SIM Card Guides

Vietnam SIM card: Best tourist options in 2025

Learn everything you need to know about the top Vietnam SIM card options, including the pricing, where you can find them, and how to register your SIM.

Off to Vietnam? Whether you want to share breathtaking views on Instagram, get directions from Google Maps, or FaceTime your mom to let her know you’ve landed safely, you’ll need reliable mobile internet in Vietnam. Tourist SIM cards are among the most popular data options in the country, making it easy to get online.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top Vietnam SIM card options and where you can buy them. On top of that, we’ll introduce you to Holafly — an international eSIM that offers you unlimited data without ever needing a physical SIM.

In this article

How much does a SIM card cost in Vietnam?

A tourist SIM card in Vietnam typically costs around 50,000 VND (~US$1.60). However, that’s just the price of the physical SIM card itself. Top-ups can cost anywhere from 90,000 VND (~$3.00) to 250,000 VND (~$8.20), depending on how much data, calls, and texts you need.

Best SIM cards for Vietnam: Top 3 options

MobiFone, Viettel, and VinaPhone are the three major cell service providers in Vietnam, and they offer competitive data plans for tourists. All of them require you to buy a prepaid SIM card first. When you have the SIM, you can then top it up with data and calls as needed.

Let’s take a closer look at what each of them has to offer to help you choose the right one for you.

MobiFone Vietnam SIM card

MobiFone is one of the largest telecommunication companies in the country. Once you pick up their tourist SIM, you can top it up with data-only SIM plans or separate plans for local and international calls and texts.

The price for data plans ranges from 90,000 VND (~$3.00) to 250,000 VND (~$8.20), with validity periods from 1 to 30 days and data allowances from 1 GB to 250 GB. You can only buy the physical SIM in person, but if you run out of data, you can buy extra packages online as well.

Viettel Vietnam SIM card

Viettel is one of the tourist favorites in Vietnam, thanks to a wide range of plans and affordable pricing. It also offers solid data speeds and reliable coverage throughout the country, so you shouldn’t have any issues with mobile service unless you go venturing into the wilderness.

As with all tourist SIMs in Vietnam, you first have to buy the physical SIM, then top it up with a plan of your choosing. All Viettel plans offer both data and call minutes, with prices ranging from 60,000 VND (~$2.00) to 200,000 VND (~$6.50). The validity periods range from 15 to 30 days, and the more expensive plans also include unlimited data.

VinaPhone Vietnam SIM card

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.

VinaPhone plan prices range from 90,000 VND (~$3.00) to 200,000 VND (~$6.50), with each plan offering from 1 to 6 GB of mobile data usage per day, as well as an allowance of calls and texts. The only two validity options are 15 or 30 days.

Holafly eSIM for Vietnam: Unlimited data wherever you go

Holafly is one of the top eSIM providers in the world, known for its unlimited data plans. Holafly’s eSIM for Vietnam is no exception, offering unlimited data, hotspot sharing, and 24/7 customer support with every plan. While it’s a data-only eSIM, you can put the unlimited data to good use by using VoIP apps to make calls and send texts instead.

You can get your Vietnam eSIM for any number of days in the range of 1 to 90, allowing you to match the eSIM to your stay and avoid paying for any days you don’t need. Vietnam eSIM plan prices range from $1.55 to $6.90 per day, depending on the duration of your plan.

Holafly offers regional eSIM packages as well, so if you’re traveling to several countries in the region, you can get an eSIM for Asia instead and stay connected wherever you go with a single eSIM.

If you’re planning an extended stay abroad, consider Holafly Plans instead. It’s a pay-monthly eSIM subscription that keeps you connected in 170+ destinations worldwide, so there’s no need to buy a local SIM whenever you cross borders. Simply choose a plan that suits your needs, use it for as long as you like, and cancel anytime.

Where to buy a Vietnam SIM card

You can buy a Vietnam SIM card for tourists before your trip or after you land. Either way, there are plenty of options for staying connected. Here’s where you can buy your Vietnam SIM card:

Online: You can buy your SIM from international retailers such as Amazon or KKday and pick it up at the airport in Vietnam or have it delivered to your home before the trip.
At the airport: You’ll find SIM card kiosks by local cell service providers at the Hanoi, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh airports, so you can get connected almost as soon as you land.
In Vietnam: If you left the airport without your Vietnamese SIM card, you can get one at official stores throughout the country, as well as convenience stores such as Circle K, 7-Eleven, and Minimart.
Buy an eSIM: You don’t need a physical SIM card to stay connected in Vietnam. You can get an international eSIM instead and enjoy instant connectivity whenever you need it. It only takes a couple of minutes to buy, set up, and activate your eSIM, all you need is internet access and an eSIM-compatible phone.

How to register your SIM card 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. The store workers will help you through the registration process when buying your SIM, but you will need to provide a valid passport and an unlocked phone at the store.

Once your SIM is registered, you’ll still need to activate it before it starts working. Here’s how you can do that:

Insert the SIM card into the SIM slot in your phone
Turn on your phone
You will receive a text message with activation instructions from your SIM provider
Follow the instructions to activate your SIM card
Get a top-up for your SIM to start using it

If you’d rather skip the lengthy registration process, get an eSIM for Vietnam instead. Holafly doesn’t require you to register or provide your ID, simply buy your eSIM, activate it, and enjoy instant connectivity no matter if you’re in Ho Chi Minh City or just arriving to Vietnam.

Planning to visit more destinations in the region? Check out more of our articles on local SIM cards:

Plans that may interest you

Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

Read full bio