Planning your trip to Vietnam? Awesome! Staying connected while you explore is easier and more affordable than you might think. Whether you need to navigate bustling city streets, share stunning photos from Ha Long Bay, look up restaurant reviews in Hoi An, or stay in touch with family back home while relaxing in the Mekong Delta, having reliable internet access is key.
This guide will walk you through getting a Vietnam SIM card, exploring the convenient eSIM Vietnam options, and making the most of Wi-Fi in Vietnam.
While you could use international roaming from your home provider, it often comes with hefty fees. Getting a local Vietnamese SIM or eSIM offers significant advantages:
Cost Savings: Far cheaper for data, calls, and texts compared to roaming charges.
Convenience: Easily book Grab rides, look up maps, translate phrases, and contact local businesses or tour guides.
Speed & Reliability: Enjoy fast 4G/LTE speeds (and increasingly 5G in cities) without relying on potentially slow or patchy public Wi-Fi.
Local Number: Useful for registrations or local contacts if needed.
Vietnam has several mobile carriers, but three stand out for tourists:
Viettel: Generally considered to have the best network coverage, especially in rural and mountainous areas. A solid choice if you plan to travel extensively off the beaten path. It's owned by the military.
Vinaphone: Offers excellent coverage and often praised for fast data speeds, particularly in urban areas like Hanoi, HCMC, and Da Nang.
Mobifone: Another reliable option with good coverage in cities and competitive tourist packages.
Minor carrier: Vietnamobile offers very cheap plans but has significantly less coverage outside major cities, so it's generally not recommended for travellers exploring diverse regions.
This is the traditional option, involving a small plastic card for your phone.
Where to Buy:
Airports (Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, etc.): Most convenient upon arrival. You'll find kiosks for Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone right after baggage claim/customs. Staff usually speak some English and can help activate the SIM. Prices might be slightly higher than in the city.
Official Carrier Stores: Located in cities and towns. Offers the full range of plans and reliable registration. Staff English proficiency may vary.
Mobile Phone Shops / Convenience Stores: Widely available (e.g., The Gioi Di Dong, FPT Shop, Circle K). Generally safe, but ensure they register the SIM properly with your passport. Avoid buying from random street vendors.
What You'll Need:
Unlocked Phone: Your phone must not be locked to your home carrier to accept a foreign SIM.
Passport: Mandatory for registration by Vietnamese law. They will likely take a photo or scan of your passport ID page.
Registration is Key! Proper registration with your passport details is crucial. Unregistered or improperly registered SIMs can be deactivated without warning. Buying at the airport or an official store is the safest way to ensure correct registration.
Typical Costs & Tourist Packages: Expect to pay around 150,000 - 350,000 VND (approx. US$6 - $15) for a tourist SIM package, which usually includes a generous amount of data (e.g., 5GB-15GB or even "unlimited" with fair usage limits) valid for 15 or 30 days. Voice and SMS allowances vary.
If you have a newer smartphone, an eSIM is a highly convenient alternative.
What it is: An embedded, digital SIM profile downloaded directly onto your phone. No physical card swapping needed!
Benefits: Purchase and set up online before you even leave home or upon arrival via Wi-Fi. Keep your home SIM in for calls/texts if needed (dual SIM functionality). Easy to switch plans/providers. No risk of losing a tiny plastic card.
Phone Compatibility: Check if your phone model supports eSIM (most iPhones from XS onwards, Google Pixel 3+, recent Samsung flagships, etc.). Your phone must also be unlocked.
How to Get One:
International eSIM Providers: Many companies like Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Gigago, Saily offer Vietnam eSIM plans online. You purchase online, receive a QR code via email, scan it, and follow instructions to install the profile. Prices start from around US$4-5 for 1GB valid for 7 days.
Local Carriers: Vietnam's main carriers (Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone) also offer eSIMs. You might be able to purchase these upon arrival at their stores or potentially through their apps/websites (check their latest procedures for tourists).
If you run out of credit or data on your prepaid plan:
Scratch Cards (Thẻ Cào): Buy physical top-up cards from convenience stores or street vendors, scratch off the code, and dial the recharge number.
Carrier Apps: Download the mobile carrier's app (Viettel+, My VNPT, My MobiFone) to manage your account and top up online using a credit card (may require some setup).
Convenience Stores: Stores like Circle K, VinMart often offer electronic top-up services at the counter.
Online: Some third-party websites or digital wallets allow online top-ups.
You'll find Wi-Fi readily available across Vietnam:
Availability: Hotels, guesthouses, cafes, restaurants, airports, and even some long-distance buses offer Wi-Fi, often for free.
Quality: Speeds can vary greatly. Expect decent connections in good hotels and modern cafes in cities, but it might be slower or less reliable in budget accommodation or rural areas.
Access: Usually password-protected. Look for the password displayed on menus, walls, or simply ask the staff ("Pass Wi-Fi là gì?").
Security Warning: Public Wi-Fi networks are inherently less secure. Avoid accessing sensitive information (like online banking) on public Wi-Fi unless you are using a trustworthy VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN encrypts your connection, enhancing privacy and security.
Offline Maps: Download maps for areas you'll visit using Google Maps or Maps.me before you lose connection.
Messaging Apps: WhatsApp is widely used by travellers and tourism operators. Zalo is the most popular messaging app among Vietnamese locals.
Check Coverage: While generally good, if you're heading to very remote mountains or islands, check coverage maps for your chosen provider (Viettel usually has the edge). Connectivity in places like Ben Tre is generally very good.
Power Bank: Keep a portable power bank handy to ensure your devices stay charged on the go.
Getting connected in Vietnam is affordable and straightforward. Whether you choose a physical SIM card from the airport, an eSIM installed before you fly, or rely mainly on Wi-Fi, you'll have plenty of options to stay online, navigate easily, and share your amazing travel experiences.
Need assistance arranging SIM cards or have other travel questions? Our guides on our Vietnam Package Tours are always happy to help, or feel free to contact us for expert travel planning!
