Internet in Vietnam for Tourists: What to Use and What It Costs
You walk out of the terminal in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and need a ride. Ride apps need data, the driver may message you, and your hotel address is in an email you never saved.
Getting internet in Vietnam for tourists comes down to three good choices: a local SIM or eSIM bought on arrival, a data eSIM you install at home, or daily roaming with your US carrier. Local plans are very cheap, and Viettel is the safest network to pick. A data eSIM costs more, but you skip the counter and the passport check. Roaming fits a day or two.
In short:
- A local SIM with data usually costs VND150,000 to VND350,000, about $6.50 to $15, per VnExpress in 2025. Prices depend on your stay and data.
- Viettel has the best coverage, with 8.4 out of 10 in Opensignal's data for April to June 2026.
- Verizon TravelPass and AT&T International Day Pass both list $12 a day for one line, so 10 days of use is $120.
- The Moosetrip Vietnam eSIM starts at $4.50 for 1 GB over 7 days, and 5 GB for 30 days is $14, on 2026-10-30.
Vietnam eSIM from $4.50Install at home, connect when you land.See plans
Internet options in Vietnam compared
Dollar amounts for dong prices are rough, at about 26,000 dong to the dollar.
| Option | Price | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local SIM at the airport or a shop | Usually VND150,000 to VND350,000 | Data, sometimes minutes, a Vietnamese number | Trips of a week or more |
| Viettel 5G150T plan | VND150,000 (about $6), plus the SIM | 5 GB a day for 30 days | Heavy data users |
| MobiFone tourist app | VND80,000 to VND240,000 ($3 to $9) | 3 to 30 day plans on an eSIM | People already online |
| Verizon or AT&T daily pass | $12 per day for one line | Your US number, talk, text, and data | A day or two |
| Moosetrip eSIM | $4.50 to $42 | Data only, 1 GB to 20 GB | No counter, no passport check |
Roaming with your US carrier
Roaming needs no setup, and your normal number keeps working. Verizon lists TravelPass at $12 per day, per line, outside Mexico and Canada, with 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour session. AT&T lists International Day Pass at $12 per day for one line, plus $6 for each extra line used that day, for customers on an unlimited plan. Confirm Vietnam and the rate in your carrier app before you fly.
For one line, 10 days of use is $120 and 14 days is $168. Local data in Vietnam costs a small fraction of that, so roaming only makes sense for very short stops. Some US plans include travel data. If yours covers Vietnam and gives you enough high-speed data, keep it.
Viettel, Vinaphone, or MobiFone
Vietnam has four mobile operators: Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone, and Vietnamobile. Most tourists should choose from the first three.
Opensignal's report for April 1 to June 29, 2026 shows close speeds and a wide gap in coverage. It measures coverage where people live, work, and travel.
| Operator | Download speed | Coverage, out of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Viettel | 56.7 Mbps | 8.4 |
| Vinaphone | 54.6 Mbps | 5.5 |
| MobiFone | 55.4 Mbps | 4.3 |
| Vietnamobile | 12.6 Mbps | 1.4 |
If you do not want to think about it, take Viettel. Vietnam's internet center, VNNIC, also put Viettel first in all eight tourist provinces it tracked in September 2026. City-by-city numbers are in our guide to eSIM for Vietnam.
Where to buy a SIM in Vietnam
You can buy a SIM at airports and at operator shops. Viettel's tourist guide from November 2025 lists these counters:
| Airport | Where to find Viettel |
|---|---|
| Noi Bai, Hanoi | T2 arrivals, after passport control |
| Tan Son Nhat, Ho Chi Minh City | International arrivals, after baggage claim |
| Da Nang | International arrivals |
| Cam Ranh, Nha Trang | International arrivals |
| Phu Quoc | International arrivals |
Viettel says these counters usually cover all international flights, including night arrivals. If you miss one, operator shops in town sell the same plans.
