Thailand joins Indonesia and Vietnam in digital payment boom, joining shock tourism billing scandal Are travelers being cheated by hidden fees, dynamic pricing and QR code traps: What you need to know

Posted on November 3, 2025

The transformative move towards digital and wallet-based payments across Southeast Asia has brought a wave of convenient and seamless transactions – but with it comes increased potential. Tourist bill shockHidden surcharges and payment fraud risks. As countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia accelerate their transition to… Less cash societiesMobile wallets, QR codes, and mobile-first payment platforms have become mainstream methods of transactions for both locals and travelers. At the same time, reports of payment fraud and concerns about transparency in cross-border or tourist-facing payment models are increasing. This article explores the dual reality of the region: the impressive adoption of digital payments on the one hand, and the emerging vulnerabilities for foreign visitors who may pay more – or fall victim to fraud – under the banner of digital convenience.

The wallet ecosystem in the region is on the rise. In Indonesia, QRIS has recorded tremendous growth – the number of users and merchants has soared, with the emergence of cross-border QR links to Thailand and Singapore. In Vietnam, mobile wallet acceptance and merchant infrastructure jumped significantly in 2024, putting new payment behavior at the heart of the tourist transaction experience. 2C2P+1 Thailand continues to expand its national wallet infrastructure, influenced by formal programs and merchant adoption of QR technology and app-based payments. chubb.com+1 Tourists arriving at these markets have expectations of easy, “click-and-go” payment. However, the reality includes a combination of coverage gaps (many small sellers are still cash-only), unfamiliar local wallets, and payment environments where excessive fees or transaction irregularities can arise.

One documented risk is Additional fees and hidden fees Linked to the use of digital payment. The Travel Payments Guide for Southeast Asia notes that while card and mobile payments are increasingly accepted in destinations such as Thailand and Vietnam, “many merchants charge additional fees” or guest users may encounter unexpected amounts – especially when payments are denominated in local currencies with large numerical values ​​(for example, the Vietnamese dong) where a simple error could result in an overpayment. BCD Travel Furthermore, deep research into the payments industry reveals that mobile wallet and QR transactions involve multiple layers of cost (merchant processing, cross-border transfer, wallet-to-merchant fees) which may translate into Higher costs for usersincluding tourists who are not familiar with the local ecosystem. 2C2P+1

Another major weakness is Fraud and scam risks In the field of digital payment. A Chubb article on digital payments highlights that Southeast Asia expects a total transaction value of around US$1.5 trillion by 2025, and highlights an emerging “trust gap” as scams and fraud hinder the growth of mobile wallets. chubb.com In Thailand for example, many online payment scams have been linked to mobile/QR transfers, and the central bank has introduced caps and stricter identity verification rules to combat the problem. AP News Although these mechanisms are not exclusively aimed at tourists, they illustrate how payment architecture can be manipulated and how foreigners using unfamiliar wallets can be more vulnerable.

issue Dynamic pricing or differential fees for foreign tourists Mobile/QR payments are still less documented, but structural risks exist. Many payment providers and merchants set different rules for additional fees on Card/QR Payments versus cash, or implement premium conversion rates for foreign card users. Although I have not found a comprehensive study in 2024-2025 that systematically measures the extent of this more Tourists pay when using mobile payment in Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia Travel payment guides warn that “when making contactless payments in Vietnam…it is very easy to overpay by a factor of ten or more” if the payment amount is entered incorrectly or a foreigner fails to check the total displayed. BCD Travel For tourists, unfamiliar with dong values, QR app language or hidden commercial fees, the risk of paying more than intended is real.

From a Tourism vulnerability perspectiveThe combination of factors raises the level of risk. Visitors may arrive expecting cashless convenience, but encounter local wallets that are not optimized for foreigners, merchant surcharge policies that are not clearly disclosed, foreign currency conversion margins, and increased QR fraud threats. Tourist environments (markets, street food vendors, small hotels) may support mobile payments but may also retain cash-only payment options, leading to a mix where “digital payments” may seem easier and cheaper – but actually cost more. One travel guide source warns that travelers should “always make sure you have cash in case you are unable to pay by card or mobile payment.” BCD Travel

Regulatory responses in the region demonstrate awareness of the issues, but also indicate the complexity of implementing tourist-friendly payment transparency. For example, the Thai Central Bank’s decision to cap daily online transfers for new mobile banking users stems from concerns about massive fraud losses – more than three thousand cases per month and tens of millions of dollars in losses. AP News While this points to domestic fraud, it points to how lax or complex payment systems can create vulnerabilities for anyone – including travellers. Meanwhile, research shows that merchants in Vietnam are rapidly adopting mobile wallets and alternative payment infrastructure, but have varying degrees of readiness, which may translate into inconsistent payment experiences for tourists. 2C2P

Collect evidence: while it exists There is no definitive study Turns out that tourists in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are Systematic exploitation Through mobile payment (e.g. through targeted “tourist surcharges” through a mobile app), the structural environment indicates a strong potential for Unexpected hidden payments, Risk of fraud and Payment confusion This can result in tourists paying more than locals or facing bill shock. The combination of high adoption of mobile payments, practices of charging merchants extra fees, foreign currency conversion issues, and QR fraud risks create a payment ecosystem where tourists must be careful.

From a practical point of view, tourists in these markets can protect themselves by checking the payment amount before clicking, checking whether additional fees apply for mobile/QR payment (instead of cash), using familiar or widely accepted wallets, and keeping a backup of cash. The blunt warning in a guide to paying for travel in Vietnam that “with dong prices containing many zeros, it is easy to overpay by ten or more” highlights the need for diligence. BCD Travel In mobile wallet environments that accept cross-border users (for example, Indonesia’s QRIS system that supports foreign tourists in some cases) the convenience is real – but so is the need to check exchange rates, transfer fees and additional fee policies. Wikipedia+1

In conclusion, the digital payments boom across Southeast Asia’s tourism markets holds enormous promise in terms of convenience and financial inclusion – but it also holds great importance. Danger to tourists. The shift to mobile wallets and QR payments is real and accelerating in countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. At the same time, tourists face a payment environment characterized by hidden fees, merchant surcharges, currency conversion complexities, and high risks of fraud. Although the evidence does not yet show “organized and systematic mobile payment exploitation targeting tourists” in 2024-2025, the structural conditions for such exploitation exist and travelers would be wise to engage with mobile payments abroad with Awareness and caution.