How to Buy a SIM Card in Vietnam
Culture
3 minutes
Mar 6, 2024
When traveling to Vietnam, you can take not only your smartphone but also your tablet. It's great to be able to make calls and surf the web while traveling without having to worry about high phone bills. If you buy a SIM card in Vietnam, you don't have to rely on very slow WiFi signals.
Why you need a SIM card when traveling to Vietnam
You don't travel to look at your phone all the time. Still, having a Vietnamese SIM card can be useful.
Translation: Not many people speak English in Vietnam. Having a translation app can be very useful.
Navigation: Google Maps for when you get lost.
Reviews: Use TripAdvisor to find great places to eat.
Check the exchange rate: Having between 500 and 500,000 bills in your wallet can be very confusing.
Accommodation Reservation: If you are still looking for a hotel, homestay or hostel.
Grab: When you want to reserve a taxi.
Send social media and messages: Let your friends and family at home know that everything is going well, or make them jealous with a great photo.
Things to keep in mind when purchasing a SIM card in Vietnam
In 2016, the Vietnamese government strengthened local SIM card registration regulations. With the cancellation of over 12 million illegally registered SIM cards, in order to activate a SIM card in Vietnam, the SIM card must be registered correctly using the correct information provided by the owner, such as name, date of birth, and ID number (passport number).
International travelers, especially to Vietnam, should always purchase from approved providers.
airplane
After getting off the plane, passing through immigration checkpoint and picking up your luggage, you will see many street stalls or kiosks selling Vietnamese SIM cards. They often sell SIM cards that are slightly more expensive than city ones, but are still very affordable. The biggest advantage of purchasing a SIM at the airport is that you can use it immediately to book a Grab taxi or find a hotel in town.
downtown
A good place to buy a SIM card in town is the bright yellow store called "thegioididong". You can find it everywhere in Vietnam. You can search on the map to find your nearest store.
Hostels and street vendors
Many hostels and street vendors also sell Vietnamese SIM cards. This is often an unregistered SIM card. That means it's not registered yet, so you'll have to go to the official store to activate it.
Things to keep in mind when purchasing a SIM card in Vietnam
To purchase a SIM card, you must present your passport at an official store.
After purchasing, do not leave until the network is activated.
Check if your phone is unlocked.
Remove the original SIM card from your phone and have a clip handy to insert your Vietnamese SIM.
Vietnam SIM card price
Mobile data is very cheap in Vietnam. However, the price of the SIM card varies depending on the plan you choose. Prices vary depending on options such as unlimited data, calls, and time limits.
The cheapest SIM card costs around 100,000 VND (less than $5).
The price of a data-only Vinaphone SIM at Ho Chi Minh Airport for 5GB / 30 days was 125,000 VND (about 6-7 dollars).
For those who also need phone calls and text messaging, a variety of packages are available. Expect to pay between 150,000 and 250,000 VND depending on how much data, calls and SMS credits are included.
The above information may not be up-to-date as prices and data packages change a lot, but mobile data costs are very cheap in Vietnam, especially compared to prices in Europe and the US.
Best phone service provider in Vietnam
There are four mobile networks in Vietnam: Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone and Vietnamobile.
Viettel has the largest network and the most customers, followed closely by Vinaphone.
Avoid Mobifone if you plan to travel outside of Vietnam's major cities.
I also don't recommend Vietnam Mobile. It is the cheapest of several carriers, but its 3G service is very poor outside of major cities.
If you also plan to travel to Laos and Cambodia, Viettel offers free roaming services in those countries as well.
Viettel tourism plan
The Viettel tourism plan is a prepaid plan designed for international travelers.
There are two tour plans to choose from. (1) The Tourist Voice subscription provides phone calls, text messages, and data. (2) The tour data plan only provides data for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and USB 3G, and offers a variety of attractions and user-friendly benefits.
Contracts are not required and are subject to length of stay. Read more on Viettel website.
If you use data and calls, and you run out of credits and need to charge them, you can go to the carrier's store.
Some stalls and corner shops also sell charging credits.
When you buy data credits on the street, you'll receive a receipt with instructions on how to charge your SIM card in Vietnamese. However, most sellers are expected to help you, even if you barely speak English.
Table of contents
How to Buy a SIM Card in Vietnam
Culture
3 minutes
Mar 6, 2024
When traveling to Vietnam, you can take not only your smartphone but also your tablet. It's great to be able to make calls and surf the web while traveling without having to worry about high phone bills. If you buy a SIM card in Vietnam, you don't have to rely on very slow WiFi signals.
