Best eSIM for Traveling to Vietnam in 2024

Are you planning your trip to Vietnam and looking for the best way to stay connected with an eSIM? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an eSIM when traveling to Vietnam including a comparison of the best Vietnam eSIMs in 2024.

Don't waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendations below and order an eSIM for Vietnam on the internet and get connected in just a couple minutes. Below you will find up to date prices as per October 2024, including all specifications per tourist eSIM.

This guide will show you where and when to order an eSIM for Vietnam, the expected data speed, answer all FAQ about using eSIMs, a comparison with local prepaid sim cards for Vietnam, more info about the 4G/5G network coverage and of course links to directly order your eSIM for traveling to Vietnam online.

Table of Contents

Since 2012 I am already traveling the world full time and throughout the years I turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger. That is why I constantly get to a different country and pretty much every week I need to look for a new sim card to stay connected.

In 2023 I visited for example 34 different countries so imagine how many different prepaid and eSIMs I used throughout the year.

In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad. On my latest trip to Vietnam I tested the below recommended Vietnam eSIMs for tourists.

You can also find a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Vietnam in 2024 for those who don't have an eSIM compatible phone.

Traveltomtom also wrote specific and in-depth eSIM guides for: Philippines, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Asia, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Dubai, Europe, United Kingdom, Italy, USA, international eSIMs and many more.

So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money while traveling!

Some links in this article about the best eSIMs for Vietnam are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends the following two eSIMs for traveling to Vietnam in 2024: 

1. Airalo Vietnam eSIM - 20 GB for $32 USD

• 20 GB data-only eSIM\
• Operates on the Mobifone and Viettel network
• 4G/LTE
• Valid in Vietnam only
• Valid for 30 days
• $1.6 USD per Gigabyte

2. Jetpac eSIM for Vietnam - 20 GB for $28 USD 

• 20 GB data-only eSIM
• Operates on the Mobifone network
• 4G/LTE
• Valid in 15 countries in Southeast Asia and Pacific
• Valid for 30 days
• Only $1.4 USD per Gigabyte

When putting both eSIMs above next to each other your first question is why is the Jetpac eSIM ranked 2nd and the Airalo eSIM ranked number 1. Right?

Well, let me explain...

When it comes to Vietnam eSIMs the price is NOT the most important, trust me!

The big difference in Vietnam is the mobile data network. The Mobifone mobile data network is not bad, but the Xin Chao eSIMs from Airalo operate also on the Viettel network, which is much more advanced.

For traveling in Vietnam Traveltomtom always recommends a prepaid or eSIM that uses the Viettel network over any other mobile internet provider in Vietnam.

For more details about the 4G/5G network strength including 4G/5G network coverage maps check out Traveltomtom's guide for the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Vietnam in 2024.

Is Vietnam one of your stops on a trip to Asia or around the world then you can also look into getting an eSIM for world travelers or an eSIM for traveling in Asia. There are a bunch of eSIMs that cover multiple countries.

There are 2 very important things to check before ordering an eSIM for Vietnam or in general before using an eSIM. 

Unlocked phones only

Make sure your phone is unlocked. eSIMs for tourists only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.

In general phones from Europe, Asia and the Middle East tend to be unlocked. Phones from North America are often locked.

If your smartphone is locked that means it does not allow another prepaid sim card or eSIM to operate in the device. You can easily unlock your phone, but depending on your mobile internet provider you will be charged a fee for unlocking your phone.

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eSIM compatible phones only

Second, and equally important: eSIMs only work if your smartphone supports eSIMs, also called eSIM compatible. All newer smartphones support eSIMs. If you are not sure if your phone is eSIM compatible then simply go to Google and type in your mobile phone model in the search bar and ask if it is eSIM compatible. You will get the answer instantly. 

If your phone is NOT eSIM compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an eSIM for traveling to Vietnam.

However, you can still order a sim card for Vietnam on the internet before your trip. Find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024.

Comparison of the best eSIMs for Vietnam

Buying an eSIM on arrival in Vietnam is unfortunately still not possible. Not at the international airports of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City nor in phone stores anywhere around Vietnam. The mobile internet providers in Vietnam do NOT provide eSIMs for tourists, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.

