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Vietnam SIM card options for tourists in 2025
Heading to Vietnam? This guide covers the most popular Vietnamese SIM card options to keep you connected, helping you share your travel highlights without worrying about hidden roaming fees.
Off to Vietnam? Whether you want to share breathtaking views of Ha Long Bay on Instagram, get directions to top attractions, or FaceTime your mom to let her know you’ve landed safely, you’ll need reliable cellular data.
Your options:
- Expensive roaming charges
- An affordable Vietnam SIM card
- A flexible eSIM
To avoid hefty phone bills after your Vietnam trip, this article explores options B and C. Read on to find the most convenient and affordable SIM card for your mobile data needs in Vietnam, covering:
- When and from where to buy a SIM card for Vietnam
- Best SIM cards for Vietnam
- SIM registration requirements
- SIM alternatives with unlimited data
But before diving in, let’s explore why you need a Vietnam SIM card in the first place.
Should I buy a SIM card in Vietnam?
The short answer: Yes, you should buy a SIM card when traveling to Vietnam. The alternative — using roaming services from your home country provider — will likely be much more expensive.
A Viettel tourist SIM card with a 1 GB data-only plan can cost as little as $0.20 USD. That is reason enough to use a local SIM card instead of your roaming options.
Even the most affordable travel plans from popular mobile operators can’t beat the price of a local Vietnam SIM card. More on SIM pricing later, now let’s see where you can buy one.
Where to buy a SIM card in Vietnam
You can buy a Vietnam SIM card for tourists before your trip or after you land. You can find Vietnamese SIM cards online and have them delivered to your doorstep, so you’ll be connected as soon as you touch down.
Or you can wait until you’re in the Land of the Blue Dragon to scout for the best local deals. Here’s what to know about each option.
Buy your SIM Card before you land
For the smoothest experience, you can purchase your SIM online before your trip through online SIM retailers. Examples include:
- Kkday.com: Order a Vietnam SIM card online and pick it up at Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, or Nha Trang airports. Delivery is also available in Malaysia.
- Happy Telecom: Provides international SIM delivery to Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.
- Amazon: Offers Vietnam SIM cards with international delivery to locations outside of Asia.
Before going this route, consider these advantages and disadvantages:
| Pros of buying a SIM before your Vietnam trip | Cons of buying a SIM before your Vietnam trip |
|---|---|
| ✔️More time for research | ❌ Often more expensive than local SIM plans |
| ✔️ Connected from the moment you land | ❌ Delivery fees may apply |
| ✔️ No language barrier when buying | ❌ Limited options to choose from |
If you’d prefer to wait and make buying Vietnam SIM cards part of your cultural immersion, here’s what to expect.
Buy your SIM card in Vietnam
You can buy your Vietnamese SIM card from airport kiosks, convenience stores, or mobile provider shops, including:
- Viettel Stores: One of Vietnam’s largest telecom providers, with locations in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.
- Mobifone shops: A leading provider with retail stores across the country.
- VinaPhone locations: Widely available in shopping malls, city centers, and airports.
- Convenience stores: Popular chains like Circle K, 7-Eleven, and Minimart, carry SIM cards from major networks.
- Airport kiosks: Located at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai (Hanoi), and Da Nang airports, offering easy access as soon as you land.
When buying locally, here’s what to consider:
| Pros of buying a SIM card in Vietnam | Cons of buying a SIM card in Vietnam |
|---|---|
| ✔️ More options at affordable pricing | ❌ Relying on roaming until buying a SIM |
| ✔️ Access to low or no-commitment tourist SIM plans for tourists | ❌ Language challenges during purchasing, activation, and support |
| ✔️ Reduced chances of network compatibility issues | ❌ Time-consuming process |
If these drawbacks don’t put you off, doing a little research beforehand can help you make an informed decision quickly. Check out the most popular mobile providers in Vietnam and what they offer.
What is the best SIM card for Vietnam?
Vietnam’s major mobile providers—Viettel, MobiFone, and VinaPhone—offer competitive data plans for tourists, reliable network coverage, and fast internet speeds. However, getting a physical SIM card can involve several steps, including registration, which may be inconvenient for travelers, especially for those who aren’t keen on giving away too much sensitive data.
Although physical SIM cards are cheap at around $2, getting a Vietnamese phone number requires registration with your passport, which can be a hassle. You’ll need to visit a shop that sells SIM cards and complete the registration process before using any data packages.
After you insert the SIM into your phone, you can activate any data package via SMS. The activation instructions are in Vietnamese, which can be challenging for non-speakers. You may need assistance from a local translation app or a translation app like Google Translate.
