Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most incredible destinations. The food is unforgettable, the landscapes are breathtaking, and the energy in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is electric. But staying connected while exploring all of this can be a challenge.
Imagine landing at a busy airport after a long international flight only to find broken public internet networks can ruin your travel plans instantly. That’s when purchasing a digital Vietnam eSIM solves this problem before you even pack your bags.
👉 Need help with a travel eSIM? We’ve got your back. AVIA has been assisting +50,000 travelers from over 210 countries. Our team works 24/7 even weekends and public holidays to make every airport journey in Vietnam smooth, fast, and stress-free. Please consider our TOP 3 eSIM plans picked by our customers:
| Viettel eSIM – Daily 5GB · 15 Days |
| $13.90 Tax included |
| What you get: |
| ✅ 5GB/day · 15 days ✅ Viettel network (best rural & mountain coverage) ✅ Hotspot/tethering: Supported ✅ Starts: Right after installation ✅ Delivery: Instant via email |
| Vinaphone eSIM – Daily 5GB · 10 Days (with calls) |
| $12.90 Tax included |
| What you get: |
| ✅ 5GB/day · 10 days ✅ Vinaphone network (top nationwide coverage) ✅ Hotspot/tethering: Supported ✅ FREE first 10 min/call to Vinaphone numbers ✅ Starts upon connecting to supported network ✅ Delivery: Instant via email |
| LOCAL eSIM – 15GB Total · 7 Days |
| $5.90 Tax included |
| What you get: |
| ✅ 15GB total · 7 days ✅ Runs on Mobifone — a major Vietnam network ✅ Hotspot/tethering: Supported ✅ Local phone number: Included ✅ Starts after manual activation ✅ Delivery: Instant via email |
If you want more details and options, please read our guide below. This guide walks through how Vietnam eSIM actually works, what it costs compared to a physical SIM, which devices support it, and exactly how to set one up.
What is an eSIM?
An embedded SIM, commonly known as an eSIM, is a small chip built directly into your phone that can’t be removed or physically swapped, unlike a traditional plastic SIM card. Instead of inserting a card, you install a digital profile (usually via QR code), and your phone connects to the local network the same way it would with a physical SIM.
Compared with a physical SIM, an eSIM comes with several real advantages:
- Smaller footprint — frees up internal space for other components, like a bigger battery, and makes devices easier to waterproof.
- Can’t be lost or physically damaged — because it’s embedded, not inserted.
- More secure — an eSIM profile can’t be duplicated the way a physical card can.
- Stores multiple profiles — you can hold several carrier profiles and switch between them, though only one is active at a time.
- Easier to locate if your phone is lost — carriers can manage the eSIM remotely.
👉 For detailed comparison, check our guide on: eSIM vs. Physical SIM in Vietnam
Is eSIM Available in Vietnam?
Yes, digital network profiles are highly advanced and widely accessible across the entire country for international vacationers and business travelers alike. All three major state-regulated mobile network operators now offer fully functional digital network configurations to support the growing influx of global tourists. This means you can enjoy premium high-speed coverage without relying on unsecured public networks in cafes or hotels.
Viettel
As the single largest telecommunications network operator in the country, Viettel is universally recognized for providing the most reliable and extensive network coverage. Their robust cellular tower network reaches deep into remote mountainous regions, rural ethnic villages, and isolated coastal islands like Phu Quoc. If your travel itinerary involves riding motorbikes through the Ha Giang Loop or trekking around Sa Pa, Viettel is the most reliable option.
Vinaphone
Vinaphone stands as the second-largest mobile network provider and delivers exceptional, lightning-fast data speeds throughout all major urban centers and popular tourist destinations. Their data infrastructure is perfectly optimized for dense metropolitan areas like the Hanoi Old Quarter and downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Choosing a Vinaphone digital profile guarantees smooth video calling and instant mapping while navigating bustling local street markets.