Luckily there are multiple eSIM providers on the internet that sell Vietnam eSIMs for tourists. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for traveling in Vietnam from one of the well-known eSIM providers that have proven to be reliable operators: Jetpac, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, SimOptions, etc.

Traveltomtom's favorite eSIM providers for more than 5 years are SimOptions and Airalo, but are they also the cheapest nowadays?

You can buy an eSIM for pretty much every country in the world. Order directly from one of the above eSIM providers and instantly receive your eSIM in your email. But before you buy an eSIM first read all my tips below.

SimOptions is the only eSIM provider that also offers international prepaid sim cards for Vietnam. These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards that will be delivered to your home address before your trip and it is plug and play when you arrive in Vietnam.

Airalo, Holafly, Jetpac and Nomad only sell eSIMs for Vietnam.

Jetpac

Jetpac is a new eSIM provider that offers eSIMs valid in multiple countries, not just Vietnam. The Jetpac eSIMs for Vietnam are also valid in: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. So a perfect eSIM for traveling to Southeast Asia.

Here are the Jetpac Southeast Asia eSIM plans:

• 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
• 3 GB data for 7 days = $11 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $22 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD
• 40 GB data for 30 days = $60 USD

Click here for more info or to order the Jetpac Vietnam eSIM.

Traveltomtom readers can now enjoy an extra 10% discount on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the coupon code: TOMTOM10 at check out!

The Jetpac Vietnam plan with 20 GB data for just $28 USD makes it the a great value eSIM for Vietnam and Southeast Asia with a rate of only $1.4 USD per Gigabyte.

In fact, Jetpac is even $4 USD cheaper than a 20 GB Airalo eSIM for Vietnam. But Jetpac Vietnam eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE Mobifone network and not on the Viettel network like the Airalo Vietnam eSIMs. Otherwise Jetpac would be my first Vietnam eSIM recommendation.

You can instal your Jetpac eSIM before your trip to Vietnam, but it only activates from the moment it connects to a supported network in Vietnam or one of the other supported countries. That moment your days also start counting. The Jetpac eSIMs have to be installed within 1 year.

The Jetpac Vietnam eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported. These eSIMs do not come with a phone number and unfortunately the Jetpac Vietnam eSIMs are 5G ready, but not in all listed countries, in Vietnam only 4G/LTE is supported.

An extra advantage of Jetpac eSIMs is that they provide a free VPN subscription and free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you will have to register your flight before you travel and in case of a delayed or canceled flight a LoungeKey voucher will automatically be provided. This is a complimentary service that no other eSIMs offer. For more info check the Jetpac website.

Airalo

Airalo is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using Airalo for ordering an eSIM. 

Why using Airalo? When it comes to Vietnam eSIMs Airalo has great eSIM plans and in contrary to Nomad and SimOptions they operate on the best mobile data network in Vietnam: Viettel. Therefore Traveltomtom recommends Airalo as the best eSIMs for Vietnam.

Here are the Airalo data-only eSIM plans for Vietnam for 2024: 

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $7 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD

Click here to order an eSIM for Vietnam from Airalo.

The Airalo eSIMs for Vietnam are from Xin Chao and they operate on the 4G/LTE network of Mobifone and Viettel. Unfortunately the Airalo Xin Chao eSIMs for Vietnam are not 5G ready yet.

The best value eSIM from Airalo gives you 20 GB data for a rate of $1.6 USD per Gigabyte.

In the most popular places to visit in Vietnam you will find a 4G/LTE signal and the data speed is pretty good these days. There is 5G in Vietnam but it is not so widespread.

For more info about the best 4G/5G mobile data network in Vietnam check my complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for Vietnam in 2024, including network coverage maps of all the mobile internet providers.

All the Airalo eSIMs are data-only sim cards without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo eSIM has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network. For more info check out the Airalo website.

Holafly

Holafly is another well-known eSIM provider but unlike other providers they only offer eSIMs with unlimited data. However, there is a catch and that is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). More about it later, but it could mean that you suddenly have a very slow data connection for a whole day until it resets.

