If you are traveling to Vietnam and need connectivity for your stay, you could buy a physical Vietnam SIM card or even better a Vietnam eSIM Card with a prepaid data plan.
The latter type of tourist SIM card for Vietnam offers you a lot of advantages, including
- You are NOT required to ask for wifi passwords of your destinations.
- You are NOT required to wait in any queue to get a physical SIM card – activate your eSIM data plan via email and use it immediately!
- You get INSTANT connectivity after receiving your QR activation code sent straight to your email.
However, before buying an eSIM Vietnam, please ensure your mobile device is eSIM compatible.
So,
- What is exactly eSIM Card? What are its Pros and Cons?
- Is eSim available in Vietnam?
- What are eSIM Compatible devices?
- How much does a Vietnam eSIM cost?
- How to use Vietnam eSIM?
- How to buy Vietnam eSIM?
- FAQs about Vietnam eSIM?
Discover now with us!
What is Esim? Why esim for your travel?
An eSIM stands for Embedded Subscriber Identity Module, is a small chip digitally embedded on your phone. It works as a SIM Card but you cannot hold it with your hands, see it with your eyes or remove it from your phone.
With this feature, rather than inserting a new SIM Card to join a new mobile network, you can instead download an eSIM profile, install it on your phone and then join the mobile network.
An eSIM can hold multiple eSIM profiles, but it’s advisable to have up to 3 eSIM profiles in one device. However, only 1 eSIM profile will be active at any given time.
As you cannot do anything with the eSIM chip, but eSIM profiles. Additionally, users are now widely referring eSIM profiles to as eSIMs, so, we will use eSIM in the meaning of an eSIM profile hereinunder for your easy follow.
More and more devices support eSIM now, including phones, ipads, laptops, cars, etc. But in this post, we will guide you through eSIM for phones.
There are two kinds of eSIM, which are:
- Data eSIM, and
- Voice, SMS, and Data eSIM.
In this post, we will guide you through the DATA ESIM which is currently preferred by a lot of travelers.
First of all, let’s clarify what are the PROs and CONs of a data eSIM to be installed on your device:
| PROs | CONs |
| ✔Keep your original SIM for calls – The eSIM is digital, so your original SIM will work as usual if you need it. ✔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. ✔Get connected immediately – Activate your eSIM when landing in Vietnam and get connected immediately. ✔Cost-effective: Save money on international roaming charges by using eSIM at a reasonable price. Multiple networks: Automatic switch to the strongest local networks. Stay connected everywhere. ✔Get your full trip covered by VinaPhone – One of the 2 biggest mobile network operators in Vietnam. ✔Keep your WhatsApp number: You can make calls or send messages to all contacts on your WhatsApp, like you are at home. |
❌No data sharing: normally the data eSIM does not come with tethering/hotspot, but Vietnam-visa’s eSIMs do. ❌ Your phone must be compatible with the eSIM: Make sure that your phone is unlocked and listed in the supported devices below. ❌No local phone number: Normally, the data eSIM includes data only. It does not allow you to make cell phone calls or send SMS messages. You can still use WhatsApp, Viber or Skype to call your contacts. However, pelase remember that Vietnam-visa’s eSIM comes with a local phone number to receive calls and SMS. |
Is Esim available in Vietnam?
Yes. All big mobile network operators in Vietnam, consisting of Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone and Vietnamobile are offering eSIM.
There are several Vietnam eSIM providers, including Vietnam-visa with 3 outstanding packages as follows:
| Vietnam eSIM Data plans | GIGA4 | GIGA12 | GIGA120 |
| Data | 4GB | 12GB | 120GB (4GB/day) |
| Validity | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Cost | US $10 | US $15 | US $19 |
| Best time to buy | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam | Within 30 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam | Within 7 days of departure or when you are in Vietnam |
| Coverage | Vinaphone | Vinaphone | Vinaphone |
| Hotspot/tethering | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Benefits | ✔4GB of high-speed data ✔a Vietnamese phone number to receive calls and SMS |
✔12GB of high-speed data ✔a Vietnamese phone number to receive calls and SMS |
✔120GB of high-speed data (4GB/day) ✔a Vietnamese phone number offering + FREE receipt of calls and SMS + FREE first 20 minutes of every domestic on-net calls + FREE 50 minutes of domestic off-net calls + can be topped up for making calls and sending SMS |