Best Vietnam SIM Card for Tourists 2026: All You Need To Know
If you are planning to visit Vietnam in 2026, you might be wondering how to stay connected and online during your trip. One of the best ways is to buy a Vietnam SIM card for tourists, which will allow you to use your phone with a local network and enjoy cheap data rates. But how do you choose the best SIM card for your needs, where do you buy it, and how do you use it? In this blog post, we will answer all these questions and more about the Vietnam SIM cards for tourists in 2026.
Written by Thom DOAN (Travel Consultant Manager & Director)
Updated on Oct 12, 2026
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Thom DOAN leads the travel consulting team at Kampá Tour and serves as the agency's director. She works with travellers in both French and English, and her career has taken her across multiple countries in Asia.
On this blog she writes about the destinations she knows first-hand, mostly in Vietnam and Cambodia: what a place is actually like, who it suits, and the practical details that decide whether a trip works. If you have a question about anything she covers here, leave it in the comments and she will answer you directly.
If you’re staying in Vietnam for more than a week, just buy a local physical SIM card, preferably Viettel. It’s way cheaper, has the best coverage, and you can top it up easily anywhere.
Viettel offers the best coverage in Vietnam. A tourist data plan costs roughly 60K to 180K VND (2.50 to 7 USD), and the SIM card itself costs around 50K VND at some counters.
Bring your physical passport: every new SIM must be registered with it, and since April 2026 the check includes a face photo.
Most public places offer free Wi-Fi; ask for the password.
eSIMs from Viettel, MobiFone, and VinaPhone support instant QR activation.
Vinaphone and MobiFone can be cheaper, but their coverage is weaker in remote and mountain areas.
It's okay to buy a SIM at the airport, but you'll pay more.
1. Why you should buy a Vietnam SIM Card?
While Vietnam offers widespread fast and free WiFi in 2026, having a local SIM card remains crucial for staying connected while traveling. Furthermore, many international banking services and travel apps now require SMS-based One-Time Passwords (OTP) for security, which are much easier to manage with a local phone number.
It also allows you to use Zalo, the most popular messaging app in Vietnam like WhatsApp, which is the primary tool for coordinating with local drivers and homestay owners in remote areas. In short, staying connected via a local SIM is essential for a smooth and stress-free journey.
But why pay roaming fees for limited data when a Viettel tourist plan starts at 60,000 VND (about 2.50 USD) for 7 days with 5 GB of data per day? With a local SIM you get 4G, and 5G in many areas, with ample data for a small cost.
Note: Before buying a SIM card, make sure your phone is compatible with the frequencies used in Vietnam and is unlocked for use with a local carrier. You can easily check your "Carrier Lock" status in your phone's settings to ensure a local SIM will work upon arrival.
Is it possible to travel without an Internet connection?
2. What's the cost of a Vietnam SIM Card in 2026?
Prices below were last checked in October 2026 and change often, so confirm them at the counter before you pay. The SIM card and the data plan are usually priced separately.
Viettel tourist data plans: from 60,000 VND for 7 days to 180,000 VND for 30 days with calls (roughly 2.50 to 7 USD).
SIM card itself: around 50,000 VND (about 2 USD) at some counters.
Vinaphone tourist SIM: 199,000 VND for 15 days with 1 GB of data per day.
Airport kiosks: about 200,000 to 350,000 VND (roughly 8 to 14 USD) for short-stay tourist SIMs, which is more than a city store.
Travel eSIM: from about 8 USD for a 7-day data plan.
A plan with a longer validity or calls and SMS included costs more.
3. Which plan to choose?
Viettel, MobiFone, Vinaphone and Vietnamobile are the major mobile operators in Vietnam, and Viettel has the strongest coverage.
Viettel and Vinaphone are similar in the big cities, but Viettel has the edge in rural and mountain areas. We suggest Viettel for any trip outside the main cities. MobiFone has uneven coverage in rural areas.
The main mobile operators in Vietnam
3.1 Prepaid Viettel SIM Card for Tourists
Viettel is the leading mobile operator in Vietnam, with more than half of all mobile subscribers (56.2% in the first half of 2024, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications).
If you choose to use a standard Viettel SIM card, you'll need to purchase the SIM card, which costs around 50,000 VND (about 2 USD), and then subscribe to a data plan.
On the other hand, if you buy a prepaid tourist SIM card, you mostly pay for the data plan. Ask at the counter whether it can be topped up before you buy.
Plan
Validity
Price
Benefits
5G60T
7 days
VND 60,000
Includes 5GB of data per day for 7 days
5G60H
7 days
VND 60,000
Includes 15GB of data in total for 7 days
5G80T
15 days
VND 80,000
Includes 5GB of data per day for 15 days
5G120H
30 days
VND 120,000
Comes with 1.5GB of data per day for 30 days, plus 30 minutes of on-net calls and 15 minutes of off-net calls
5G150T
30 days
VND 150,000
Offers 5GB of data per day throughout 30 days
5G180H
30 days
VND 180,000
Provides 5GB of data daily, along with 30 minutes of on-net calls and 15 minutes of off-net calls
Plan names and prices were last checked in October 2026. Viettel can change them without notice, so confirm at the counter.
3.2 Vinaphone Tourist SIM:
Plan type
Data amount
Features
Validity period
Price
Tourist SIM
1GB data/day
– 50 minutes to call internationally
– 50 minutes of calling within Vietnam
– 50 SMS
15 days
199,000 VND
3.3 Mobifone Prepaid SIM for Tourists:
MobiFone offers tourist eSIM packages with daily data allowances from 3GB to 7GB, valid for 7 to 30 days, starting at about 7.90 USD (reseller prices, October 2026).
Popular 30-day plans include 6GB to 7GB of data per day, activated by QR code. Data-only plans come without a Vietnamese phone number, while plans that include calls and SMS do come with one.