At the counter:
- Say how many days you are staying, and ask for the data and the end date.
- Ask if the plan has local minutes. Many cheap plans are data only.
- Ask for the full total, with the SIM.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and open a map before you leave.
- Keep the card with your number and the receipt.
Your phone must be unlocked to take a Vietnamese SIM, and it needs a tray for a plastic one. If you are not sure, check your phone here.
Local eSIMs: Viettel and MobiFone
You can get a Vietnamese eSIM too, but only after you arrive or through an app. Viettel sells one at counters, shops, and official sellers. Its plan 5G150T is VND150,000 plus the SIM price, with 5 GB a day for 30 days, on 2026-10-11. You take live photos of your passport and your face, and you need Wi-Fi to install it.
MobiFone described a tourist app in March 2026, with paid plans from VND80,000 for 3 days to VND240,000 for 30 days, by Visa or Mastercard. You need internet to sign up, so it will not help the moment you land.
Passport rules
Bring your original passport. Your number goes in your own name, so buy only at a counter or an operator shop, and never use a SIM registered to someone else.
Vietnam tightened its rules on April 15, 2026, under Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN. For foreigners, operators check your details against the national immigration database. For a second SIM on the same passport, they require a one-time code sent to a SIM you already registered. A video call or a portrait check can be added. Expect staff to photograph you and your passport.
Travel eSIM for Vietnam
An eSIM is a digital SIM. You install it at home over Wi-Fi with a QR code, and your regular number stays on as a second line. Days count from your first connection in Vietnam, so you can set it up a month ahead.
A local plan costs far less than our eSIM if you are staying a while and do not mind the counter. Our eSIM is for people who want to be online the moment they land, or who want to skip the passport check.
Two limits apply. Your phone must support eSIM and must not be locked to your carrier. And our eSIM is internet only, with no phone number.
Our Vietnam plans list the Viettel, Vinaphone, and MobiFone networks. 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 your 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 for 10 days is about 4 GB. Add 20 minutes of video calls each day and you reach about 6.2 GB, so take 10 GB. If you run low, you can add data to the same eSIM.
After you land:
- Turn on data for the eSIM line.
- Turn off data roaming on your US line.
- If no network appears, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line, or pick a network by hand in settings.
Crossing into another country? Our Asia eSIM covers 14 countries, with 5 GB for $15. Check that every stop is included first.
Questions
What is the best SIM card in Vietnam for tourists?
Take Viettel if you are unsure. Speeds are close across the top three, but Viettel scored 8.4 out of 10 for coverage in Opensignal's data, against 5.5 for Vinaphone and 4.3 for MobiFone.
Can I get a SIM without a passport?
No. Numbers are registered to your passport and your name. Bring the original.
What if I land at night?
Viettel says its airport counters usually cover all international flights, including night arrivals. If you do not want to rely on that, install an eSIM at home so you can call a ride right at the exit.
Is an eSIM cheaper than a local SIM in Vietnam?
Usually not. A local plan with a lot of data can cost around $6 plus the SIM, and 5 GB on our eSIM is $14. You pay more for setting it up at home.
Will I keep my US number?
Yes, if you use a data eSIM. Your regular number stays on as a second line. Turn off data roaming on that line, or check what your carrier charges.
Sources
- VnExpress International, guide to traveling in Vietnam, February 2025, checked 2026-10-30
- LuatVietnam, subscriber registration from April 15, 2026, April 2, 2026, checked 2026-10-30
- Vietnam Mobile Network Experience Report, Opensignal, August 2026
- Viettel, eSIM 30 Days tourist guide, November 1, 2025, checked 2026-10-11
- MobiFone, app for foreign tourists, March 18, 2026
- VNNIC, mobile internet by province and operator, September 2026, checked 2026-10-11
- Verizon, TravelPass FAQs, checked 2026-10-30
- AT&T, International Day Pass, checked 2026-10-30