Here are the Holafly unlimited data eSIM plans for Vietnam:

• 1 day 'unlimited' data = $6 USD
• 2 days 'unlimited' data = $10 USD
• 3 days 'unlimited' data = $13 USD
• 4 days 'unlimited' data = $16 USD
• 5 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
• 6 days 'unlimited' data = $25 USD
• 7 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
• 8 days 'unlimited' data = $31 USD
• 9 days 'unlimited' data = $35 USD
• 10 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
• 11 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
• 14 days 'unlimited' data = $48 USD
• 20 days 'unlimited' data = $64 USD
• 30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD 

As you can see the Holafly eSIMs are significantly more expensive than other eSIM providers like Jetpac, Airalo and SimOptions. The Holafly eSIMs for Vietnam are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number. The Holafly eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Mobifone and Vinaphone.

You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIMs, but it is capped at 500 MB per day.

Why 'unlimited'? Because there is a Fair Use Policy and Traveltomtom has had bad experiences with this in the past. Suddenly your data speed is slowed down for 24 hours because you apparently used too much data. More info later.

If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Imagine being on a 10 hour bus ride in Vietnam and after 3 hours you hit your FUP, then the rest of the bus ride you have pretty much no internet on your phone.

Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIMs with 'unlimited' data with an FUP and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for Vietnam.

Also, Traveltomtom tested Holafly in another country and was very disappointed with the overall performance. Holafly was using the weakest mobile data network operator in that country and while people all around me constantly had a data connection I was pretty much offline for a whole week. Even when we were in big cities I constantly had to ask for the public WiFi of my hotels, restaurants and bars because my Holafly eSIM was super slow.

I understand in Vietnam it could be a different story, but it just put me off a little.

Nomad

Lately I have been recommending Nomad eSIMs a lot as they have really great deals for a lot of countries. The Nomad eSIM plans for Vietnam are not bad either, though they all operate on the 4G/LTE mobile data network of Mobifone and unfortunately Mobifone has the weakest 4G/LTE network in Vietnam.

However, if you travel to just Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City a Nomad eSIM for Vietnam will do the job too, but it is definitely not my first recommendation.

Here are the Nomad eSIM plans for Vietnam: 

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $22 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD

Click here to order an eSIM for Vietnam from Nomad.

The Nomad website is a little less user friendly for finding the best eSIMs for traveling to Vietnam. You can't see all eSIM deals in one overview.

As you can see above the prices for Nomad Vietnam eSIMs with bigger data plans are outrageously expensive and not worth it. Their best value deal is the plan with 20 GB for $34 USD which comes down to $1.7 USD per Gigabyte.

The Nomad eSIMs are from Nomad Red and they are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls and sms are NOT supported. They operate on the LTE/4G network of Mobifone.

The Nomad Vietnam eSIMs have to be installed on your phone within 60 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in Vietnam. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website. 

SimOptions

SimOptions is a reputable eSIM provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your tourist eSIM for Vietnam through SimOptions is done fast and easy.

Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM deals.

SimOptions has their own eSIM plans and they don't specify which network in Vietnam they use. Therefore I would not directly recommend these plans: 

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5.90 USD
• 6 GB data for 10 days = $17.90 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $39.90 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $69.90 USD

Also these SimOptions eSIM plans for Vietnam are pretty expensive compared to Nomad for example. Their best value offer is the 6 GB data eSIM for $17.90 USD which comes down to $3 USD per Gigabyte.

All the eSIMs that you can order through SimOptions are only valid in Vietnam. The only exception is the Smart Traveller eSIM with 3GB data, this eSIM is valid in 26 countries around the world. It also is the best value SimOptions eSIM with $3 USD per Gigabyte.

Unfortunately SimOptions doesn’t specify exactly which mobile network operator in Vietnam they use and the SimOptions eSIMs for Vietnam are not 5G ready, so the max data speed on the eSIMs from SimOptions is 4G/LTE.

The SimOptions eSIMs for Vietnam do NOT come with a phone number and they do not offer incoming/outgoing calls or sms services. The validity of these eSIMs is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the eSIM, even if you are not in Vietnam. For more info check the SimOptions website. 

What is the cheapest eSIM for Vietnam?

A Jetpac eSIM for just $1 USD is the cheapest eSIM for traveling to Vietnam. However, this eSIM is only valid for 4 days and gives you only 1 GB data.

