If you are considering a trip to Laos, you may be wondering how you will pay for your expenses in this lovely country. Laos is a cash-based culture, with the majority of transactions conducted in the indigenous currency, the Lao kip. Carrying huge quantities of cash, on the other hand, can be unsafe and difficult, especially for travelers unfamiliar with exchange rates and bill denominations. Furthermore, only a few stores in Laos accept credit card payments, and those that do frequently demand exorbitant fees or have malfunctioning machines.
Loca Pay, fortunately, is a solution that can make your trip to Laos more enjoyable and less stressful. Loca Pay is a payment facilitator service that uses QR codes to make credit card payments more convenient and secure. You don’t even need a Lao bank account or a local SIM card; simply scan any Lao QR code payment from any bank in Laos at the register with the Loca app, and your payment will be completed in seconds. All payments are handled quickly and securely with the help of the Joint Development Bank.
What is Loca?
Loca is a Lao super app that offers a variety of lifestyle features, such as ride-hailing, out-of-home advertising, EV financing, EV fast charging network, and Loca Pay. Founded in 2018, Loca has become the largest 24 hrs ride-hailing and taxi service in Laos, with over 700 cars and 100,000 users. Loca was also the first Lao startup to be listed on Forbes Asia 100 to Watch in 2021.
Loca’s aim is to provide its clients with transportation and payment options that are convenient, sustainable, and ecologically friendly. Loca’s electric taxi fleet and charging infrastructure demonstrate the company’s commitment to sustainability, as well as the growing demand for environmentally friendly transportation solutions. Loca also intends to assist its drivers during the green transition by offering financing solutions that make the transfer to electric vehicles easier.
How does Loca Pay work?
Loca Pay is a feature within the Loca app that allows you to pay directly to every Lao QR code from your credit card. Lao QR code is a standardized QR code system that is used by all banks in Laos for mobile payments. With Loca Pay, you can shop at any store that accepts Lao QR codes from any bank without worrying about your personal information being compromised. Plus, there’s no need for cash or change – just link your card once, scan, and go!
Loca Pay supports most major credit cards such as VISA, MASTER, JCB, and UnionPay, as well as Alipay. You can also use Loca Wallet, where you can top up via cash or credit card. You can top up Loca Wallet via credit card, Alipay, and all local banks. Loca Pay also has a lower transaction fee than most other services out there, so you can save even more money.
To use Loca Pay, you just need to follow these simple steps:
- Download the Loca app from here.
- Register with your phone number and email address.
- Link your credit card or top up your Loca Wallet.
- Go to the Loca Pay section and click on the Pay button.
- Allow the app to scan Lao QR code.
- Enter the amount and fill out your description.
- Confirm the payment and enjoy your purchase.
Why should you use Loca Pay?
Loca Pay offers many benefits for tourists who want to pay in Laos with their credit card. Here are some of them:
- Convenience: You don’t need to carry cash or look for ATMs or money changers. You can pay with your credit card at any store that accepts Lao QR codes from any bank. QR Code payment is extremely popular in Laos so you will find many shops that accept this mode of payment even in remote areas.
- Security: You don’t need to worry about losing your cash or having your card information stolen. Your payment is encrypted and protected by Joint Development Bank.
- Savings: You don’t need to pay high fees or exchange rates. You can pay with your preferred currency and enjoy a lower transaction fee than other services.
- Rewards: You can earn points and discounts from participating merchants when you use Loca Pay. You can also access exclusive deals and promotions from Loca’s partners.
- Sustainability: You can contribute to a greener future by using Loca’s electric taxis and charging stations. You can also support local drivers who are switching to electric vehicles.
What’s next for Loca?
Loca has ambitious plans for future growth and regional expansion. After a fast development and strong recognition in Laos, the company has decided to start its regional expansion with Cambodia as a logical continuation of its Laotian achievements. Cambodia is a country that also welcomes eco-friendly, sustainable, and innovative products and services, and has a similar market potential as Laos.
Loca has partnered with Confluences, a leading business development consultancy in Cambodia, to guide its entry into the Cambodian market. Confluences will assist Loca with its market access capabilities and seek partnerships to accelerate the app’s expansion. Loca aims to bring some of its most innovative and successful products and services to the Cambodian market, such as its electric vehicle taxi fleet, EV fast charging station network, and Loca Pay payment platform.
Loca’s co-founders, Souliyo Vongdala and Phonepasong Mixab, expressed their excitement about the partnership with Confluences and the opportunities in Cambodia: “We believe that our innovative products and environmentally friendly mobility and payment services will meet the needs of Cambodians and we look forward to contributing to the development of the country in the same way we did for Laos. We are pleased to partner with Confluences to enter the Cambodian market. Confluences has been successfully advising entrepreneurs, reputed local and international corporations with their development in Cambodia, and their values are in line with ours at Loca. Expanding the market to Cambodia is definitely about winning customer’s hearts. We believe this partnership will set a solid footprint for us in Cambodia, and even further afield.”
Why You Need a Travel SIM in Laos
If you want to use Loca Pay or any other app that uses mobile data in Laos, you’ll need a dependable and reasonable SIM card that works in the nation. However, buying a SIM card in Laos can be difficult because you will need to register it with your passport and activate it at a local store. Furthermore, you may not obtain the greatest bargain or coverage for your needs because pricing and plans vary according on the provider and location.
As a result, we recommend that you get a travel SIM card from us before arriving in Laos. Our travel SIMs are pre-registered, pre-activated, and data-loaded, so you can use them right away. You may select from a variety of plans and features to fit your budget and tastes, and enjoy fast and dependable 4G network coverage throughout Laos. If you need extra data, you can quickly top up your SIM card online or through Loca Wallet.
With our travel SIMs, you can enjoy the convenience and security of Loca Pay and other apps that make your trip to Laos easier and more enjoyable. You can also stay connected with your friends and family, access online maps and information, and share your photos and videos of your amazing experiences in Laos.
Conclusion
Loca Pay is a convenient and secure way to pay in Laos with your credit card. It allows you to pay with your credit card at any store that accepts Lao QR codes from any bank, without worrying about cash, fees, or security. It also offers rewards, deals, and sustainability benefits for its users. Loca Pay is part of Loca, a Lao super app that offers a variety of lifestyle features, such as ride-hailing, out-of-home advertising, EV financing, EV fast charging network, and more. Loca is the largest 24 hrs ride-hailing and taxi service in Laos, and the first Lao startup to be listed on Forbes Asia 100 to Watch. Loca has plans to expand its services to Cambodia with the help of Confluences, a leading business development consultancy in Cambodia.
If you are interested in using Loca Pay or learning more about Loca’s products and services, you can visit their website here or download their app here.