MobiFone and MVNO Options
MobiFone is another highly popular mainstream network operator that services millions of local citizens across major coastal regions and large cities. Additionally, mobile virtual network operators like Local utilize MobiFone’s massive physical tower infrastructure to provide specialized tourist data packages. These virtual operators bundle large data amounts at highly competitive prices, making them great options for short-term vacationers.
Why Choose a Travel eSIM for Vietnam?
Let’s be honest about the alternatives. You could rely on free WiFi, but have you ever tried finding a reliable hotspot while walking through the Old Quarter in Hanoi? It’s frustrating.
You could buy a physical SIM at the airport. But after a long flight, the last thing you want is to figure out which booth offers the best deal while being bombarded with options.
Here’s why a travel eSIM makes sense:
- Instant Connectivity: You can install your eSIM before your trip starts. The moment your plane touches down in Vietnam, you’re online. No waiting, no searching, no queues.
- No queue at any physical store & No show of passport for registration – Get the QR code via email immediately after your payment for installation on your phone.
- Keep your original SIM for calls – The eSIM is digital, so your original SIM will work as usual if you need it.
- No Language Barriers: Buying a physical SIM in Vietnam often involves communicating with local staff. While many speak English, misunderstandings happen. A travel eSIM purchase happens entirely online in your preferred language.
- Cost-Effective: Vietnam travel eSIM plans start around $5 for 5GB of data. Compare that to international roaming charges from US carriers, which can run $10-$15 per day. The savings add up fast.
- Keep Your Primary Number Active: Your home SIM stays active for calls and texts while your travel eSIM handles data. This means you won’t miss important messages from family or work.
Popular Vietnam eSIM data plans & Costs
The table below shows the most popular travel eSIM options for Vietnam with detailed description and latest prices:
| eSIM Plan | Phone Number | Hotspot | Starting time | Price (included 8% VAT) | Note |
| Viettel eSIM — Daily 5GB for 7 days | No | Yes | Right after installation | $10.90 | |
| Viettel eSIM — Daily 5GB for 15 days | No | Yes | Right after installation | $13.90 | |
| Viettel eSIM — Daily 5GB for 30 days | No | Yes | Right after installation | $19.90 | |
| Vinaphone eSIM — Daily 2GB for 7 days (with calls) | Yes | Yes | Upon connecting to supported network | $10.90 | FREE first 10 minutes of every call to Vinaphone number (1,000 minutes in total) |
| Vinaphone eSIM — Daily 5GB for 10 days (with calls) | Yes | Yes | Upon connecting to supported network | $12.90 | FREE first 10 minutes of every call to Vinaphone number (1,000 minutes in total) |
| Vinaphone eSIM — Daily 5GB for 15 days (with calls) | Yes | Yes | Upon connecting to supported network | $14.90 | FREE first 10 minutes of every call to Vinaphone number (1,000 minutes in total) |
| Vinaphone eSIM — Daily 5GB for 30 days | Yes | Yes | Upon connecting to supported network | $19.90 | |
| LOCAL eSIM — 15GB total for 7 days | Yes | Yes | Upon successfully activating via the Activate button on eSIM QR link | $5.90 | Credit topup: Via Vietnamese bank account |
| LOCAL eSIM — Daily 3GB for 15 days (free calls) | Yes | Yes | Upon successfully activating via the Activate button on eSIM QR link | $8.90 | – Credit topup: Via Vietnamese bank account – Free 30 minutes calling to Vietnamese phone numbers starting with 089, 090, 093, 070, 079, 077, 076, 078 |
| LOCAL eSIM — Daily 6GB for 30 days (free calls) | Yes | Yes | Upon successfully activating via the Activate button on eSIM QR link | $17.90 | – Credit topup: Via Vietnamese bank account – Free 500 minutes calling to Vietnamese phone numbers starting with 089, 090, 093, 070, 079, 077, 076, 078 |
| Wintel eSIM — Unlimited data for 7 days | No | No | After QR activation | $10.90 | |
| Wintel eSIM — Unlimited data for 10 days | No | No | After QR activation | $15.90 | |
| Wintel eSIM — Unlimited data for 15 days | No | No | After QR activation | $20.90 | |
| Wintel eSIM — Unlimited data for 20 days | No | No | After QR activation | $25.90 | |
| Wintel eSIM — Unlimited data for 30 days | No | No | After QR activation | $35.90 |
Viettel and Vinaphone are the two largest mobile operators in Vietnam. Both offer excellent coverage across major cities and rural areas. Viettel tends to have slightly better reach in remote regions, especially in the northern mountains and central highlands.