The cheapest eSIM for Vietnam is an eSIM from Nomad for just $4 USD, it will give you 1 GB data for 7 days. Airalo offers the same eSIM plan but charges $4.5 USD. These eSIMs are only valid in Vietnam and do not support calling and texting. 

Why ordering an eSIM for traveling in Vietnam

eSIMs are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Vietnam in 2024 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes. 

The most important reason to get an eSIM is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to Vietnam without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, finding nearby friends, restaurants and bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with family back home, check your social media apps on long bus rides or your banking apps when paying contactless. 

One of the best things about arriving in Vietnam with an activated eSIM is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your eSIM later.

There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Vietnam, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to Vietnam so much more convenient and fun!

At the same time we don't want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $3 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 20 MB * $3 USD = $60 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2024.

eSIMs are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!

Overseas data roaming plans

So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed. Do you have the patience to handle 3G? It is frustrating when all around you in pretty  much every amazing tourist destinations in Vietnam there is 4G/LTE available.

And price-wise it should be a no brainer since you have seen how affordable the eSIMs for Vietnam are.

Uncountable times travel friends have asked me: "Tom, can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!". Trust me, get yourself an eSIM or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Vietnam.

Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from friends. 

Where to buy an eSIM for Vietnam? 

Online

You can buy an eSIM for Vietnam on the internet through an eSIM provider. There are multiple eSIM providers for Vietnam. Traveltomtom compared more than 8 eSIM providers and concluded that the above mentioned ones (SimOptions, Holafly, Jetpac, Airalo and Nomad) are the best eSIM providers in 2024.

When buying an eSIM for Vietnam through one of the above recommended eSIM providers you only need your email address and the eSIM is instantly ready to use after installation. There is no ID registration needed.

On arrival in Vietnam

There are 3 main mobile internet provider in Vietnam: Vinaphone, Mobifone and Viettel. Unfortunately as per October 2024 none of the mobile internet operators offer eSIMs for tourists. They only offer physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.

For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Vietnam click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in Vietnam, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network. In my guide you will clearly see the difference in network strength between Vinaphone, Mobifone and Viettel.

Flying into Vietnam and landing at Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City Airport then you can buy a tourist sim card for Vietnam on arrival at the airport. Unfortunately Traveltomtom has not yet written an article about that, but it will come soon.

At the international airports in Vietnam you will find several sim card shops from Viettel, Mobifone and Vinaphone and lots of phone shops that sell all kind of tourist sim cards. In Ho Chi Minh City Airport you can already buy a sim card before you go through passport control, but also in the arrival hall.

As mentioned before the sim cards shops in Vietnam only sell physical prepaid sim cards for tourists, no eSIMs.

When to order/activate an eSIM for Vietnam?

You can order an eSIM for Vietnam pretty much any time you want. Most eSIMs have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.

More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the eSIM. The validity of some eSIMs start straight after the installation, other eSIMs only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.

Traveltomtom advices to instal your eSIM on the day of departure to Vietnam or before. You will need a stable internet connection to instal your eSIM. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City international airport both have free WiFi which works good so you could use that to install your eSIM.

Just make sure it is a stable internet connection. But just to make sure Traveltomtom advices you to install/activate your eSIM in your home country. 

My personal advice is to instal your tourist eSIM for Vietnam before you get into the plane, because then as soon as the plane lands you will be connected to the internet without any problems. 

How do I know all this? Traveltomtom has visited Vietnam 5 times and traveled all around the country to most of its amazing places to visit.

How to activate an eSIM

Installing and activating an eSIM is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an eSIM and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email. But wait, it gets even easier. Just scan the QR code. 

When you order an eSIM plan for Vietnam you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.

You will see a summary of your eSIM order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your Vietnam eSIM. 

But installing an activating an eSIM is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the eSIM on. The QR contains all the information about your Vietnam eSIM. 

Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your eSIM is successfully installed.

Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your eSIM otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur. 

Tip: if you order an eSIM with the same phone where you want to instal the eSIM on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.

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Things to know before ordering an eSIM for Vietnam 

Here are some general tips and FAQ’s for using eSIMs when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for Vietnam eSIMs, but are things you have to know before buying an eSIM in general.

