eSIM for Vietnam: Local Carrier or Travel eSIM?
You land in Ho Chi Minh City and want a ride to your hotel. The Viettel eSIM you read about has to be bought after you arrive, with your passport, a selfie, and Wi-Fi to install it. If the airport network will not connect, you are stuck with no maps and no way to book a car.
There are two real ways to get an eSIM for Vietnam. A data-only travel eSIM is installed at home and starts working after you land. A Vietnamese carrier eSIM is set up on arrival with a passport check, gives you a local number, and carries far more data for the money. Choose the first for ease, and the second if you need heavy data or local calls. If your US plan already includes Vietnam, you may not need either.
In short:
- Viettel tells tourists to buy its eSIM after arrival, at an airport counter, a Viettel store, or an official seller.
- MobiFone gives visitors an eSIM in its Hi Vietnam app. HVN15 is 160,000 dong for 120 GB over 15 days, on 2026-10-30.
- In VNNIC's September 2026 data, Viettel was the fastest network in all 8 tourist provinces below.
- The Moosetrip Vietnam eSIM is $14 for 5 GB and $24 for 10 GB over 30 days, on 2026-10-30.
Vietnam eSIM from $4.50Install at home, connect when you land.See plans
Vietnamese carrier eSIMs compared
Dong prices are shown as the operators list them. Convert them at the rate your bank shows on the day you compare.
| Viettel | MobiFone | Vinaphone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where to get it | Arrivals counter, store, official seller | Hi Vietnam app | VNPT outlet, partner shop, carrier app |
| What you need | Original passport, live passport photo, selfie, email, Wi-Fi | Passport photo, online ID check, video call, e-signature | Passport |
| Sample plan | 5G150T, 30 days | HVN15, 15 days | 5G150, 1 month |
| Price | 150,000 dong, SIM price extra | 160,000 dong | 150,000 dong |
| Data | 5 GB a day | 120 GB in all | 7 GB a day |
| Checked | 2026-10-11 | 2026-10-30 | 2026-10-11 |
Since April 15, 2026, Vietnam allows subscriber details to be confirmed only in an official app or in person with the carrier or its authorized seller. That is why street stalls are a poor bet. Use the carrier's own channels.
Viettel
Viettel's tourist guide, dated November 1, 2025, says to buy after you land. You pay, scan the QR code on the pack, and take a live photo of your passport and a selfie. The system will not take pictures from your gallery. For an eSIM you add an email address and sign the contract on your phone. You will need an unlocked phone and Wi-Fi to install it. Staff may ask for your hotel address.
Viettel says its airport counters generally meet all international flights, including night arrivals. If you miss the counter, go to a Viettel store or an official seller in town. To see what is left on your plan, send KTTK by SMS to 191 or dial *098#.
Want minutes too? Viettel's 5G120H and 5G180H plans add 30 minutes on its own network and 15 minutes to other networks.
MobiFone
MobiFone's Hi Vietnam app is built for foreign visitors. Sign up and you get a free eSIM with the HVN0 pack: 8 GB of data and 10 minutes of domestic calls for 24 hours. The steps are a passport photo, an online ID check, a video call, and an e-signature. You then install the eSIM and call 900 to activate it.
| Pack | Data | Domestic minutes | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVN3 | 25 GB | 30 | 3 days | 80,000 dong |
| HVN7 | 50 GB | 70 | 7 days | 120,000 dong |
| HVN15 | 120 GB | 150 | 15 days | 160,000 dong |
| HVN30 | 250 GB | 200 | 30 days | 240,000 dong |
You pay in the app with Visa or Mastercard. Two things to plan for. You need a working connection to download the app and finish the video call. And Apple's carrier list, dated September 14, 2026, marks eSIM support on iPhone for Viettel and Vinaphone but not for MobiFone, so iPhone users should confirm it in the app first.
Vinaphone
VNPT, which runs Vinaphone, sets up new eSIMs at its outlets, partner shops, and in its app. Its regular 5G150 plan is 150,000 dong a month for 7 GB a day. Data stops once the day's 7 GB is gone, and the plan renews on its own. That makes it a less natural fit for a short trip.
If you have been to Vietnam before and a local number is still active on your passport, a second SIM is confirmed with a code sent to that first number.
US roaming and travel eSIM costs
Verizon lists TravelPass at $12 a day in TravelPass countries outside Mexico and Canada, with 5 GB of high-speed data per day and 3G speed after that. AT&T lists International Day Pass at $12 a day, plus $6 for each extra line used on the same day. Confirm Vietnam and the rate in your carrier app before you fly.
| Option | 10 days | 14 days | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass | $120 | $168 | US number |
| Verizon $100 monthly plan | $100 | $100 | US number |
| AT&T International Day Pass | $120 | $168 | US number |
| Viettel 5G150T | 150,000 dong plus SIM | 150,000 dong plus SIM | Vietnamese |
| MobiFone HVN15 | 160,000 dong | 160,000 dong | Vietnamese |
| Moosetrip, 5 GB | $14 | $14 | None |
| Moosetrip, 10 GB | $24 | $24 | None |
Verizon and AT&T passes include calls and texts on your US number, so the match with a data-only eSIM is not exact. The monthly plan has 20 GB of high-speed data and 250 minutes, and Verizon calls it ideal for trips of 9 days or longer.