Viettel and Vinaphone are the two largest mobile operators in Vietnam. Both offer excellent coverage across major cities and rural areas. Viettel tends to have slightly better reach in remote regions, especially in the northern mountains and central highlands.
Mobile coverage map by major operators in Vietnam
Vietnam eSIM supported devices
Before finalizing an online data purchase, you must verify that your specific smartphone is completely unlocked by your home network carrier. If your device is currently on a monthly installment contract, your home carrier restricts the hardware from connecting to foreign networks. Most premium Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy models, and Google Pixel devices manufactured after 2019 come equipped with built-in digital profile support.
| iOS devices | Android devices | Windows 10*/ Windows 11 (Laptops) |
| iPhone Air, 17 series (Standard, Pro, Pro Max, 17e), 16 series, 15 series, 14 series, 13 series, 12 series, 11 series, SE 3 (2022), SE 2 (2020), XS, XS Max, XR *The following Apple devices DO NOT support eSIM: ❌ iPhone from mainland China. ❌ iPhone devices from Hong Kong and Macao (except for iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone SE 2020, and iPhone XS | Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26, S25, S24, S23, S22, S21, S20 series (including Ultra, Plus, FE); Z Fold (Fold 1 to 7), Z Flip (Flip 1 to 7), Z TriFold; Note 20 series; A56, A55, A54, A36, A35, A27 *The following Samsung devices DO NOT support eSIM: ❌ All Samsung S20 FE/S21 FE models ❌ US versions of Samsung S20/S21 and Galaxy Z Flip 5G ❌ USA and Hong Kong versions of Samsung Note 20 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 ❌ Samsung S21 series devices (with the exemption of FE models) from Canada and USA may have eSIM capability as long as the One UI 4 update is installed. Please get in touch with your carrier or device manufacturer to confirm that your Samsung device is eSIM capable. Google Pixel Pixel 10 (Pro, Pro XL, 10a), 9 series, 8 series, 7 series, 6 series, 5 series, 4 series, 3 series, 2 series (Google Fi only); Pixel Fold Xiaomi Xiaomi 17, 15, 14, 13, 12 series; 17T, 15T, 13T Pro; Redmi Note 15, 14, 13 Pro+; Poco X8, X7 Oppo Find X9, X8, X5, X3 series; Find N3, N2 Flip; Reno 15, 14, 9A, 6, 5 series; Oppo A55s 5G Sony Xperia 1 (IV to VIII), 5 (IV, V), 10 (III Lite, IV, V), Xperia Ace III Motorola Razr 70, 60, 40 series, Razr 5G, 2022, 2019; Edge 70, 60, 50, 40 series; Moto G84, G54, G53, G35, G34 Huawei Pura 70 Pro, Mate 40 Pro, P40, P40 Pro Honor Magic V6, V5, V3, V2 series; Honor 400 Lite, 200 Pro, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40 series Others OnePlus: Open, 11, 12, 13, 15; Vivo: X300, X200, X100, X90, X80, V40, V29 series; Nokia: XR21, X30, G60 5G; Fairphone: 4, 5, 6 | Acer Swift 3, Swift 7, TravelMate P2/P4/P6 series, Chromebook Spin 511/513 ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip, VivoBook Flip 14, NovaGo, Mini Transformer Dell (Latitude) Latitude 9000, 7000, 5000 series (including 9520, 9440, 7450, 7340, 5540, 5440, etc.) HP EliteBook (G5, G8, G11), ProBook G5, ZBook G5, Spectre Folio 13, Elite Dragonfly 2, OmniBook X Lenovo (ThinkPad) X1 Carbon (Gen 9-12), X1 Fold, X1 Nano, X1 Titanium Yoga, T14s Gen 5, Yoga Slim 7x Others Samsung Galaxy Book 2; Panasonic Toughbook 55, 40, G2 Notes: *For Windows 10: Your PC needs to have Windows 10 version 1703 or later for you to use an eSIM. The device also needs to be “LTE-ready”. *Surface: Any AT&T locked devices will not support eSIM. If the device was purchased through carriers, the eSIM capability in Surface Duo may be disabled by the said carrier. Please get in contact with them to confirm that eSIM is not disabled. |
This list will be continued when manufacturers launch new devices.
