No cash, need a phone number to use payment apps are misunderstandings of foreign visitors when coming to China.
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 card (credit and debit), without requiring 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 (two sources of money can be changed). Tourists to China will spend money on Alipay by scanning the QR code and entering a PIN.
WeChat is a popular messaging app that allows you to make voice calls, send photos and videos, play games, transfer money and make payments. However, the limitation of Wechat is that you need a Chinese phone number, a user identification code (similar to the identification code on the CCCD 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. Fares for public transport in China range from 2 to 5 RMB (7,000 to 17,500 VND). On buses, there are only drivers, no co-drivers, so it is not convenient for tourists to return their 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.
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