Planning a trip to Vietnam? Buying a prepaid Vietnam SIM card with data plan to keep you stay connected during your trip is highly recommended. Let’s go on with all the things you need about the SIM card for your trip to Vietnam.
>>Yes. During a trip to Vietnam, it is possible to use the free Wi-Fi of the hotel you’re staying in, and the restaurants you are enjoying your meals, or the café you are enjoying your moments.
But it’s really hard to connect yourself to free Wi-Fi when you are on the road or at public places in Vietnam, such as at a park, or at a tourist attraction, even if you find a no-password Wi-Fi in a public place, its signal is not good.
In case it is needed, please keep in mind that you DON’T need to get a SIM card like a local, but a VIETNAM DATA SIM CARD.
At the moment, the Vietnam tourist sim card is available in 2 forms as follows:
Let’s see how different they are.
| Item | Vietnam tourist SIM – Physical | Vietnam tourist SIM - eSIM |
| Similarities |
| |
| Form | A SIM card is a chip that is physically installed or removed inside your phone with your carrier’s plan | An eSIM (embedded sim) is built-in to your phone and downloads your carrier’s plan. |
| Where to buy | Online | Picked up at a physical store |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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>> Check Vietnam eSIM compatible devices |
The mobile operators in Vietnam often provide the following data packages:
Let’s see what you can do with those packages:
| Data package | What we can do |
|---|---|
| 1GB | ✔16.6 hours of browsing websites, or ✔92.5 hours of listening to music (24kbps) ✔1 hour of watching Netflix (standard definition) ✔0.6 hours of watching Youtube videos (1080p) ✔11 hours of browsing social media (scrolling) ✔5.5 hours of Facetime |
| 2GB | ✔33 hours of browsing websites, or ✔185 hours of listening to music (24kbps) ✔2 hours of watching Netflix (standard definition) ✔1.3 hours of watching Youtube videos (1080p) ✔22 hours of browsing social media (scrolling) ✔11 hours of Facetime |
| 3GB | ✔50 hours of browsing websites, or ✔277 hours of listening to music (24kbps) ✔3 hours of watching Netflix (standard definition) ✔1.9 hours of watching Youtube videos (1080p) ✔33 hours of browsing social media (scrolling) ✔16.6 hours of Facetime |
| 4GB | ✔67 hours of browsing websites, or ✔370 hours of listening to music (24kbps) ✔3 hours of watching Netflix (standard definition) ✔2.5 hours of watching Youtube videos (1080p) ✔44 hours of browsing social media (scrolling) ✔22 hours of Facetime |
| 12GB | ✔200 hours of browsing websites, or ✔1,111 hours of listening to music (24kbps) ✔12 hours of watching Netflix (standard definition) ✔4.4 hours of watching Youtube videos (1080p) ✔133 hours of browsing social media (scrolling) ✔67 hours of Facetime |
| 15GB | ✔250 hours of browsing websites, or ✔1,389 hours of listening to music (24kbps) ✔15 hours of watching Netflix (standard definition) ✔9.6 hours of watching Youtube videos (1080p) ✔167 hours of browsing social media (scrolling) ✔83 hours of Facetime |
>> How much data does a tourist need when traveling in Vietnam?
For most trips, 3GB or 5GB of data will be enough to cover common internet usage. However, if you are planning on using the internet more or if you are traveling for a month, you might want to consider the 12GB data package. But in case you are in a business, a higher data and/or longer package may be required.
>>In order to save your data, take use of Free Wifi as much as possible.
There are 3 main SIM Card providers in Vietnam, which are Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone. There’s also a fourth provider called Vietnamobile, its coverage outside of major cities is not really good, so we don’t recommend it here.
Here is a quick summary of those 3 SIM card providers in Vietnam:
| Item | Viettel | Vinaphone | Mobifone |
| Coverage | Best | Great | Good |
| Speed | Fast | Fast | Fast |
| Price | Very cheap | Very cheap | Very cheap |
The quick summary above shows that
Now, let’s make a zoom-in.
Viettel is the mobile market leader in Vietnam with about 40% of all customers on its network. It’s owned and operated by the Ministry of Defense.
It has the best coverage in remote areas, even on 3G. Here are some of its fast facts:
Viettel offers both regular packages and data plans for tourists to Vietnam. In case you use a regular Viettel SIM Card, you will need to pay the SIM cost (which is around VND 50,000 – 60,000 ~ US $2.5 – 2.8), and then register for a data plan (whose costs are detailed below). If you buy a tourist sim card, you only need to pay for the data plan, but it cannot be topped up.