Make sure your phone is unlocked

To make sure you didn’t miss this, let me say this again: eSIMs only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any eSIM without any problems.

If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to Vietnam. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone. 

If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi for staying connected when traveling to Vietnam or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to Vietnam and use it as a portable WiFi device.

Which smartphones support eSIMs?

Another very important thing you have to check before buying an eSIM is if your smartphone supports eSIMs. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support eSIMs. 

The fastest way to find out if your phone is eSIM compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) eSIM compatible? Simple as that!

Can I trust these eSIM providers?

All the eSIM providers for Vietnam recommended in this guide are reputable eSIM providers reviewed and tested by Traveltomtom. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in Vietnam.

Traveltomtom has used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards now for more than 5 years and never really faced a major issue.

Check out the pros and cons of SimOptions in our article: Honest Review of SimOptions including pro and cons.

The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested and reviewed Nomad and they have proven to be a reliable eSIM provider. However, some mixed reviews have come back from the Traveltomtom Team about connectivity and activation.

Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider, but Traveltomtom only received positive feedback and excellent reviews about the eSIMs and services of Jetpac.

Sim Local has more than 100 sim card shops and kiosks in international airports around the world and has been selling sim cards for tourists for more than 5 years. Read Traveltomtom's honest review about Sim Local eSIM provider.

On top of that there is now also Roamless, an eSIM provider with no data expiration. Truly a game changer!

Since Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIMs with unlimited data including an FUP I hardly use Holafly, but when I did I was not happy. So now I let the Traveltomtom Team randomly test Holafly and just like myself, mixed reviews have come back. Some positive, some negative.

Traveltomtom does NOT sell Vietnam eSIMs, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIMs for traveling to Vietnam.

All eSIM providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.

Can I keep my phone number from home with a Vietnam eSIM?

Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM to stay connected when traveling to Vietnam. An eSIM can be used next to your physical or eSIM from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an eSIM.

So you can have multiple eSIMs installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!

For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. Your new Vietnam eSIM you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.

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This is also the trick to keep receiving sms for example for OTP (one time password) sms to login to applications.

Switching between physical and eSIMs is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings. Just always make sure your sim card from home is switched off for data roaming.

Can I make phone calls with a Vietnam eSIM?

No, unfortunately all the tourist eSIMs for Vietnam available on the internet do NOT include calling and texting. The eSIMs from SimOptions, Airalo, Nomad, Holafly and Jetpac are data-only eSIMs and any incoming/outgoing calls/sms are not supported. 

If you buy a physical prepaid sim card for tourists on arrival in Vietnam in a store or at the airport then you get (unlimited) calling and texting included.

Most hotels, restaurants and tour companies in Vietnam have WhatsApp services, so you can easily give them a call through WhatsApp. There is no direct need for local calling minutes. 

Does a Vietnam eSIM come with a phone number?

No, none of the Vietnam eSIMs that you buy on the internet come with a phone number, which also means you can not receive any phone calls or sms.

Local physical prepaid sim cards that you can buy on arrive in Vietnam offer incoming and outgoing calling and texting.

Can I use 5G on an Vietnam eSIM?

No, unfortunately none of the by Traveltomtom recommended eSIMs for Vietnam are 5G ready. Which means the max data speed on all eSIMs is 4G/LTE. That said, Mobifone and Vinaphone barely offer 5G anyway and the 5G network from Viettel is also still fairly small.

In the above Vietnam eSIM comparison you can find all the specifications per eSIM.

Are there eSIMs for Vietnam with unlimited data?

Yes, the Holafly eSIMs for Vietnam include unlimited data. However, Traveltomtom is not a big fan of unlimited data sim cards.

Always ask yourself is unlimited truly unlimited. Is there a catch? If the unlimited data is not on max data speed, then there is a so called FUP. Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes. 

Holafly is an eSIM provider that sells eSIMs with unlimited data for Vietnam and uses a so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP). Holafly does NOT specify what the FUP is. Which is very dissatisfying.

Traveltomtom does NOT recommend Vietnam eSIMs with unlimited data plans with an FUP. On Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. After I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.

Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media was not even loading!

