MoMo vs ZaloPay vs ViettelPay — Vietnam E-Wallet Comparison (2026)
MoMo, ZaloPay, and ViettelPay are the three e-wallets that matter most in Vietnam. This page compares them by ownership, user base, primary use cases, and the situations in which each is the right default. Figures are 2024–2025 reference estimates; user counts are operator-reported or industry-triangulated.
At a glance
| Dimension | MoMo | ZaloPay | ViettelPay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | M_Service JSC | VNG Corporation | Viettel Digital Services Corporation (Viettel Group) |
| Launched | 2010 | 2017 | 2018 |
| Users | ~30 million | ~12 million (est.) | ~20 million (est.) |
| Primary strength | Largest user base, deepest agent network, broadest merchant acceptance | Native Zalo messaging integration, social-payment UX | Telecom-backed distribution, rural reach via Viettel store network |
| Best for | General consumer payments, P2P transfers, bill payments, mini-app services | Sending money inside chats, splitting bills with friends, Zalo OA storefront purchases | Rural users, mobile top-ups, government and utility payments, ID-verified KYC |
MoMo
MoMo, operated by M_Service JSC, is Vietnam's largest e-wallet by active user base. It runs the country's most extensive cash-in / cash-out agent network — small shops across cities and rural districts where users can top up their balance without a bank account. MoMo also exposes a mini-app platform inside its main app, hosting third-party services for bill payments, transit, insurance, lending, and savings. For most general consumer payments, ride-hailing tips, and peer transfers, MoMo is the default in Vietnamese urban markets.
Acceptance: Broadest of the three. Most major e-commerce platforms, food-delivery apps, supermarket chains, convenience stores, and a long tail of small merchants accept MoMo via QR code or in-app checkout.
ZaloPay
ZaloPay, built by VNG Corporation, lives inside the Zalo messaging app — the most widely used messaging platform in Vietnam. Its native advantage is social payments: sending money inside a chat, splitting a restaurant bill in a group, or paying a Zalo Official Account merchant directly from a conversation. ZaloPay's user base is smaller than MoMo's but skews younger and more social-commerce-active.
Acceptance: Strong on Zalo OA merchant storefronts; moderate but growing on general e-commerce and offline retail. Often available as a secondary payment option alongside MoMo.
ViettelPay
ViettelPay is operated by Viettel Digital Services Corporation, a subsidiary of state-owned telecom giant Viettel Group. Its differentiator is distribution: every Viettel telecom point of sale across Vietnam — including tier-3 cities, towns, and rural communes where bank branches are sparse — serves as a ViettelPay registration and top-up location. That gives ViettelPay structural reach into demographics other wallets struggle to onboard.
Acceptance: Strong on government services, mobile top-ups, utility bill payments, and merchants in Viettel-heavy areas. Less dominant in urban-millennial e-commerce contexts than MoMo or ZaloPay.
How to choose
- Building a consumer app or e-commerce checkout? Integrate MoMo first for reach, then ZaloPay for social-commerce coverage.
- Targeting Zalo-native audiences? ZaloPay's chat-embedded payment flow is the highest-conversion path.
- Rolling out to rural areas or utility payments? ViettelPay's agent network and government-service integrations are unmatched.
- Want one universal acceptance method? Use VietQR alongside any wallet — every bank app and most e-wallets honour it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which e-wallet has the most users in Vietnam?
MoMo has the largest user base — approximately 30 million users in 2024 — making it the dominant general-purpose e-wallet. ViettelPay (around 20 million) follows, leveraging Viettel Group's telecom distribution. ZaloPay (around 12 million) is smaller but benefits from deep integration with the Zalo messaging app.
Which Vietnamese e-wallet should a foreign business integrate first?
For consumer-facing merchants seeking the widest reach, MoMo is the typical first integration due to its user base and acceptance footprint. For services targeting younger or social-first audiences, ZaloPay's Zalo Official Account integration is valuable. ViettelPay matters most for use cases requiring rural penetration or government/utility billing.
Can foreign visitors use MoMo, ZaloPay, or ViettelPay?
All three wallets are designed for Vietnamese residents and require a Vietnamese ID document (CCCD), a Vietnamese bank account, and a Vietnamese mobile number for full KYC. Foreign visitors typically cannot complete onboarding without these, though limited functionality may work for those with long-term residence permits.
What is the difference between MoMo and VietQR?
MoMo is a private e-wallet operator with its own user balance and merchant network. VietQR is a national QR standard, operated by NAPAS, that lets any bank or licensed payment provider accept payments via a single interoperable QR code. MoMo participates in VietQR — many MoMo merchants accept VietQR codes that work across all banks and wallets.
Which wallet is best for receiving payments as a small Vietnamese seller?
For online and social-commerce sellers, MoMo and VietQR (via any bank app) are the most commonly accepted by Vietnamese buyers. For sellers with a Zalo Official Account storefront, ZaloPay integration is friction-free. ViettelPay is well-suited to sellers in tier-3 cities and rural areas where Viettel's network is strongest.