Here are the popular Viettel prepaid sim card data packages for tourists to Vietnam:
>> For Viettel regular SIM cards
| Data | Price | Activation Code | Overuse | Notes | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | VND 5,000 ~ US $0.22 | ST5KM | unlimited @ 128 kbps | + Valid until 24:00 of the registration date, + not auto renew | + For activation, text the code to 191. + To stop auto-renewal, text HUY CODE to 191 and confirm with Y. +To check data balance, text KTTK to 191. |
| 1GB | VND 5,000 ~ US $0.22 | ST5K | unlimited @ 128 kbps | + Valid until 24:00 of the registration date, + Auto renew | |
| 2GB | VND 10,000 ~ US $0.45 | ST10K | unlimited @ 128 kbps | + Valid until 24:00 of the registration date, + Auto renew | |
| 3GB | VND 15,000 ~ US $0.7 | ST10K | unlimited @ 128 kbps | + Valid until 24:00 of the registration date, + Auto renew | |
| 3GB | VND 70,000 ~ US $3.2 | MIMAX70 | unlimited @ 3 Mpbs | +Valid until the final date of the month. | |
| 4GB | VND 30,000 ~ US $1.4 | ST30K | unlimited @ 256 kbps | + Valid until 24:00 of the 7th date, + Auto renew |
>> For Viettel tourist SIM cards:
| Data | Domestic calls | International calls | Validity | Price |
| 1 GB | 20 mins | 10 mins | 5 days | VND 100,000 ~ US $4,5 |
| 2 GB | 40 mins | 20 mins | 10 days | VND 200,000 ~ US $9 |
| 3 GB | 60 mins | 30 mins | 15 days | VND 300,000 ~ US $13 |
| 5 GB | 100 mins | 50 mins | 25 days | VND 500,000 ~ US $22 |
Please note:
Vinaphone is the second operator in Vietnam, occupying 30% of the market share. It gives good coverage and speed throughout the country. 4G/LTE has been started on Phu Quoc Island in 2016 and is now rolled out nationwide.
Here are some fast facts about Vinaphone Vietnam tourist sim cards:
Like Viettel, Vinaphone also offers both regular packages and data plans for tourists to Vietnam. In case you use a regular Vinaphone SIM Card, you will need to pay the SIM cost (which is around VND 50,000 – 60,000 ~ US $2.5 – 2.8), and then register for a data plan (whose costs are detailed below). If you buy a tourist sim card, you only need to pay for the data plan, but it cannot be topped up.
Here are the popular Vinaphone prepaid sim card data packages for tourists to Vietnam:
>> For Vinaphone regular SIM cards
Data | Price | Activation Code | Overuse | Notes | Important |
1GB | VND 5,000 ~ US $0.22 | DATA D5 | VND 75/MB | + Valid until 24:00 of the registration date | + For activation, text the code to 1543. + To stop auto-renewal, text HUY {D5/D2/D3/BIG70} to 888. +To check data balance, text DATA to 888. |
2GB | VND 10,000 ~ US $0.45 | DATA D2 | VND 75/MB | + Valid until 24:00 of the registration date | |
3GB | VND 15,000 ~ US $0.7 | DATA D3 | VND 75/MB | + Valid until 24:00 of the 3rd date | |
4.8GB | VND 30,000 ~ US $1.4 | DATA BIG70 | VND 75/MB | + Valid Until 24:00 of the 7th date |
>> For Vinaphone tourist SIM cards:
| Data | Validity | Price |
| Unlimited | 7 days | VND 200,000 ~ US $9 |
| Unlimited | 15 days | VND 250,000 ~ US $11 |
| Unlimited | 30 days | VND 300,000 ~ US $13 |
*” Vinaphone’s Vietnam sim card unlimited data” means max. 1 GB per day in high speed, before throttled to 3G speeds.
All these physical SIM cards for tourists mentioned above will be bought at Vietnam airport and big Vinaphone stores. If you buy it online, you will need time to get it shipped to your address in Vietnam.
>> In case you want to avoid travel to any store or don’t want to wait for the physical SIM card to be shipped to your physical address, you can buy the Vinaphone prepaid eSIM data plan online.
