New report charts pathways to trust, security, and shared prosperity in Vietnam’s digital payments

01/15/2026

  • Findings highlight what consumers and small businesses need to feel safer and more confident using real time payments in Vietnam.


Vietnam’s digital payments landscape is expanding rapidly, but trust and security remain top priorities for consumers and small businesses. According to a new study commissioned by Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, 52% of Vietnamese consumers and 43% of SMBs are concerned about fraud, scams, and misdirected payments. At the same time, 34% of consumers say difficulties tracking transactions or understanding refund processes hold them back from fully embracing digital payments.

The research also shows the momentum for positive change. With 94% of SMBs already accepting real time payments (Real-Time Payments, RTP)1 in-store and 66% “very interested” in using payment data to strengthen security and improve credit scoring, Vietnam is well positioned to advance financial inclusion and unlock new economic opportunities. Continued cooperation between government and industry will be essential to creating a more trusted, secure, and interoperable payments ecosystem.

The comprehensive new report, “Strengthening Southeast Asia’s Real-time Payments: Security, Trust and New Pathways to Financial Access,” was developed in partnership with the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), Nextrade Group, and the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute (VEEI). It draws insights from 5,500 consumers and 2,100 SMBs across six markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The report highlights what people need to feel safer using real-time payments, the biggest gaps in trust, and the opportunities for shared prosperity across the region.
 

Key insights from the report:

  • Fraud and security remain top concerns
    The speed and finality of real time payments make them attractive targets for fraud. Vietnamese consumers and SMBs express worries about scams, data privacy, and varying levels of protection across providers.

  • Closing the trust gap: a shared opportunity for progress
    Users want clearer, more consistent dispute processes and better visibility into their transactions. In Vietnam, a third of consumers say they hesitate to use digital payments because they struggle to track transfers or understand how refunds work.

  • Collaboration and interoperability are essential
    Strong public private partnerships – involving regulators, payment networks, banks, fintechs, and technology providers – are needed to harmonize standards, share intelligence, and respond quickly to emerging threats.

  • Innovation is driving smarter security and better access
    AI powered fraud detection, behavioral analytics, and tokenization are becoming core tools for managing risks without slowing down payments. SMBs in Vietnam are particularly open to leveraging payment data to improve security and gain fairer access to credit.
     

“In Vietnam, public and private collaboration is advancing fraud detection and supporting small businesses as they adopt secure digital practices. Our collective efforts are not only strengthening the payments ecosystem but also enabling entrepreneurs and families to thrive in an increasingly connected world. This report demonstrates that when we work together, we can turn trust and security into engines of economic opportunity for all,” said Ms. Dung Dang, Visa Country Manager for Vietnam and Laos.

As real time payments grow, Visa is working with banks, fintechs, and regulators to enhance security, interoperability, and user protections. The report spotlights solutions such as Visa Account to Account (A2A) Protect, which recently identified significant fraudulent activity in a UK pilot even after transactions passed existing bank fraud checks. Visa’s Scam Disruption initiative also uses AI-driven detection models and partner collaboration to help protect consumers and businesses from evolving scam tactics.

To read the full report, please click here.

 

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1 Instant fund transfer service that allows sending and receiving money into a participating bank account.

 

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.