South Korea travel enthusiasts embrace the “Buy Now, Pay Later” trend in the Land of Kimchi

South Korea – A favorite destination for Vietnamese travelers

South Korea continues to rank among the most popular destinations for Vietnamese tourists. According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam, as of November 2025, the country had welcomed more than 508,000 Vietnamese visitors, up 6.9% year-on-year, with strong growth during the year-end holiday season.

Beyond cultural exploration and entertainment, cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Incheon are renowned shopping hubs. Festive promotions, continuous product launches in fashion and cosmetics, and advanced technology offerings have transformed many trips into full-scale “shopping journeys.”

However, this vibrant retail landscape often comes with substantial spending. Many travelers adopt a “once-in-a-while” mindset, leading to higher-value purchases – from premium beauty services to high-end electronics and luxury goods tailored to international visitors. As a result, installment payments via credit cards directly at the destination have become an increasingly attractive option. Rather than paying the full amount upfront, travelers can better manage cash flow, optimize travel budgets, and still capture the best shopping opportunities. This flexible approach aligns well with modern consumption habits that prioritize planning, liquidity, and experience optimization.

Elevating travel with smarter payment solutions

Recognizing this trend, SACOMBANK has pioneered cross-border installment payment solutions in South Korea. In addition to installment conversion options, SACOMBANK offers attractive cashback incentives and free installment conversion fees for Visa credit cardholders when making purchases at stores, websites, or mobile apps in South Korea. The program applies to transactions from VND 1 million, with flexible tenors of 3 or 6 months.

Beyond promotional benefits, the core value lies in enhancing the overall travel experience. Customers can enjoy spontaneous purchases without financial pressure, while maintaining disciplined budget control. Registration, confirmation, and installment tracking are seamlessly integrated via the SACOMBANK PAY app, fully aligned with modern digital banking habits.

SACOMBANK also provides a diverse portfolio of Visa credit cards tailored to different lifestyles. The SACOMBANK Vietnam Airlines Visa enables cardholders to accumulate Golden Lotus Plus miles, benefit from a preferential 0.5% foreign currency conversion fee, and enjoy global travel insurance coverage of up to VND 11.6 billion. Meanwhile, the SACOMBANK Visa Platinum O₂, made from recycled ocean plastic, features CO₂ emission tracking per transaction, empowering customers to monitor spending habits while contributing to environmental sustainability.

As travel increasingly intertwines with shopping and premium service experiences, smart payment solutions are playing a more strategic role. While they may not influence the decision to travel, they make journeys lighter, more flexible, and financially manageable – allowing customers to fully enjoy every moment abroad.