Cambodia and Laos Launch Phase II Cross-Border QR Code Payments

The National Bank of Cambodia and the Bank of the Lao PDR on December 19, 2025, officially launched Phase II of cross-border QR code payments between Cambodia and Laos at a ceremony in Phnom Penh.

The new phase allows Lao citizens travelling to Cambodia to make cashless payments by scanning KHQR codes at Cambodian merchants using mobile banking applications issued by banks and financial institutions in Laos.

The launch was attended by H.E. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, and H.E. Bounkham Vorachit, Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR.

Speaking at the event, the NBC governor, Chea Serey, said Phase II builds on the success of Phase I, launched in August 2023, which enabled Cambodian users of the Bakong system to scan Lao QR codes while visiting Laos. She described the new phase as a milestone in strengthening financial connectivity and deepening economic integration between the two countries.

Under Phase II, Lao users can now scan KHQR codes at around 4.5 million merchants across Cambodia, expanding market access for businesses while supporting trade, investment, and tourism. Travelers will benefit from a faster, safer, and more convenient payment experience without the need to carry cash or exchange currencies.

The initiative is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2022, which established the framework for cooperation on cross-border payment innovation and financial inclusion.

Chea Serey added that the project reflects close collaboration between the two central banks, technical teams, and private-sector partners, and demonstrates Cambodia and Laos’ shared commitment to ASEAN’s vision of interconnected and inclusive digital payment systems that support sustainable economic growth.