, documented by Báo Đồng Tháp in May 2026, reflects Vietnam's national ambition to build a digital economy and society from the ground up — starting with the humblest vegetable stall.

2. From Awareness Campaign to Habit Change

Just a few years ago, market vendors in Dong Thap kept their cash in small pouches worn at the hip, and digital payments seemed improbable for everyday transactions worth just a few tens of thousands of dong. Today, thanks to cashless payment promotion campaigns and the "Market 4.0" and "Cashless Community" models, habits are shifting deeply.

The province deployed assistance teams directly to businesses and small traders, helping them install mobile banking apps, set up QR codes, perform transfers, and check transaction histories. The approach was anything but top-down: it was community-led and person-by-person.

Pioneer localities

3. Small Traders Adapt to Digital Payments

Cashless payments are no longer the exclusive domain of supermarkets and shopping malls. They are spreading across traditional rural markets: from fruit stalls to small restaurants and grocery shops, traders are proactively setting up QR codes to meet the evolving habits of their customers.

"Today, almost every fruit stall has to accept QR code payments. People rarely bring cash to the market anymore, especially the young. Without payment codes and banking apps, we lose sales opportunities." — Ms. Le Thi Kim Phung, fruit vendor at My Tho market, May 2026

On the buyers' side, convenience and security are the two main drivers. Not having to carry large amounts of cash for daily errands is seen as a decisive advantage, particularly by rural women.

"I don't carry much cash these days because I don't feel safe. For most of my market purchases, I make a bank transfer — it's much more convenient." — Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, resident of My Tho commune, May 2026

4. Even Seniors Are Making the Switch

One of the biggest challenges in this transition was getting older residents — unfamiliar with smartphones and banking apps — on board. Thanks to personalized, home-by-home support, the results have exceeded expectations.

"During the initial phase, some elderly households didn't know how to use smartphones or payment apps. But with tailored guidance, most of them can now scan QR codes and make transfers for their daily transactions." — Mr. Tran Thien Binh, deputy head of Ward 3, Trung An ward, May 2026

5. Beyond Markets: QR Codes in Every Corner of Daily Life

Cashless payments are no longer limited to traditional markets. They are expanding into many aspects of daily life across Dong Thap and Vietnam more broadly:

This expansion represents a crucial step toward building a digital administration, economy, and society at the local level. The proportion of residents holding a bank account in the province has risen rapidly, and the volume of cashless transactions continues to grow steadily.

6. Create Your Own Payment QR Code with DoItQR

Vietnam's example shows that payment QR codes are accessible to everyone, including small traders. If you want to create a QR code to accept payments, manage your transactions, or share a payment link, DoItQR offers free tools with no sign-up required.

7. Payment QR Code Security: Essential Best Practices

The rise of payment QR codes inevitably comes with risks. In Vietnam and worldwide, fraudsters sometimes replace legitimate QR codes with malicious ones at businesses. Here are the key precautions:

8. Conclusion: A Model Transformation

Dong Thap's story illustrates what a determined and inclusive digital transformation policy can achieve. In just a few years, rural markets that ran entirely on cash have integrated QR code payments into the most ordinary daily gestures.

The key to success: personalized human support, mobilization of all local stakeholders, and simple tools accessible to everyone — including the elderly. The QR code, a universal and free technology, sits at the heart of this quiet revolution.