Here are our excellent 7 data packages covered by Vinaphone:
| Vietnam eSIM data plans | GIGA7 | GIGA10D | GIGA10U | GIGA10 | GIGA15 | GIGA120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Validity | 8 days | 10 days | 10 days | 16 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Data | 7GB | 5GB/Day | 6GB/Day | 10GB | 15GB | 120GB (4GB/day) |
| Benefits | ✔ 7GB of high-speed data ✔a Vietnamese phone number to receive calls and SMS | ✔ 5GB/day ✔a Vietnamese phone number offering + FREE receipt of calls and SMS + FREE first 10 minutes of every domestic on-net call (1000 minutes in total); + can be topped up for making calls and sending SMS | ✔6GB/day ✔A Vietnamese phone number to receive cals and SMS | ✔ 10GB of high-speed data ✔a Vietnamese phone number to receive calls and SMS | ✔ 15GB of high-speed data ✔a Vietnamese phone number to receive calls and SMS | ✔ 120GB of high-speed data (4GB/day) ✔a Vietnamese phone number offering + FREE receipt of calls and SMS + FREE first 20 minutes of every domestic on-net call + can be topped up for making calls and sending SMS |
| Cost | US $8.9 | US $12.9 | US $12.9 | US $11.9 | US $14.9 | US $18.9 |
| Activation validation | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Validity start | When your esim is connected to supported network | When you download and install the esim on your device | When you download and install the esim on your device | When your esim is connected to supported network | When your esim is connected to supported network | When your esim is connected to supported network |
| Best time to buy | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam |
| Coverage | Itel/Vinaphone | Vinaphone | Vinaphone | Itel/Vinaphone | Itel/Vinaphone | Itel/Vinaphone |
| Hotspot/ tethering | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mobifone holds around 20% market share of the country and is currently in the process of becoming privatized. Its data speeds and coverage may be good in the centers and around the coast, but can be patchy in the mountains.
Here are some fast facts about Vietnam tourist sims provided by Mobifone:
Mobifone also offers regular SIM Card and tourist sim Card as follows:
>> For MobiFone regular SIM cards
Data | Price | Activation Code | Overuse | Notes | Important |
1GB | VND 5,000 ~ US $0.22 | D5 | VND 75/MB | + Valid until 24:00 of the registration date | + For activation, text the code to 9084. + To stop auto-renewal, text HUY {CODE} to 999. +To check data balance, text KT DATA to 999. |
8.8GB | VND 30,000 ~ US $1.4 | HD120 | VND 75/MB | + Valid for 30 days |
>> For MobiFone tourist SIM cards:
| Data | Validity | Price |
| 6GB* + 60′ Local Calls & 100‘ Local SMS + 30′ international calls to certain countries | 30 days | VND 250,000 ~ US $11 |
| 10GB | 30 days | VND 200,000 ~ US $9 |
| 10GB + 15’ Free Calls to Korea | 30 days | US $10 |
You may have 02 ways to buy a Vietnam travel sim card, which are:
Let’s make a brief comparison:
Item | Buy Vietnam sim card online | Buy Vietnam sim card at physical store |
Where to buy | Online no matter where you are | In Vietnam |
What you get | ✔ an eSIM QR Code and users’ instructions online, or ✔ a physical sim card picked up at Vietnam airport upon your arrival or delivered to your physical address in Vietnam | ✔a physical sim card picked up at the store. |
What to prepare | ✔Debit/Credit card to make payment ✔A physical address in Vietnam in case you want to get it delivered to you | ✔Money to pay for the visa fee ✔Your passport to register the SIM Card |
✔A cell phone unlocked for international use before you leave your home country | ||
Now, let’s discover one by one.
An eSIM is highly recommended if you want to get a Vietnam sim online and have eSIM compatible devices, as it requires you neither waiting time for delivery nor presence at any counter to get it. It also can be ordered no matter where are you, helping you better prepare for your trip.
The eSIM will be installed on your phone via a QR Code sent to your email immediately after you make the order online before your departure, and is activated immediately when you land in Vietnam.
>>You may consider our Vietnam eSIM data packages:
>>In case you need a physical sim, we do not suggest you make the online order, just visit any store at Vietnam airport or in Vietnam country to get it.
There are literally thousands of places to purchase a tourist SIM card in Vietnam. Many counters at the airports, travel agencies, local stores, and even some hotels offer them.
But it is best to purchase a Vietnamese SIM card either at the airport or at one of the official stores of the mobile network providers.
5.2.1 Buying a Vietnam SIM Card at the Airport
The easiest and most convenient place to buy a SIM card in Vietnam is at the airport, upon your arrival in the country. You’ll find dozens of kiosks selling SIM cards as soon as you exit the baggage claim area in any of Vietnam’s international airports.
There are 2 advantages to buying your Vietnam SIM card at the airport:
The price of a SIM card and data plan is fixed by each mobile carrier, so the prices offered should all be roughly the same. Feel free to check at a couple of different sales kiosks to make sure you’re getting a fair price.
A Vietnamese SIM card and prepaid data package should cost you between VND 150,000-350,000 (US $6.50-$15) depending on how long you’re going to be staying in Vietnam and how much mobile data you want.
Also, most of the kiosks in the airport are happy to take a credit card payment for your new Vietnamese SIM card, so you don’t even need to worry about going to the ATM first.
5.2.2 Buying Vietnamese SIM cards at mobile operators’ offices
If you have already left the airport without a SIM card, then you should head directly to one of the branch offices of the mobile operators. Luckily, those companies have offices that are conveniently located in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Just find an office with their logo and go in.
Remember to bring your passport with you as they will need it to register your new SIM card.
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