Best Vietnam SIM Card for Tourists in 2025: All You Need To Know

After spending 2 years in Vietnam and returning frequently, it’s safe to say we’ve tried the different Vietnam SIM options long enough to know which to recommend and which not.

So in this article, we’ll cover all the essentials you need to know about before buying a SIM card or eSIM package in Vietnam.

Traveling to Vietnam soon?
Vietnam e-Visa 2025: How to enter Vietnam (Full Guide)
(Updated with new rules for 90 days and multi-entry visas)

In recent years, eSIM technology has been widely supported in most modern phones, so if your phone supports eSIMs, there’s no reason not to get one.

We are big supporters of the eSIM technology and have had it since we got a phone that supported it a few years ago.

Buying a Vietnam eSIM is the most hassle-free option: buy it online, scan the QR code you receive, and install it on your phone in minutes. No more going to the SIM shop!

Update: Lately, you can even install an eSIM simply by clicking a link and no longer scanning a QR code.

Note: Many Vietnam eSIM packages you can find online don’t come with any text or calls. However, our favorite, Gigago, does have packages that include them.

But that’s also the case with some of the standard SIM packages at the airport. Most only give you data.

So, if you need calls and texts, make sure your plan includes it. We list those plans later in the article.

Another thing to consider before getting an eSIM is whether you need multiple eSIMs active simultaneously. Depending on your phone model, that might not be possible.

In practice, if your home phone plan is on an eSIM, and you can only have one eSIM active on your phone, then a physical one makes sense if you need both your home and travel numbers active.

For example, this was the case on our old iPhone 11.

Vietnam has four major mobile carriers, but the two best networks are Viettel and Vinaphone.

Sticking to the first two is best because it will allow you to go anywhere in the country and have a great connection.

If you want the clearest picture of each carrier’s coverage in Vietnam, check out the practical nPerf coverage map.

Viettel has the best coverage of all mobile carriers in Vietnam, and throughout our travels in Vietnam, we have used Viettel the most and have always had a great experience. Even on our last visit in January 2025, we again chose Viettel.

We’ve visited many locations between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and also more remote places in the north, like Ha Giang and Ban Gioc Waterfall. And we never had issues.

VinaPhone has the second-best network coverage with a 30% market share and is a great choice.

While we don’t have as much experience with VinaPhone as we have with Viettel, we know it’s reliable and can highly recommend it.

Mobifone, with about 22% market share, is only recommended if you stick to the cities, as its coverage outside the main areas gets bad fast.

So, if you’re only visiting, let’s say, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi, you will likely be fine. But not so much in the countryside.

We recommend avoiding Vietnamobile as we had bad experiences with the coverage and connection, even in cities.

We made the mistake of not buying an eSIM package in advance (what we usually do), and we purchased a Vietnamobile package last minute at the Nha Trang airport – never again.

Don’t trust their cheap packages!

The simplest way to buy your physical Vietnam SIM card is upon your arrival at the airport.

All Vietnamese airports are full of kiosks selling Vietnam SIM card packages from operators like Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone, and Vietnamobile.

Just walk up to the kiosk, and you will get your Vietnam SIM card installed and ready to go in minutes.

Note: To buy a physical Vietnam SIM card, you need a passport, as they will have to register the package in your name, as is the official requirement. This is not required if you buy an eSIM online.

We highly recommend comparing packages of at least two kiosks to find the best deal, as they don’t always offer the same packages or prices. And while some have better deals for shorter periods, some have better deals for longer trips.

Do note, though, that mobile packages at Vietnam airports are more expensive than at official stores or online.

It’s straightforward to buy a Vietnam eSIM online and activate it in a matter of minutes.

Getting an eSIM online is especially smart if you’re entering Vietnam by land border from Cambodia or Laos. If you’re on an organized bus trip, you usually don’t have enough time to sort your SIM at the border.

And, of course, having a pre-installed eSIM when arriving by plane to Vietnam means that as soon as you land, you’re online.

Best Vietnam eSIM options

We’ve been following the providers of Vietnam eSIMs since they started offering them and have compiled a list of the best ones below.

Gigago

Affordable & best choice for higher data plans

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Airalo

Affordable for short and long trips

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SimOptions

Great selection of eSIMs

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1. Gigago

Our personal recommendation is to buy an eSIM from Gigago because they offer the biggest selection of plans, local or regional, which are also the most affordable on the market, and even offer a local phone number.

Use code SHIPPEDAWAY to receive a 5% discount on all packages by Gigago.

