Best eSIM for Vietnam in 2026: Plans, Networks and Real Prices Compared

Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in the world for mobile data, so paying $70 a month for a travel eSIM is rarely necessary. What matters more is which Vietnamese network the eSIM uses, because that decides whether you keep signal on the Ha Giang Loop or a Ha Long Bay cruise. This guide compares real prices checked on September 30, 2026, and explains the choices that actually change your trip.

The best Vietnam eSIM for each kind of trip

Most visitors fall into one of five groups. Find yours in the table, then read the section below it if you want the reasoning.

If you are unsure, take the 10GB plan. It costs $4.50 more than the 5GB plan, and you will not have to think about data again. You can compare every size on our Vietnam eSIM page.

Vietnam eSIM prices compared: Zyesims, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Ubigi

Brand rankings change every year. The two numbers that matter to your wallet are the cost of a normal data plan and the cost of a week of unlimited data. Here they are side by side, including ours. Competitor prices are as advertised on each provider's own Vietnam page on September 30, 2026.

Three things stand out. First, prices for the same 10GB range from about $12 to $18, and the cheaper plans run on the same Vietnamese networks as the expensive ones. Second, "unlimited" means different things. Airalo gives 3GB a day at full speed and then 1 Mbps, while the cheapest unlimited plans, ours included, give 1GB a day at full speed and then slow down. Third, several big brands list only Vinaphone, which is strong in cities but not the network travelers usually pick for the mountains.

How to choose a Vietnam eSIM (5 questions that matter)

1. How much data will you actually use?

Travelers in Vietnam use less data than they expect, because almost every hotel, café and restaurant has free Wi-Fi. Mobile data mostly carries Google Maps, Grab, WhatsApp or Zalo messages and photo uploads on the move.

• Light, about 0.3–0.5GB a day: maps, Grab, messaging, a few Instagram posts. 5GB covers a week or more.
• Typical, about 0.5–1GB a day: the above plus social media scrolling and a couple of short video calls. 10GB covers two weeks.
• Heavy, 2GB a day or more: uploading videos, streaming on buses, tethering a laptop. Choose 20GB, a daily plan or unlimited.

Video is what eats data. One hour of short-form video can use 1GB or more, while a full day of maps and messages rarely passes 300MB.

2. Fixed data, daily data or unlimited?

Vietnam plans come in three shapes, and the right one depends on how evenly you use data.

• Fixed data (for example 10GB for 30 days): one pot of data you use at your own pace. Cheapest per GB and the best fit for most trips.
• Daily data (for example 2GB a day): a fresh allowance every day for the number of days you choose, then reduced speed until the allowance resets the next day. At Zyesims you pick from 1 to 30 days, starting at $1.69 a day for 1GB. Good if you use a steady amount every day.
• Unlimited: no total to run out, but every unlimited plan in Vietnam has a daily full-speed limit. Ours gives 1GB a day at full speed, then 384 Kbps to 1 Mbps, which is enough for messages and maps but not video.

A 30-day Vietnam Unlimited plan costs $32.49, while 20GB of fixed data costs $19.99. Unless you stream or tether every day, fixed data is the better deal. Our guide to what "unlimited" really means on a travel eSIM explains the daily limits in more detail.

3. Does the eSIM use Viettel?

Vietnam has three main networks: Viettel, Vinaphone (owned by VNPT) and MobiFone, plus the smaller Vietnamobile. Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone all run commercial 5G in the big cities, and Viettel reports 5G in every province. In central Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City, any of them will be fast enough.

The difference shows up in the countryside. Viettel is the largest operator, and on Reddit and Facebook travel groups it is the network people most often recommend for the north. If your route includes the Ha Giang Loop, Sapa's outer villages, Phong Nha or the Mekong Delta, choose a plan that can connect to Viettel. Zyesims Vietnam plans list Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone, so your phone can switch to whichever signal is strongest.

Even the best network has gaps. Limestone islands block signal in parts of Ha Long Bay, and a few remote hamlets in the northern mountains still have no coverage. Download offline maps and your tickets before boarding a cruise or starting a trek.

4. Do you need a Vietnamese phone number?

Travel eSIMs for Vietnam, ours included, are data-only. They have no Vietnamese number for calls or SMS. For most visitors this is fine, but there is one catch worth planning for: Zalo, the messaging app many hotels, homestays and tour operators use, sends a verification code by SMS when you sign up. Grab usually verifies your number the same way.

The simple fix is to keep your home SIM active on the same phone. With a dual SIM setup, your home line receives the codes while the eSIM handles data. Turn data roaming off on your home line so it does not charge you. Register for Grab and Zalo before you fly if you can.

If you really need a local number, for example to receive calls from Vietnamese businesses over a long stay, you need a local SIM registered with your passport. More on that below.