Why you need a SIM card when traveling to Vietnam
You don't travel to look at your phone all the time. Still, having a Vietnamese SIM card can be useful.
Translation: Not many people speak English in Vietnam. Having a translation app can be very useful.
Navigation: Google Maps for when you get lost.
Reviews: Use TripAdvisor to find great places to eat.
Check the exchange rate: Having between 500 and 500,000 bills in your wallet can be very confusing.
Accommodation Reservation: If you are still looking for a hotel, homestay or hostel.
Grab: When you want to reserve a taxi.
Send social media and messages: Let your friends and family at home know that everything is going well, or make them jealous with a great photo.
Where can I purchase a SIM card?
In 2016, the Vietnamese government strengthened local SIM card registration regulations. With the cancellation of over 12 million illegally registered SIM cards, in order to activate a SIM card in Vietnam, the SIM card must be registered correctly using the correct information provided by the owner, such as name, date of birth, and ID number (passport number).
International travelers, especially to Vietnam, should always purchase from approved providers.
airplane
After getting off the plane, passing through immigration checkpoint and picking up your luggage, you will see many street stalls or kiosks selling Vietnamese SIM cards. They often sell SIM cards that are slightly more expensive than city ones, but are still very affordable. The biggest advantage of purchasing a SIM at the airport is that you can use it immediately to book a Grab taxi or find a hotel in town.
downtown
A good place to buy a SIM card in town is the bright yellow store called "thegioididong". You can find it everywhere in Vietnam. You can search on the map to find your nearest store.
Hostels and street vendors
Many hostels and street vendors also sell Vietnamese SIM cards. This is often an unregistered SIM card. That means it's not registered yet, so you'll have to go to the official store to activate it.
Things to keep in mind when purchasing a SIM card in Vietnam
To purchase a SIM card, you must present your passport at an official store.
After purchasing, do not leave until the network is activated.
Check if your phone is unlocked.
Remove the original SIM card from your phone and have a clip handy to insert your Vietnamese SIM.
Vietnam SIM card price
Mobile data is very cheap in Vietnam. However, the price of the SIM card varies depending on the plan you choose. Prices vary depending on options such as unlimited data, calls, and time limits.
The cheapest SIM card costs around 100,000 VND (less than $5).
The price of a data-only Vinaphone SIM at Ho Chi Minh Airport for 5GB / 30 days was 125,000 VND (about 6-7 dollars).
For those who also need phone calls and text messaging, a variety of packages are available. Expect to pay between 150,000 and 250,000 VND depending on how much data, calls and SMS credits are included.
The above information may not be up-to-date as prices and data packages change a lot, but mobile data costs are very cheap in Vietnam, especially compared to prices in Europe and the US.
Best phone service provider in Vietnam
There are four mobile networks in Vietnam: Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone and Vietnamobile.
Viettel has the largest network and the most customers, followed closely by Vinaphone.
Avoid Mobifone if you plan to travel outside of Vietnam's major cities.
I also don't recommend Vietnam Mobile. It is the cheapest of several carriers, but its 3G service is very poor outside of major cities.
If you also plan to travel to Laos and Cambodia, Viettel offers free roaming services in those countries as well.
Viettel tourism plan
The Viettel tourism plan is a prepaid plan designed for international travelers.
There are two tour plans to choose from. (1) The Tourist Voice subscription provides phone calls, text messages, and data. (2) The tour data plan only provides data for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and USB 3G, and offers a variety of attractions and user-friendly benefits.
Contracts are not required and are subject to length of stay. Read more on Viettel website.
If you use data and calls, and you run out of credits and need to charge them, you can go to the carrier's store.
Some stalls and corner shops also sell charging credits.
When you buy data credits on the street, you'll receive a receipt with instructions on how to charge your SIM card in Vietnamese. However, most sellers are expected to help you, even if you barely speak English.
Table of contents
Table of contents
How to Buy a SIM Card in Vietnam
Culture
3 minutes
Mar 6, 2024
When traveling to Vietnam, you can take not only your smartphone but also your tablet. It's great to be able to make calls and surf the web while traveling without having to worry about high phone bills. If you buy a SIM card in Vietnam, you don't have to rely on very slow WiFi signals.
Why you need a SIM card when traveling to Vietnam
You don't travel to look at your phone all the time. Still, having a Vietnamese SIM card can be useful.
Translation: Not many people speak English in Vietnam. Having a translation app can be very useful.
Navigation: Google Maps for when you get lost.
Reviews: Use TripAdvisor to find great places to eat.
Check the exchange rate: Having between 500 and 500,000 bills in your wallet can be very confusing.