Some providers, like Viettel, allow you to purchase both a SIM card and data package together, either online or in-store. However, even with online ordering, you’ll still need to register and may encounter delays in picking up or activating the SIM.
MobiFone Vietnam SIM card
MobiFone is one of the largest telecommunication companies in the country. A Vietnam SIM card for tourists from MobiFone provides:
- 4G network coverage
- Customer service in English and local languages
- Easy recharging through different top-up options
- Flexibility to buy a Vietnam SIM card without a prepaid plan
MobiFone SIM card Vietnam price
MobiFone offers multiple SIM plans for short, medium-term, and long stays, with plan validity ranging from 1 day to a full year.
Remember you can’t purchase a prepaid package online if you don’t have a Vietnamese phone number.
Here, we highlight popular short-term options and monthly plans to suit your travel needs.
| Package | What’s included | Pricing | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| D5 | 1 GB | 5,000 VND (~$0.20) | 1 day |
| D15 | 3 GB | 15,000 VND (~$0.59) | 3 days |
| MBF30 | 30 GB | 30,000 VND (~$1.18) | 7 days |
| LC | 42 GB | 40,000 VND (~$1.57) | 7 days |
| NA120 | 20 GB | 120,000 VND (~$4.72) | 30 days |
| TQT19 | 10 international minutes | 19,000 VND (~$0.75) | 1 day |
| TQT99 | 100 international minutes | 99,000 VND (~$3.90) | 15 days |
| TQT299 | 380 international minutes | 299,000 VND (~$11.77) | 30 Days |
Even with a wide selection of plans, MobiFone doesn’t offer unlimited mobile data.
Viettel Vietnam SIM cards for tourists
SIM cards from Viettel, the biggest telecommunications company in Vietnam, offer benefits like:
- 4G and 5G internet speed
- Vietnamese phone numbers
- Coverage in other countries through their roaming service
- Cheaper prices than other providers in Vietnam
Viettel SIM card for Vietnam prices
Viettel’s packages fall into four main categories:
- Dcom packages with one-day validity
- Roaming packages for different destinations
- Hot packages offering data plans for social apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook
- 4G/5G packages with diverse data allowances and benefits like domestic texting, calling, and TV streaming
Below you can explore some popular prepaid data-only SIM card options from Viettel.
| Package | Data | Pricing | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dcom – DC5 | 1 GB | 5,000 VND (~$0.20) | 1 day |
| Dcom – D10 | 3 GB | 10,000 VND (~$0.39) | 1 day |
| Dcom – D15 | 5 GB | 15,000 VND (~$0.59) | 1 day |
| 4G/5G – ST70K | 500 MB/day | 70,000 VND (~$2.76) | 30 days |
| 4G/5G – ST120K | 2 GB/day | 120,000 VND (~$4.72) | 30 days |
| 4G/5G – SD150 | 3 GB/day | 150,000 VND (~$5.91) | 30 days |
| Hot – 1N | 5 GB | 10,000 VND/day (~$0.39) | Daily renewal |
To access available voice and SMS packages, you’ll need to purchase a SIM card first. After obtaining your Vietnamese phone number, you can request a one-time password (OTP) via SMS to log into the Viettel website and view the available plans.
VinaPhone prepaid SIM card for Vietnam
VinaPhone is another local operator with its own network in Vietnam. Like other providers, VinaPhone offers prepaid SIM cards that you can buy without a data plan. You can choose to activate a data package later or request one when purchasing the SIM. Once you insert the SIM into your phone, you’ll enjoy benefits such as:
- High-speed 4G internet access
- Top-up options that include local phone calls
- Service activation via SMS
- Customer service support through a mobile app
VinaPhone SIM card for Vietnam price
VinaPhone prepaid SIM plans include:
| Package | Calls & SMS | Data | Pricing | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VD30T | Free domestic VinaPhone calls under 10 minutes, with a maximum of 1,500 minutes, plus 30 minutes of off-net calls. | 1 GB/day | 30,000 VND (~$1.18) | 10 days |
| D159V | 1,500 minutes of VinaPhone domestic calls, 200 minutes of off-net calls, and 200 SMS within the network | 6 GB/day | 159,000 VND/month (~$6.26) | 30 days |
| SPOTV10 | Free domestic mobile calls up to 20 minutes and 5 minutes of off-net calls | 5 GB | 10,000 VND/day (~$0.39) | N/A |
| Merchant 599 | 4,000 minutes of VinaPhone domestic calls and 700 minutes of off-net calls | 12 GB/day | 599,000 VND/month (~$23.58) | 30 days |
| Merchant 699 | 5,000 minutes of VinaPhone domestic calls and 800 minutes of off-net calls | 16 GB/day | 699,000 VND/month (~$27.52) | 30 days |
| VD120M | free data for accessing Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and MyTV, plus free VinaPhone domestic calls under 10 minutes (up to 1,500 minutes) | 1GB Data/day | 120,000 VND/month (~$4.72) | 30 days |
VinaPhone’s process is similar to other local carriers. First, purchase a SIM card, register it, and ensure your phone is unlocked and compatible with the network. Once that’s done, you can choose and activate a data plan that suits your needs.