5. Are you also visiting Cambodia, Laos or Thailand?

Many Vietnam itineraries cross into Cambodia for Angkor Wat or into Laos by bus. A country plan stops working at the border, so a regional plan is simpler. The Zyesims Southeast Asia plan covers Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste, with 10GB for 30 days at $13.99, only $2 more than the Vietnam-only plan. In Vietnam it also connects to Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone. Other combinations, including plans that add Singapore, are on our Asia eSIM page.

eSIM vs Viettel tourist SIM vs airport SIM

A local SIM is cheap in Vietnam, and on Reddit you will often read "just get a Viettel SIM on arrival". That advice is not wrong, and Viettel stores can also issue the local line as an eSIM, with the same passport registration. Which is better depends on how long you stay and how much hassle you accept.

Two things changed recently. Vietnam tightened SIM registration in 2026: since April 15, 2026, new mobile subscriptions must pass facial verification against national identity records, and subscribers who move a SIM to a new device must verify again. Foreign visitors register with a passport at an official carrier counter, so expect the process to take longer than it used to. Also, travelers regularly report paying far more at airport counters than in city shops, and being sold SIMs that were already registered to someone else. If you do buy a local SIM, use an official Viettel, Vinaphone or MobiFone store.

A data-only eSIM avoids all of this, which is why most short-trip visitors now choose one.

How to set up your Vietnam eSIM, step by step

1. Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. On iPhone, look for "No SIM restrictions" under Settings, General, About.
2. Buy and install at home. You receive a QR code by email. Scan it on stable Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly and leave the eSIM switched off.
3. Relax about the start date. Zyesims Vietnam plans start counting days only when the eSIM first connects to a network in Vietnam, and you have 180 days from purchase to do that.
4. When you land, switch the eSIM on, turn on data roaming for it, and select it for mobile data. Turn data roaming off on your home line.
5. Wait a minute or two. The eSIM usually connects before you reach immigration at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat or Da Nang.

No signal after landing

Check that data roaming is on for the eSIM line, not just for the phone. Toggle airplane mode for ten seconds, or restart the phone. If it still shows no service, go to network selection, switch off automatic, and choose Viettel or Vinaphone manually. Our guide to fixing an eSIM that is not working covers the rarer problems.

Data running out faster than expected

Background app refresh, automatic photo backup and autoplay video are the usual causes. Pause iCloud or Google Photos backup until you are on Wi-Fi, and set video apps to a lower quality. If you share data with a laptop, read our guide on using hotspot with a travel eSIM first, because updates on a laptop can use several GB in one go. Fixed-data plans can be topped up if you run low.

Why travelers choose Zyesims for Vietnam

We are one of the providers in the comparison above, so read this part with that in mind. Zyesims Vietnam plans cost roughly a third less than the big brands for the same data (10GB for $11.99, 20GB for $19.99), connect to Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone, and include hotspot. The days only start when you connect in Vietnam, and if you want to stop counting gigabytes, unlimited starts at $9.99 a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use an eSIM in Vietnam?

Yes, if your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked. You land with data for Grab and maps, skip the airport SIM counter and passport registration, and keep your home number for bank codes. A 10GB, 30-day plan costs $11.99 at Zyesims. A local SIM only makes more sense if you stay for months or need a Vietnamese phone number.

Which SIM card is best for tourists in Vietnam?

Viettel is the network most travelers recommend, because it is the largest operator and reports 5G in every province. You can use Viettel either through a local tourist SIM bought with your passport, or through a travel eSIM that includes Viettel. Zyesims Vietnam plans connect to Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone, while many big-brand eSIMs, including Airalo and Holafly, list Vinaphone (VNPT) as their network.

Is Airalo or Holafly better for Vietnam?

They sell different things. As of September 30, 2026, Airalo lists fixed plans such as 10GB for 30 days at $18 plus unlimited from $27 a week with 3GB a day at full speed, and Holafly sells unlimited only, from $27.50 a week with hotspot limited to 1GB a day. Both list Vinaphone (VNPT) as their Vietnamese network. Compare the price per GB and the network rather than the brand.

Will my eSIM work in Sapa, Ha Giang and Ha Long Bay?

Mostly, yes. Towns such as Sapa and Ha Giang have 4G and often 5G, but a few remote hamlets in the northern mountains still have no signal, and limestone islands block coverage in parts of Ha Long Bay. A multi-network eSIM that can use Viettel gives you the best chance. Download offline maps and your tickets before trekking routes and boat trips.

Can I get a Vietnamese phone number with an eSIM?

Not with a normal data-only travel eSIM, including those from Zyesims, Airalo, Holafly and Saily. A Vietnamese number means a local SIM registered with your passport at a carrier counter, and registration rules became stricter in April 2026. Most visitors do not need one: WhatsApp and Zalo calls work over data, and your home SIM can still receive the SMS codes that Grab and Zalo send when you sign up.

Keep reading

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