Still not sure if your device supports eSIM? Contact our support via email/live chat or contact your vendor/carrier directly.
Number of Vietnam eSIMs on one device
Your iPhone can store up to 20 eSIM profiles, but only one can be active at a time. Most modern phones support storing 8-10 profiles, but you don’t want to max this out.
Here’s the practical advice: Keep it to 2-3 profiles maximum for optimal performance. Your phone’s performance can slow down when managing many eSIMs.
For Vietnam travel, you’ll likely need just one active profile. If you’re visiting multiple countries, you might store a Vietnam eSIM and a regional eSIM, switching between them as needed.
Who Should Use a Travel eSIM in Vietnam?
A travel eSIM works well for:
- Short-term tourists. Perfect for vacations of 1-4 weeks. You get exactly the data you need without long-term commitments.
- Digital nomads. Reliable internet is essential for remote work. A travel eSIM provides backup connectivity beyond cafe WiFi.
- Frequent travelers. If you visit multiple countries, storing eSIM profiles for each destination is incredibly convenient.
- Tech-savvy users. People comfortable with digital setup processes will love the simplicity.
- Anyone arriving late at night. When you land at 11 PM, the SIM shops are closed. A travel eSIM is your only option for instant connectivity.
Less ideal for: Travelers on a very tight budget (physical SIMs are cheaper) or those who need voice calls extensively (data-only eSIMs may not support voice).
How to Use a Travel eSIM in Vietnam
To ensure a perfectly smooth installation, you should always download and install the digital profile layout while you are still at home or sitting in your departure airport lounge. The setup process requires a continuous, stable internet connection to communicate properly with the cloud activation servers. Never activate the data line fully until you actually touch down in eastern Asia, as your plan’s validity countdown begins the exact moment the line goes live.
Step 1: Install (do it at home, before flying)
- Go to Settings > Cellular/Mobile data > Add eSIM
- Scan QR code from your confirmation email
- Label it as “Vietnam eSIM”
Step 2: Activate (after landing in Vietnam)
- Turn on the eSIM line, then set as primary data
- Enable Data roaming, then wait for 1-2 minutes
If you buy eSIM from AVIA, here’re some detailed information about activation policy by carrier:
- Viettel eSIM: automatically activated as soon as they detect the Viettel signal.
- Vinaphone eSIM: automatically activated as soon as they detect the Vinaphone signal.
- MobiFone official: Dial 900 and press 2 once in Vietnam to initialize the eSIM.
- Skyfi (MobiFone MVNO): automatically activated as soon as they detect the Skyfi/MobiFone signal.
- Local (MobiFone MVNO): Open your MyQR confirmation link and click the button Activate.
If you cannot scan your QR code, open your email and enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code manually in Settings > Add eSIM > Enter details manually.
No app required for installing AVIA’s plans. Done – you are ready to stay connected in Vietnam.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Travel eSIM in Vietnam
- Installing too early. The validity clock starts when you activate. Wait until you’re in Vietnam or about to arrive.
- Forgetting to turn off primary SIM data. This is the #1 cause of unexpected roaming charges. Double-check your cellular data settings.
- Not checking device compatibility. Some phones that support eSIM in their home country may not work with Vietnamese networks. Verify before purchase.