A few honest rules of thumb:
- Keep your US plan if it includes Vietnam. Verizon Unlimited Ultimate covers calls, texts, and data in more than 210 countries, with speed cut to 1.5 Mbps after 15 GB in a month.
- Pick a local eSIM if you are happy to do the passport steps on arrival and want tens of GB.
- Pick a travel eSIM if you land at night, want to skip the arrivals counter, and do not need a Vietnamese number.
Which network to choose by city
VNNIC, Vietnam's internet center, publishes median download speed by province. The numbers below are from September 2026, in Mbps. Provinces were merged in 2025, so Phu Quoc now sits in An Giang, Mui Ne in Lam Dong, and Hoi An in Da Nang city.
| Going to | Province | Viettel | Vinaphone | MobiFone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nha Trang | Khanh Hoa | 333.88 | 86.15 | 97.01 |
| Phu Quoc | An Giang | 246.44 | 107.49 | 53.68 |
| Da Nang, Hoi An | Da Nang | 501.43 | 111.18 | 129.16 |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Ho Chi Minh City | 189.09 | 87.42 | 104.52 |
| Mui Ne | Lam Dong | 413.08 | 107.53 | 55.66 |
| Hanoi | Hanoi | 170.80 | 76.64 | 79.25 |
| Ha Long | Quang Ninh | 89.52 | 70.77 | 47.53 |
| Sapa | Lao Cai | 81.08 | 58.42 | 66.18 |
These are whole-province figures and they move from month to month, so use them to compare carriers and not as a speed you will get. For that month, Viettel led in all 8.
Coverage matters more outside cities. nPerf's report for September 2025 to August 2026 found 5G in 74% of places Viettel users go around Ho Chi Minh City, against 49% for MobiFone and 40% for Vinaphone. In the Red River Delta around Hanoi, 4G reached 98% on Viettel, 96% on Vinaphone, and 92% on MobiFone. In the Mekong Delta, which includes Phu Quoc, it was 98%, 94%, and 96% in the same order.
Vietnam also has a fourth carrier, Vietnamobile, but its national median was 10.94 Mbps in September 2026 against 70.16 to 119.49 for the other three. Tourists can skip it.
Our Vietnam plan lists Viettel Mobile, Vinaphone, and MobiFone. We do not promise 5G, so plan on 4G.
How to set up a travel eSIM for Vietnam
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and must not be locked to your carrier.
- Pick a plan on our Vietnam page.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi with the QR code. Days count from your first connection in Vietnam.
- After landing, set that line for cellular data and turn on data roaming for it.
- Turn off data roaming on your US line. Verizon says background activity can start a paid session.
Prices on 2026-10-30:
| Data | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.50 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $9.50 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $14 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $24 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $42 |
To size a plan, use a cautious rule: 1 GB is about 5 hours of maps and taxi apps, or about 1.5 hours of video calls. Two hours of maps a day plus a 20-minute video call comes to about 6.2 GB over 10 days and 8.7 GB over 14 days. Either way, 10 GB is the safer pick. If you run low, you can add data to the same eSIM.
Going on to Thailand? Plans are on our Thailand page.
Questions
What is the best eSIM for Vietnam?
The one that fits how you travel. Viettel led on speed and coverage in the 2025 and 2026 data above. A travel eSIM is easiest for a short trip, and a local plan gives you the most data.
Can I buy a Viettel eSIM before I fly?
Viettel's tourist guide describes buying after arrival, not online before your trip. Plan to go to a counter, store, or official seller.
Do I need a Vietnamese phone number?
Not for data. A local number helps if you call hotels or drivers on normal phone lines. MobiFone's HVN packs and Viettel's 5G120H and 5G180H plans include minutes.
Will I keep my US number with an eSIM?
Yes. Your regular number stays on as a second line. Check what your US carrier charges for calls and texts abroad, or you may pay roaming fees on that line.
Can I still get an eSIM after I land?
Yes. Use the Viettel arrivals counter, a store, or the Hi Vietnam app. A travel eSIM can also be installed from hotel Wi-Fi.
What happens if my data runs out?
On a Moosetrip eSIM, you add data to the same eSIM. MobiFone tourist packs are renewed in the same app by card. On Vinaphone, send DATA by SMS to 888 to see what is left.
Sources
- Viettel, Viettel eSIM 30 Days tourist guide, November 1, 2025, checked 2026-10-11
- MobiFone, Hi Vietnam app and HVN packs, March 18, 2026, checked 2026-10-30
- LuatVietnam, subscriber registration from April 15, 2026, April 2, 2026
- VNPT, how to get an eSIM, checked 2026-10-11
- VNPT, 5G150 plan, checked 2026-10-11
- Apple, wireless carrier support in Asia-Pacific, September 14, 2026
- VNNIC, mobile internet by province, September 2026 data, checked 2026-10-11
- nPerf, Vietnam coverage barometer (PDF), September 29, 2026
- Bao Chinh Phu, resolution 202/2025/QH15 on merging provinces, June 12, 2025
- Verizon, TravelPass FAQs, checked 2026-10-30
- Verizon, international travel plans, checked 2026-10-30
- AT&T, International Day Pass, checked 2026-10-30