No doubt you are used to paying for goods and services by contactless payment, phone or debit/credit card. But, Lao PDR is one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia. And although it is advancing fast, not every business has a credit card reader for customers to pay with.
In this short article, you will receive honest and accurate advice on how you can make paying by card or phone simpler, even using local payment systems such as BCEL OnePay without having a Laos bank account.
The simplest and most obvious route for using bank cards is withdrawing money from an ATM. Cash machines are dotted all over Vang Vieng and easy to find, and safe to use. One trick worth knowing is how to maximise your withdrawal, thereby lowering bank fees.
We recommend you use the red BCEL cash machines as they are the most common and for many, offer a lower withdrawal fee for a higher amount.
There are two main options here for tourists, Loca Pay and EzyKip. The first is linked to the Loca taxi service that operates in Vientiane, and the second is an official app from BCEL.
You can find EzyKip on the Google Play Store, and Loca Pay here. They are both also available on the App Store for Apple iOS users. Please note Loca Pay comes as part of 'super app' which also house Loca taxi service and Loca wallet among other useful apps.
As you go around Laos you will see QR codes on receptions in hotels, and in bars, shops, and restaurants. The most common is likely to be BCEL OnePay. To use EzyKip you need to download the app, sign up and add your chosen debit or credit card. Once this is done, you can top up your account. To make a payment you press scan QR code, point the phone camera at the business owner's payment sign, and type in the amount you owe. And that’s it.
Loca Pay works slightly differently in that you link your card rather than top up, however you can use Loca Wallet if you like the idea of using an e-wallet in Laos. You can also get a refund for money unused.
Discover Vang Vieng is happy to take tour and transport payments through BCEL OnePay, therefore EzyKip and Loca Pay work fine for us. Yet, for a tourist it may be worth looking at both and deciding on which suits you better. Exchange rates and fees apply to both.
With EzyKip, you will pay a one-time fee to top up, in the same way you would be charged for withdrawing from an ATM. The difference is the charge is a percentage of the top up amount instead of a straight fee.
Lastly, some businesses, such as bigger hotels, some travel agents, and even late night drinks in Jaidee’s Bar, have credit card readers.
Although the QR code scanning is definitely catching on all over Vang Vieng for locals, some tourists may not want to use an app. For those who would rather use their cards you may be able to find some places with card POS systems.
Paying by card and phone is possible in Vang Vieng now thanks to two different payment apps. Loca also has a reliable taxi service in Vientiane which saves the bartering of tuk-tuk drivers, and the worry of getting home in a strange and new city late at night.
EzyKip is linked to BCEL, meaning that it is backed by the biggest bank in Laos. And works well wherever there is a business QR code, which these days, is pretty much everywhere from Full Moon to local pharmacies.
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