Vietnam

Staying connected in Vietnam

Vietnam stretches more than 1,600 kilometres from north to south, and most visitors try to see a good slice of it: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa and the Ha Giang loop in the north; Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An in the centre; Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc in the south. Overseas Vietnamese returning to see family make up a large share of arrivals, especially around Tet.

Each region has its own weather: the north has a cool winter, central Vietnam is wettest from roughly September to December, and the south is dry from December to April. Tet, the Lunar New Year, is the busiest time, when flights and buses fill up and many shops close for several days; it is also when you will be messaging, booking rides and paying by phone the most.

Coverage and networks

There are 3 eSIM options for Vietnam. Each network belongs to the option it is listed with, so compare them before choosing.

Signal and speed depend on where you are, your device and network conditions, and can differ between plans.

Choosing a data allowance

eSIM plans for Vietnam currently last 3 to 30 days and come in these types:

• Daily data (5GB and 7GB per day): suits a steady routine. Check when the daily allowance resets and what happens once it is used.
• Unlimited: always read the fair-use policy; after a set amount, speed may be reduced.

Suggestions for this trip

• A 7–10 day trip of sightseeing, rides, QR payments and family video calls: 5GB of daily data is comfortable.
• Remote work, online meetings or filming and posting video every day: choose 7GB a day or an unlimited plan (fair-use policy applies).
• Home for Tet or a longer stay: pick a 15-, 20- or 30-day plan to match your time in the country; if a relative is booking for you, share your arrival and departure dates so the duration fits.

Count your arrival and departure days. Before paying, check the exact plan for when validity starts, how days are counted, and whether hotspot, calls or SMS are included; these differ between plans.

Before you go

• Ride-hailing: Grab is the most familiar app for visitors; Be and Xanh SM (electric taxis) are popular local options in the big cities.
• Messaging: Zalo is the main messaging app in Vietnam, and hotels, guides and sellers often use it to contact customers.
• Payments: QR bank transfers are everywhere, even at small stalls; without a Vietnamese bank account, carry cash in dong for markets, street food and motorbike taxis, while hotels and malls take international cards.
• Wi-Fi: Almost every café, restaurant and hotel has free Wi-Fi, with the password usually on the table or available from staff.
• Mountains and islands: Parts of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, the north-west mountain passes and small islands have unreliable mobile service.
• Local SIM: Sold at airport counters and operator shops and must be registered with your passport; expect queues at the airport at peak times.
• eSIM setup: Before buying, make sure your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked. Install the eSIM before you fly, on a stable Wi-Fi connection, following the instructions sent with your plan.
• On arrival: Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line and follow its roaming instructions. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid unexpected charges.