- Skipping the messages step. Most eSIM plans require sending an activation text. Read your provider’s instructions carefully.
- Assuming hotspot is included. Most Vietnam travel eSIMs don’t allow tethering. Check before you plan to share your connection.
- Buying too much data. Vietnam has WiFi in most hotels and cafes. Unless you’re streaming video daily, 5-10GB is plenty for a two-week trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vietnam arrival fast track is a premium airport assistance service that moves international passengers through priority lanes at the immigration and visa stamping counters. Instead of joining the general queue — which can take 60–90 minutes at busy airports, a dedicated guide meets you in the arrival terminal and escorts you through a dedicated channel. Depending on the tier, the service covers visa stamping, immigration clearance, baggage collection, and escort to your waiting car.
It depends on how you use data in your trip:
- Light use (maps, messaging, email): 1-3 GB/week
- Moderate use (social media, GPS, travel apps): 3-5 GB/week
- Heavy use (video calls, streaming): 10-15 GB/week
- For digital nomads (remote work, video meeting): unlimited plan
The amount of data you choose also varies by trip length. For a 1-2 week tourist trip with moderate use, a 5-10 Gb plan is comfortable. When you are in doubt, you should go one tier up because running out of data in the middle of your trip is more disruptive than paying a little extra.
No. Unlike registering a physical SIM card with a Vietnamese carrier, buying a tourist-focused travel eSIM does not require presenting a passport. You simply purchase online and receive your QR code by email.
Viettel has the strongest coverage, particularly in rural areas. If your itinerary includes Ha Giang Loop, Sapa, Phong Nha, or the Mekong Delta, Viettel is the safest choice.
Vinaphone is a strong second, reliable in cities and most tourist destinations.
MobiFone is fine for urban travel but signal drops first in mountains and remote villages.
If you’re unsure which network your eSIM uses — or if the provider isn’t transparent about it — choose Viettel.
A travel eSIM installs digitally before you fly – no queue, no passport, instant activation on landing. A local SIM costs slightly less but requires an in-store purchase with ID, and airport kiosks sometimes inflate prices.
For most tourists, eSIMs wins on convenience. For long-stay travelers, (30+ days) who want a local number, and the cheapest possible rate: local SIM is worth considering.
You can and should buy it before arrival because:
- You can install the eSIM at home on stable WiFi
- No searching for Internet at the airport.
- Your plan only starts counting when you first connect to a Vietnamese network – not when you scan.
Buy and install before you fly. Activate after landing.
No. A Vietnam travel eSIM is designed for single-device personal use and does not support data sharing or hotspot resale to other SIM cards. It’s built to connect your one device, not to function as a portable router for a group.
Get Your Vietnam eSIM with AVIA
If you’d rather skip comparing plans altogether, AVIA’s Vietnam eSIM gets you connected the moment you land — starting at $5.90 for a 7-day plan, delivered instantly by QR code with no physical SIM required.
Booking is simple: choose your plan, pay online, and receive your QR code by email before you even board. Scan it, follow the activation steps above for your device, and you’re online the second you switch it on in Vietnam.
Vietnam eSIM pairs naturally with AVIA’s other airport services, so your entire arrival is handled before you land:
- Arrival Fast Track — skip the immigration queue.
- Airport Transfer — a private car waiting the moment you clear arrivals.
- Departure Fast Track — smooth, fast immigration on your way out.
- Connecting Fast Track — guided support for tight layovers at SGN and HAN.
24/7 support via WhatsApp/Hotline: (VN) +84 989 383 767 · Email: [email protected]
A good travel eSIM means you never spend your first hour in Vietnam hunting for signal — install before you fly, activate the moment you land, and let the rest of your trip start on time.
Conclusion
A travel eSIM makes your Vietnam trip smoother from the moment you land. No hunting for SIM card shops, no language barriers, and no worrying about roaming charges. Just internet access that works when you need it.
Ready to stay connected on your Vietnam adventure? Choose a travel eSIM that fits your needs and enjoy every moment of your trip without worrying about internet access.
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