Accommodation Reservation: If you are still looking for a hotel, homestay or hostel.
Grab: When you want to reserve a taxi.
Send social media and messages: Let your friends and family at home know that everything is going well, or make them jealous with a great photo.
Where can I purchase a SIM card?
In 2016, the Vietnamese government strengthened local SIM card registration regulations. With the cancellation of over 12 million illegally registered SIM cards, in order to activate a SIM card in Vietnam, the SIM card must be registered correctly using the correct information provided by the owner, such as name, date of birth, and ID number (passport number).
International travelers, especially to Vietnam, should always purchase from approved providers.
airplane
After getting off the plane, passing through immigration checkpoint and picking up your luggage, you will see many street stalls or kiosks selling Vietnamese SIM cards. They often sell SIM cards that are slightly more expensive than city ones, but are still very affordable. The biggest advantage of purchasing a SIM at the airport is that you can use it immediately to book a Grab taxi or find a hotel in town.
downtown
A good place to buy a SIM card in town is the bright yellow store called "thegioididong". You can find it everywhere in Vietnam. You can search on the map to find your nearest store.
Hostels and street vendors
Many hostels and street vendors also sell Vietnamese SIM cards. This is often an unregistered SIM card. That means it's not registered yet, so you'll have to go to the official store to activate it.
Things to keep in mind when purchasing a SIM card in Vietnam
To purchase a SIM card, you must present your passport at an official store.
After purchasing, do not leave until the network is activated.
Check if your phone is unlocked.
Remove the original SIM card from your phone and have a clip handy to insert your Vietnamese SIM.
Vietnam SIM card price
Mobile data is very cheap in Vietnam. However, the price of the SIM card varies depending on the plan you choose. Prices vary depending on options such as unlimited data, calls, and time limits.
The cheapest SIM card costs around 100,000 VND (less than $5).
The price of a data-only Vinaphone SIM at Ho Chi Minh Airport for 5GB / 30 days was 125,000 VND (about 6-7 dollars).
For those who also need phone calls and text messaging, a variety of packages are available. Expect to pay between 150,000 and 250,000 VND depending on how much data, calls and SMS credits are included.
The above information may not be up-to-date as prices and data packages change a lot, but mobile data costs are very cheap in Vietnam, especially compared to prices in Europe and the US.
Best phone service provider in Vietnam
There are four mobile networks in Vietnam: Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone and Vietnamobile.
Viettel has the largest network and the most customers, followed closely by Vinaphone.
Avoid Mobifone if you plan to travel outside of Vietnam's major cities.
I also don't recommend Vietnam Mobile. It is the cheapest of several carriers, but its 3G service is very poor outside of major cities.
If you also plan to travel to Laos and Cambodia, Viettel offers free roaming services in those countries as well.
Viettel tourism plan
The Viettel tourism plan is a prepaid plan designed for international travelers.
There are two tour plans to choose from. (1) The Tourist Voice subscription provides phone calls, text messages, and data. (2) The tour data plan only provides data for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and USB 3G, and offers a variety of attractions and user-friendly benefits.
Contracts are not required and are subject to length of stay. Read more on Viettel website.
If you use data and calls, and you run out of credits and need to charge them, you can go to the carrier's store.
Some stalls and corner shops also sell charging credits.
When you buy data credits on the street, you'll receive a receipt with instructions on how to charge your SIM card in Vietnamese. However, most sellers are expected to help you, even if you barely speak English.
Table of contents
How to Buy a SIM Card in Vietnam
Culture
3 minutes
Mar 6, 2024
When traveling to Vietnam, you can take not only your smartphone but also your tablet. It's great to be able to make calls and surf the web while traveling without having to worry about high phone bills. If you buy a SIM card in Vietnam, you don't have to rely on very slow WiFi signals.
Why you need a SIM card when traveling to Vietnam
You don't travel to look at your phone all the time. Still, having a Vietnamese SIM card can be useful.
Translation: Not many people speak English in Vietnam. Having a translation app can be very useful.
Navigation: Google Maps for when you get lost.
Reviews: Use TripAdvisor to find great places to eat.
Check the exchange rate: Having between 500 and 500,000 bills in your wallet can be very confusing.
Accommodation Reservation: If you are still looking for a hotel, homestay or hostel.
Grab: When you want to reserve a taxi.
Send social media and messages: Let your friends and family at home know that everything is going well, or make them jealous with a great photo.
Where can I purchase a SIM card?
In 2016, the Vietnamese government strengthened local SIM card registration regulations. With the cancellation of over 12 million illegally registered SIM cards, in order to activate a SIM card in Vietnam, the SIM card must be registered correctly using the correct information provided by the owner, such as name, date of birth, and ID number (passport number).