Especially on days that you have a long bus or train ride and you need a lot of data, you definitely don't want any data speed restrictions that day.

Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend eSIMs for Vietnam with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then Holafly might be your favorite eSIM. However, if you don't use so much data per day then what's the point of an eSIM with unlimited data... is what you have to ask yourself.

An Airalo eSIM or a Jetpac eSIM gives you 20 GB data which for most travelers is more than enough for their trip to Vietnam.

There are a lot of different specifications per eSIM. Another reason why I advice you to take a close look at my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Vietnam in 2024 before choosing your favorite.

Are eSIMs the best way to stay connected when traveling to Vietnam?

eSIMs are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Vietnam, but what is the best way?

There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to Vietnam:

• Local prepaid sim cards
• International prepaid sim cards
• eSIMs

Let’s compare eSIMs, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards, for you to find out what is your preferred way of staying connected.  

Local prepaid sim cards

In general if you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards are a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip. 

Vietnam prepaid sim cards for tourists offer bigger data plans than tourist eSIMs you order online. In fact local prepaid sim cards with data are pretty cheap for tourists in Vietnam.

However, a local prepaid sim card can only be purchased on arrival in Vietnam in a phone store or at the airport but NOT on the internet. 

Another big difference is that local prepaid sim cards have the advantage that they come with a local phone number and mostly with calling minutes and sms bundles. That means incoming and outgoing calls are supported.

More info about the best Vietnam sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for Vietnam in 2024. 

International prepaid sim cards

If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Vietnam. Some of them are great for Vietnam as well as in all other countries in for example Europe, Americas and Asia and you can easily order them online.

If after visiting Vietnam you are traveling onwards in Asia then check Traveltomtom’s list of the best sim cards for traveling internationally in 2024.

A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground in Vietnam and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play! 

Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Vietnam directly online.

eSIMs

As explained throughout the article there are two different eSIMs:

• eSIMs that you buy on the internet through a third party
• eSIMs that you buy in Vietnam in a mobile internet provider store

However, as of October 2024 the mobile internet providers in Vietnam do not offer eSIMs for tourists. They only offer physical prepaid sim cards for tourists in Vietnam.

On arrival at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City International Airport the sim card stores only sells physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.

eSIMs vs. local prepaid sim cards

Getting an eSIM on the internet is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Vietnam, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to Vietnam.

You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in Vietnam. As soon as the plane lands, you are online!

But what is cheaper? An eSIM or a local prepaid sim card for tourists?

When we compare the prices for Vietnam eSIMs with the prices for local prepaid sim cards in Vietnam, it is an easy conclusion that local prepaid sim cards are much more affordable as you get many more Gigabytes for the same price.

In fact, for around $10 USD you can already get a prepaid sim card with unlimited data for 1 month. For more info check out my article about the best prepaid sim cards for Vietnam in 2024. 

But local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in Vietnam on arrival in a sim card shop or at the airport and a tourist eSIM for Vietnam can be bought in 2 minutes on the internet before your trip to Vietnam. 

Remember that some of the eSIMs for Vietnam also go down to only $0.66 USD per Gigabyte as well. 

After a long flight you just want to get to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. With eSIMs you buy on the internet you are connected as soon as the plane lands.

For this convenience Traveltomtom definitely recommends to order one of the listed best eSIMs for Vietnam in the comparison above.

Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM for Vietnam. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper depending on how much data you need.

Data speed

Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an eSIM is that eSIMs are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO’s operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.

This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that eSIMs through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an eSIMs is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.

Bottomline: the data speed of eSIMs can be less compared to a local prepaid Vietnam sim card.

I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM for your trip to Vietnam were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your eSIM for Vietnam right away.

Best 4G/5G network in Vietnam

A last quick comparison of the mobile data network in Vietnam.

Here is the mobile data coverage map of Viettel.

And here is the mobile data coverage map of Vinaphone.

There is not much study needed to see why I recommend Viettel sim cards or eSIMs that operate on the Viettal network over any other mobile internet provider in Vietnam.

If you still have any questions about eSIMs then please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.

Curious what the life of a full time nomadic traveler looks like? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along with daily updates from around the world about the good, the bad and the ugly about traveling.

Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of October 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.

Enjoy your trip to Vietnam!