• plans with lots of data
• plans for 7, 10, 15, 30 days
• calls & text available (local number)
• local Vietnam and regional plans
• data sharing (hotspot)

2. Airalo

Airalo is the second-best Vietnam eSIM retailer, with good options for local and regional Asian packages. However, they have a smaller selection of packages and are a bit more expensive if you want more data.

Use code MATEJ1033 to save $3 on your first order.

• data only
• local Vietnam and regional plans
• plans for 7, 15, and 30 days
• data sharing (hotspot)

3. SimOptions

Much like Airalo, SimOptions offers a somewhat good selection of eSIM plans but also provides the service of getting a prepaid SIM card package (for other countries). However, packages with more data are also a bit more expensive.

• fixed data packages
• plans for 7 and 30 days
• data sharing (hotspot)

4. Holafly

Holafly is the most expensive Vietnam eSIM retailer, but they are a good option if you want an unlimited data package for extended periods.

Use code SHIPPEDAWAY to receive a 5% discount on all packages by Holafly.

• unlimited data
• plans for 1 to 90 days
• data sharing not available or limited (hotspot)

You can order your Vietnam SIM card online and get it delivered to your home address or pick it up at the airport. This way, you get a much better deal than buying it directly at the airport.

Best options for buying a physical Vietnam SIM online:

Ho Chi Minh City: 4G SIM Card

• Network: VinaPhone
• Validity: 10, 15, or 30 days
• Data options: 2 GB/day, 10 GB total, or unlimited
• Type: data only or calls included

Da Nang: 5G SIM Card

• Network: VinaPhone
• Validity: 30 days
• Data options: 4 GB/day, 2 GB/day, 6 GB total
• Type: data only or calls included

Hanoi: 4G SIM Card

• Network: VinaPhone
• Validity: 30 days
• Data options: 3 GB/day, 2 GB/day, or unlimited
• Type: data only or calls included

The same way you would get a phone package in your home country is valid for Vietnam. You can visit the official stores of mobile carriers (Viettel, Vinaphone) across all cities in Vietnam to buy your SIM card.

Often, official stores have better deals than airports or smaller reseller shops. They’re also a better option if you’re planning to stay long-term in Vietnam.

Personally, we now rarely visit mobile carrier stores in Vietnam, as the eSIM packages are minimally more expensive and still offer a good amount of data and fast speeds.

Vietnam SIM Card packages are very affordable and cost upwards of 4 USD for a smaller amount of data and about 10 USD for an excellent data package with text and calls included.

Before getting a package, you must also buy the actual SIM card, which usually costs between 50.000 and 60.000 VND (about 2.5 USD).

Mobile data packages often change names and what they offer, so we won’t go into specifics about each carrier’s packages. There are many packages to choose from, but Viettel and VinaPhone each have great standard monthly packages available.

A good local Vietnam SIM package from an operator like Viettel will cost about 9 USD for 30 days and 2GB of data daily.

Airport prices: Please note that the prices and packages you will find at Vietnam airports are significantly different and often much higher than what you would pay at the carrier’s store.

Most Vietnam SIM card packages you can buy at the airport don’t come with any calls or texts, and you would need to go to the mobile carrier shop to get a different package.

Calls in Vietnam cost about 1.800 VND per minute, and texting costs about 250 VND per SMS.

The airport options are usually limited, as they’re special packages aimed at tourists and usually only include data. And they differ from the official ones you can get at the carrier.

However, you can always top up some money in your account and get calls and texts like that.

If you choose to buy an eSIM from Gigago (Vietnam’s first eSIM provider and our favorite), some of their packages include at least some calls and texts. Plus, you can save 5% with the code SHIPPEDAWAY.

Topping up your Vietnam mobile package is simple in almost every convenience store, like Winmart, Circle K, or 7/11. They have dedicated systems where you just provide them with your phone number, and they top up how much you want to your account.

And if they don’t have that system, you will receive a code on your receipt that you must use/call on your phone to top up. Plus, you can buy top-up vouchers or scratch cards and simply use the codes to top up.

In addition, all the good Vietnam carriers offer mobile apps to register your SIM, top-up your credit, change your plan, or buy add-ons.

Hopefully, we answered all of your questions about getting the best Vietnam SIM card deal for your travel itinerary and budget. Got any extra questions? Leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you!

Have you found a better deal than one of our recommended ones? We are happy to hear about it!

We’re continuously searching for the best deals for travelers to Vietnam, so we’d appreciate any feedback.

Continue reading

• Vietnam e-Visa
• Hanoi Train Street
• Hoi An
• Hanoi
• Ha Long Bay
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Ha Giang Loop
• Da Nang
• Nha Trang