At the airport:
Buying a SIM card right after you land is the easiest option. Once you walk out of the baggage claim, you’ll see plenty of SIM counters.
At Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi), the carrier counters are in the arrivals hall of the international terminal (Terminal 2), just after customs.
At Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), you’ll find them in the arrivals hall of the international terminal (Terminal 2), just after customs.
Just a small piece of advice from me: SIM cards at the airport are usually more expensive, and there are also quite a few unofficial sellers. To avoid any issues, it’s better to buy from the official carrier counters only, and to avoid any SIM that is already registered in someone else’s name. If you want the best price and don’t mind waiting a bit, you can also buy a SIM easily once you get into the city.
SIM cards sold at the airport
Mobile phone stores:
Major mobile operators in Vietnam, such as Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone, have stores throughout the country, including in shopping malls, major cities and tourist areas.
In addition, apart from mobile operators' stores, it is also possible to purchase prepaid SIM cards from small mobile phone shops on the streets of Vietnamese cities.
A mobile phone store in Vietnam
5. Does Vietnam have eSIM?
Yes, Vietnam does offer eSIMs. The virtual eSIM card offers numerous practical advantages over traditional SIM cards and can be activated directly on your mobile phone. However, it is only compatible with certain models of Android smartphones and the latest iPhones. Here is a list of eSIM-compatible devices.
There are two kinds of eSIM in the market, which are:
Data eSIM, and
Voice, SMS, and Data eSIM.
But data eSIM is currently preferred by a lot of travelers.
In Vietnam, you can find eSIM cards offered by Viettel, MobiFone, Vinaphone and Vietnamobile, as well as by resellers such as Gigago.
Gigago, a Vietnam eSIM provider catering to tourists, sells eSIMs on the Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone networks, so check which network a plan uses. An eSIM can complement your existing SIM card, enabling you to simultaneously receive calls and texts on both your current number and the eSIM. Moreover, you have the flexibility to select which SIM to use for making calls. Coverage depends on the network behind the plan, and Viettel is the strongest outside the cities.
Gigago offers a lot of eSIM plans for tourists
For convenience, consider using Airalo; however, compare its prices with local eSIM providers first. Airalo specifically offers data-only services. If you plan to stay in a location for more than a few days, opting for a local SIM card is typically more cost-effective and reliable.
PROs
CONs
Keep your primary SIM for calls.
Skip the queue at the airport counter.
Immediate connectivity upon arrival.
Save on roaming costs.
Maintain your WhatsApp continuity.
Some data eSIMs do not allow tethering or hotspot sharing, so check the plan details before you buy.
Ensure your phone is unlocked and among the supported devices.
Traditional data eSIMs usually lack phone call or SMS capabilities.
May require setup before departure, and some carrier eSIMs ask for passport verification.
Some eSIMs have limited validity or data caps.
For communication, apps like WhatsApp, Viber, or Skype are recommended. However, most data eSIMs do not include a local phone number. Plans that list calls and SMS do, and the features vary by plan.
6. How to Install a Vietnamese SIM Card?
If you wish to purchase a SIM card at the airport, the seller can insert it for you and assist you in selecting a suitable 4G plan based on your needs. They will also verify the card's validity. SIM cards come in three formats: standard (mini), micro and nano, and most carriers sell a card that fits all three.
Vietnam requires every new SIM to be registered to your passport. Since 15 April 2026 the check also includes a face photo, so bring your physical passport and expect a short registration at the counter. Your plan is normally active once the registration is complete.
7. How to Check the Balance of Your Vietnamese SIM Card: Essential Codes
*101#: Check your credit balance (Viettel)
198: Contact Viettel customer service
9191: Contact Vinaphone customer service (9192 for English-speaking support)
9090: Contact Mobifone customer service
Other USSD codes differ by carrier and plan, so ask the counter staff to show you how to check your data balance when you register the SIM.
8. How to Top Up Your Phone Credit or Mobile Data?
Major convenience stores like WinMart, Circle K, FamilyMart, and 7-Eleven all sell top-up vouchers. You can ask the cashier to help you.
If you're using Viettel, use their Topup Airtime or MyViettel to top up.
Vietnamese e-wallets like MoMo or ZaloPay allow you to top up your credit and make many other payments using QR codes across Vietnam. Registering a wallet may require ID verification, so the stores above are the simpler option for most visitors.
Here's how to use MoMo to top up your phone credit:
Step 1: Select Top-Up Card
Step 2: Select 'Nạp Điện Thoại', which means 'Top Up Your Credit through Your Number'.
Step 3: Follow the instructions! Hope this helps.
9. Tips to get the most out of Vietnam SIM Card
Dial smart: Learn area codes (+84 country code) for Vietnam.
Data savvy: Track your data usage to avoid surprises. Set data limits on your phone and whenever you can, hop on free Wi-Fi hotspots to save on data.
Chat cheap: Use messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) for international calls.
Stay connected everywhere: Verify network coverage before exploring remote areas. Different providers have varying coverage, so make sure yours offers service where you're going.
Promo hunt: Look for deals from Vietnamese mobile carriers.
Dual SIM: Use a dual SIM phone for easy switching (if available), keeping your personal and travel communications separate.
Save emergencies: Store local emergency contacts on your phone. This ensures you can quickly reach help if needed.
Our Final Words
For a hassle-free and uninterrupted connectivity experience, getting a Vietnamese SIM card is an excellent choice for foreign travelers. Not only will it keep you in touch with your loved ones and allow you to contact emergency services, but it will also provide you with easy access to all the important information for your journey.
If you want to streamline your trip and customize each step according to your preferences, we'd be delighted to assist you in creating a tailored itinerary. Feel free to get in touch with us!
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