International travelers, especially to Vietnam, should always purchase from approved providers.
airplane
After getting off the plane, passing through immigration checkpoint and picking up your luggage, you will see many street stalls or kiosks selling Vietnamese SIM cards. They often sell SIM cards that are slightly more expensive than city ones, but are still very affordable. The biggest advantage of purchasing a SIM at the airport is that you can use it immediately to book a Grab taxi or find a hotel in town.
downtown
A good place to buy a SIM card in town is the bright yellow store called "thegioididong". You can find it everywhere in Vietnam. You can search on the map to find your nearest store.
Hostels and street vendors
Many hostels and street vendors also sell Vietnamese SIM cards. This is often an unregistered SIM card. That means it's not registered yet, so you'll have to go to the official store to activate it.
Things to keep in mind when purchasing a SIM card in Vietnam
To purchase a SIM card, you must present your passport at an official store.
After purchasing, do not leave until the network is activated.
Check if your phone is unlocked.
Remove the original SIM card from your phone and have a clip handy to insert your Vietnamese SIM.
Vietnam SIM card price
Mobile data is very cheap in Vietnam. However, the price of the SIM card varies depending on the plan you choose. Prices vary depending on options such as unlimited data, calls, and time limits.
The cheapest SIM card costs around 100,000 VND (less than $5).
The price of a data-only Vinaphone SIM at Ho Chi Minh Airport for 5GB / 30 days was 125,000 VND (about 6-7 dollars).
For those who also need phone calls and text messaging, a variety of packages are available. Expect to pay between 150,000 and 250,000 VND depending on how much data, calls and SMS credits are included.
The above information may not be up-to-date as prices and data packages change a lot, but mobile data costs are very cheap in Vietnam, especially compared to prices in Europe and the US.
Best phone service provider in Vietnam
There are four mobile networks in Vietnam: Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone and Vietnamobile.
Viettel has the largest network and the most customers, followed closely by Vinaphone.
Avoid Mobifone if you plan to travel outside of Vietnam's major cities.
I also don't recommend Vietnam Mobile. It is the cheapest of several carriers, but its 3G service is very poor outside of major cities.
If you also plan to travel to Laos and Cambodia, Viettel offers free roaming services in those countries as well.
Viettel tourism plan
The Viettel tourism plan is a prepaid plan designed for international travelers.
There are two tour plans to choose from. (1) The Tourist Voice subscription provides phone calls, text messages, and data. (2) The tour data plan only provides data for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and USB 3G, and offers a variety of attractions and user-friendly benefits.
Contracts are not required and are subject to length of stay. Read more on Viettel website.
If you use data and calls, and you run out of credits and need to charge them, you can go to the carrier's store.
Some stalls and corner shops also sell charging credits.
When you buy data credits on the street, you'll receive a receipt with instructions on how to charge your SIM card in Vietnamese. However, most sellers are expected to help you, even if you barely speak English.
Table of contents
Vietnam Insider.
Welcome to our Connect with Us page! We're thrilled to have you here and excited to connect with fellow Vietnam travel enthusiasts. Whether you have questions, suggestions, or simply want to share your own Vietnam travel experiences, we're all ears! Feel free to reach out to us through the contact form below or connect with us on our social media channels. Let's embark on this incredible journey together and explore the wonders of Vietnam!
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Subscribe to our newsletter for a curated dose of design inspiration, practical tips, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
© 2024 Vietnam Insider.
vietnaminsidertips@gmail.com
Vietnam Insider.
Welcome to our Connect with Us page! We're thrilled to have you here and excited to connect with fellow Vietnam travel enthusiasts. Whether you have questions, suggestions, or simply want to share your own Vietnam travel experiences, we're all ears! Feel free to reach out to us through the contact form below or connect with us on our social media channels. Let's embark on this incredible journey together and explore the wonders of Vietnam!
Trending
Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter for a curated dose of design inspiration, practical tips, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
© 2024 Vietnam Insider.
vietnaminsidertips@gmail.com
Vietnam Insider.
Welcome to our Connect with Us page! We're thrilled to have you here and excited to connect with fellow Vietnam travel enthusiasts. Whether you have questions, suggestions, or simply want to share your own Vietnam travel experiences, we're all ears! Feel free to reach out to us through the contact form below or connect with us on our social media channels. Let's embark on this incredible journey together and explore the wonders of Vietnam!
Trending
Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter for a curated dose of design inspiration, practical tips, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
© 2024 Vietnam Insider.
vietnaminsidertips@gmail.com