Laos and Cambodia officially launched Phase 2 of their cross-border QR code payment system on 19 December, enabling seamless digital transactions for travelers from both nations.
The new phase allows Lao citizens to use mobile banking applications to scan Khmer Quick Response (KHQR) codes, Cambodia’s national unified QR code standard, at approximately 4.5 million merchants across the country.
This follows Phase 1, launched in August 2023, which enabled Cambodian tourists to make payments in Laos using their own currency.
Phase 2, designated as the LAO QR Scan KHQR system, enables Lao travelers to pay using mobile banking apps from five commercial banks, BCEL, ACLEDA, APB, Sacombank, and Maruhan Japan Bank, at merchants displaying KHQR codes across 62 banks in Cambodia.
Bounkham Vorachit, Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR, explained that the second phase allowed people in both countries to pay for goods and services in their own currencies by scanning QR codes.
Phase 1 was implemented through eight commercial banks in Laos, including BCEL, ACLEDA Bank Lao, Kbank Lao, BIC, APB, LVB, Indochina Bank, and JDB, with technical support from LAPNet Company and ACLEDA Bank Cambodia.
Both central banks also held a bilateral meeting during the launch, exchanging views on macroeconomic policies, banking sector development, foreign exchange management, cross-border payments, and technical cooperation.


