Popular payment methods when traveling to China

China has many beautiful landscapes and interesting experiences, but payment and language difficulties are always barriers for Vietnamese tourists who want to travel independently to this country. However, with the development of technology in recent years, the above obstacles are gradually being resolved.

Download popular payment apps

Alipay and Wechat are popular payment methods in China today and are recommended apps when traveling. Payments using these two apps are common from restaurants to street markets.

Alipay allows users to transfer money without a domestic bank account, pay bills, buy public transport tickets and many other convenient services. Alipay is available in many languages, including English and Vietnamese.

Alipay can be registered and activated from Vietnam, via passport and credit and debit card, without the need for a Chinese phone number and identification code.

Users can transfer money to their Alipay account to spend in China or pay directly from a linked credit card (both sources of money can be switched). When visiting China, visitors will spend money on Alipay by scanning a QR code and entering a PIN.

WeChat is a popular messaging app that allows voice calls, sending pictures, videos , playing games, transferring money and making payments. However, the limitation of Wechat is that it requires a Chinese phone number, a user identification code (similar to the identification code on a citizen ID card in Vietnam) and a bank account in China to activate when registering.

When traveling independently, many Vietnamese tourists mainly buy data sim cards, do not have a phone number, so they often cannot register for WeChat. The application also requires an invite to be used.

Cash accepted

Cash is still used but not widely in China. Restaurants and shopping malls in tourist areas accept cash and give change to visitors.

However, at local markets, crowded tourist attractions or when the change is small, 1-3 yuan (about 3,500 VND to 10,500 VND), tourists may not receive change. In some places, if you spend cash, they will not have change and will pay to Alipay (if you install this app).

If you travel by public transport, bring lots of change, preferably 1, 2 and 5 RMB (Chinese Yuan) coins. Ticket prices for public transport in China range from 2 - 5 RMB (7,000 - 17,500 VND). On buses, there are only drivers, no assistant drivers, so it is not convenient for tourists to return money.

Credit cards are not popular

In daily payments, Chinese people do not use credit cards. If tourists transact online, some Chinese websites such as airlines, high-speed trains, e-commerce sites, Visa, Master or JCB cards are accepted.

When transacting in person, many places do not have card swiping machines, and not all machines accept international payment cards. Usually, only Union Pay cards can be transacted with the highest success rate.

TB (summary)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/nhung-phuong-thuc-thanh-toan-thong-dung-khi-du-lich-trung-quoc-398684.html