Connectivity & Internet
Viettel SIM from 100K ₫, eSIM (Airalo, Holafly), WiFi and a VPN for Telegram. Three carriers, plans and roaming. Updated 2026.
Updated: April 2026
Key numbers
Coverage, speed, and what getting online actually costs.
Mobile operators
Three main operators. Viettel leads on coverage (including mountains and islands). Vinaphone is strong at resorts. Mobifone is the budget pick.
| Operator | Share | 4G speed | 5G | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viettel | ~54% | 111 Mbps | Yes (Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang) | Travelling nationwide |
| Vinaphone | ~23% | 73 Mbps | Yes (Hanoi, HCMC) | Resorts, prices 10–15% lower |
| Mobifone | ~19% | 55 Mbps | Trial | Budget option, −10–20% |
SIM cards
Buy at the airport (counters are open 24/7) or at an official store. You need your passport. Airport prices run 10–20% higher.
Popular plans
| Operator | Plan | Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viettel | ST30K | 3 GB/day | 15 days | 150,000 ₫ (~$6) |
| Viettel | ST90K | 6 GB/day | 30 days | 200,000 ₫ (~$8) |
| Vinaphone | D60G | 4 GB/day | 30 days | 180,000 ₫ (~$7) |
| Mobifone | F200N | 4 GB/day | 30 days | 160,000 ₫ (~$6.5) |
Topping up your balance
- A scratch card from a mini-market (Circle K, FamilyMart) — enter the code via *100*code#
- The operator app: My Viettel, My VNPT, My MobiFone
- Balance: *101# · Remaining data: *102#
eSIM
Set it up in 5 minutes before you fly and you’re online the moment you land. It runs 2–3× more than a physical SIM, but there’s no passport and no Vietnamese number to sort out. Pay with any card.
| Provider | Plan | Price | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 10 GB / 30 days | $16 | Viettel |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 7 days | $19 | Vinaphone |
| Yesim | 5 GB / 14 days | $12 | Viettel |
eSIM downsides
- No Vietnamese number — you can’t register with Grab or local banks
- 2–3× pricier than a physical SIM for less data
- Not supported by every phone (iPhone XS+, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+)
WiFi
Free WiFi is almost everywhere — hotels, cafés, restaurants, airports. For work, a coworking space is better (50–150 Mbps, $3–5/day).
VPN
Telegram has been blocked since 25 May 2025. Facebook and Instagram run slowly — a VPN speeds them up 3–5×. Using a VPN for personal purposes is legal.
Roaming from home
Roaming works, but it’s far pricier than a local SIM. A day pass from a US carrier runs ~$10–12/day; UK, EU and Australian plans vary. It’s worth it only for the odd bank text. The smart setup: keep your home SIM for calls and 2FA, and use a Vietnamese SIM or eSIM for data.
| Home carrier | Data/day | Price/day | Over 30 days | vs local SIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US — T-Mobile / AT&T / Verizon | 0.5–5 GB | ~$10–12/day | ~$300–360 | 30–40× a local SIM |
| UK / EU carriers | varies | ~$6–10/day | ~$180–300 | 20–30× a local SIM |
| Australia — Telstra / Optus | varies | ~$5–10/day | ~$150–300 | 15–30× a local SIM |
Mistakes
Four common mistakes that make people overpay for connectivity.
Leaving data on your home SIM
- 1Background updates in the first hour can cost $50–100.
- 2Turn off mobile data on your home SIM before you fly.
- 3Keep your home SIM for 2FA and bank texts only — use a Vietnamese SIM or eSIM for data.
Buying a SIM without your passport
- 1By law since 2018, every SIM is registered to a passport.
- 2An unregistered SIM can be blocked by the operator.
- 3Buy only at the airport or an official operator store.
Not installing a VPN before you fly
- 1Telegram has been blocked since 25 May 2025 — it won’t work without a VPN.
- 2Some VPN apps have been pulled from Vietnam’s regional app stores.
- 3Install your VPN at home — downloading it in Vietnam can be tricky.
Relying on WiFi alone
- 1At peak hours (6–10 pm) WiFi in cafés and hotels gets unstable.
- 2Open networks don’t encrypt traffic — for banking use a VPN or 4G.
- 3Budget at least 2–3 GB/day for heavy use with maps and navigation.