Vietnam Airlines adds local payments across Asia Pacific

Vietnam Airlines has partnered with 2C2P by Antom to add alternative payment methods for customers across the Asia-Pacific region, with the new options due to be introduced in the second half of 2026.

The agreement was announced at the Vietnam-Singapore Tech Connect Forum in Singapore during the state visit of Vietnam's top leader Tô Lâm, with senior leaders from both countries present.

Under the arrangement, Vietnam Airlines plans to offer localised payment methods in eight markets: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Hong Kong. The first phase will cover domestic bank transfers, including QR payments and internet banking, followed by mobile wallets in a second phase.

The move comes as airlines and other travel companies respond to changing consumer payment habits across Asia. In several Southeast Asian markets, domestic payment systems and mobile wallets are taking a larger share of online commerce as customers move beyond conventional card use.

An IDC InfoBrief commissioned by 2C2P by Antom projects a 104% increase in domestic payments in Southeast Asia, with these methods expected to account for USD $92.0 billion in eCommerce transaction volume in 2029, or about 32% of the region's digital payments sector. The study also forecasts that mobile wallets will rise 107% to USD $79.0 billion in eCommerce transaction volume in 2029, representing 27% of the market.

Vietnam is also seeing strong growth in inbound travel. A 1H 2026 Strategy & Investment Outlook Report by Velocity Ventures and Pear Anderson found the country recorded 21.5 million international arrivals in 2025 and remained the best-performing Southeast Asian market in surpassing pre-pandemic international arrival levels.

The report projected Vietnam would reach its target of 25 million arrivals this year. It also forecast rapid growth in digital payments, with mobile wallets and domestic payment systems such as VietQR increasing from 55% of total eCommerce volume in 2024 to 63% by 2029.

For airlines, this shift brings practical challenges alongside new sales opportunities. Selling across multiple markets often means dealing with fragmented payment systems, fraud controls and reconciliation processes that vary by country.

Vietnam Airlines will use 2C2P's Antom's Payment Air Controller (PACO) platform to manage transaction routing across multiple acquirers via a single API integration. The system is also connected to global distribution systems, including Amadeus and Sabre, which should make deployment easier for airline operations.

Regional payments

The partnership adds momentum to Ant International's push into travel payments and related financial services. Its airline offering also includes payment processing, business account management, foreign exchange risk management, treasury optimisation and passenger engagement.

In Vietnam, 2C2P works with M-Pay Trade and Technology Services, a licensed intermediary payment services provider, and the companies already serve major Vietnamese airlines. The latest agreement strengthens that position with the country's flag carrier as it seeks a broader international reach.

Vietnam Airlines operates more than 100 aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, and serves 118 routes linking 22 domestic and 39 international destinations across 22 countries. The airline has been a member of the SkyTeam alliance since 2010.

Worachat Luxkanalode, Group Chief Executive Officer of 2C2P by Antom, described the partnership as a response to growing demand for localised payment options among travellers.

"Today's travellers expect payment experiences that are as seamless and localised as their journeys. By combining PACO's orchestration capabilities with local QR and bank payment methods across Asia Pacific, 2C2P by Antom is partnering with Vietnam Airlines to enhance the checkout experience, simplify complexity across markets and deliver a more intuitive and inclusive customer experience at scale. We are excited to support Vietnam Airlines to capture the full commercial potential of one of the fastest-growing travel regions in the world today, advancing Ant International's commitment to cross-border connectivity and digital innovation in Vietnam," Luxkanalode said.

Nguyen Quang Trung, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, said the airline viewed the payment partnership as part of a broader shift in its digital strategy.

"In an environment where travellers increasingly expect seamless, flexible, and locally relevant payment experiences, our partnership with 2C2P by Antom enables Vietnam Airlines to further expand its digital payment ecosystem across the Asia Pacific region. This is not only a step forward in our digital transformation journey, but also a continued commitment to enhancing customer experience, improving convenience, and strengthening the position of Vietnam Airlines as we strive to become a 5-star airline by 2030," Trung said.