Note: After you reach your daily data allowance, your connection will pause until the next day. To continue browsing, you’ll need to wait for the daily reset.
SIM card registration in Vietnam
SIM card registration is mandatory in Vietnam for both locals and foreigners — a policy introduced in 2016 to prevent misuse of unregistered SIM cards for illegal activities. For tourists, the requirements are:
- A valid ID, such as a passport
- SIM card purchase
- A completed registration form (provided by the network provider)
- In some cases, a local address might be needed for registration. If you’re staying at a hotel, you can simply use its address.
The process typically takes around 15 minutes and can cost up to $4, depending on the operator. Keep in mind that there’s a five-SIM limit per passport.
For simpler and faster registration, better data packages, and more flexibility, consider using a virtual, embedded SIM card (eSIM).
eSIM for Vietnam: A great alternative to physical SIM cards
Holafly’s eSIM for Vietnam offers customizable plan lengths to match your travel needs. You can get a one-day SIM for a quick sightseeing trip, a 90-day unlimited data plan for a summer-long adventure, or anything in between.
Here’s what you get with Holafly’s eSIM:
- MobiFone, Viettel, and VinaPhone network coverage
- Quick activation via QR code — no need to install a physical SIM card
- Unlimited mobile data package
- 500 MB per day for sharing data with others
- 4G LTE high-speed networks supported by MobiFone and VinaPhone, top providers in Vietnam
- Flexible top-up options
- Cheaper than roaming service
- Easier to purchase than local Vietnam SIM card packages
- 24/7 customer support in over 10 languages via multiple channels
If you’re convinced, there’s just one thing to check before adding Holafly’s eSIM for Vietnam to your cart: checking your phone is eSIM-compatible. Most newer devices support eSIM technology, So check out this list of compatible phones to see if yours qualifies.
If your phone’s on the list, see how much you can expect to pay for your ticket to unlimited data freedom.
How much does a Holafly eSIM card for Vietnam cost?
All of Holafly’s Vietnam eSIM plans include unlimited mobile data and a 500 MB daily allowance for data tethering. Prices range from $5.90 per day for a 1-day plan to as little as $1.54 per day for the 90-day plan. Here’s an overview of some popular pricing plans, but remember you can choose any number of days from 1 to 90:
| Validity | Pricing | Price per day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $5.90 | $5.90 |
| 3 days | $12.90 | $4.30 |
| 7 days | $28.90 | $4.12 |
| 10 days | $36.90 | $3.69 |
| 15 days | $50.90 | $3.39 |
| 30 days | $74.90 | $2.49 |
| 90 days | $138.90 | $1.54 |
If you’re visiting multiple countries, you can choose a Holafly eSIM plan for Asia with regional coverage.
Don’t limit convenience — choose Holafly for unlimited data in Vietnam
“Local Vietnam SIM cards provide competitive data plans with flexible daily allowances, but they come with challenges such as registration requirements, language barriers, and limited data packages. With that in mind, it’s hard to tell which is the best one?
Viettel, often referred to as the Verizon of Vietnam, has great network coverage and reliable data speeds. It is a good option for those that don’t mind sharing sensitive data with local network providers, and aren’t worried about the language barrier and registration process.
However, there is a way to skip all that inconvenience and still enjoy the excellent coverage of the Viettel network.
Holafly’s eSIM cards for Vietnam use Viettel network and offer the same speeds and coverage as the local SIMs. They come with unlimited data with the added benefit of easy installation and activation. You can get all the benefits of local networks without the downside of language obstacles data caps, and complicated registration processes.
The best SIM card for Vietnam is not SIM at all – it’s Holafly eSIM.
Your ticket to seamless connectivity in Vietnam
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Living in Romania's only coastal city, Constanta, Stefania Manea has been in the content marketing space for 9 years. She discovered her passion for writing while studying Maritime Engineering, which led her to switch her career path and join the marketing industry. Since then, she has relentlessly written copy and content for renowned brands in the B2B SaaS landscape, including MarkUp.io, Toggl, MarineTraffic, Route4Me, and Insense. She values creativity, loves horror novels, and occasionally believes in ghosts!
