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Vietnam travel guide for staying connected
SIM cards and eSIM, the three networks, Wi-Fi, the apps you need and city-by-city tips, checked against carrier and official sources.
Before you go
Vietnam SIM card: what to know before you buy one
Vietnamese SIM cards come from Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone, and every line must be registered to your passport under Decree 163/2024/ND-CP. Your phone must be unlocked. Vietnam scheduled its 2G switch-off for 15 September 2026, so a phone with 4G calling (VoLTE) avoids call problems. An eSIM gives the same network without swapping cards.
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Which eSIM for Vietnam fits your trip
Match the plan to 3 things: how many days you stay, how much data you use in a day, and whether you need a Vietnamese phone number. A daily allowance suits steady use and a total allowance suits short bursts. Viettel covers the most ground outside the cities; all 3 networks are strong in the cities and along the coast.
Read the guide →Viettel, VinaPhone or MobiFone: how Vietnam's three networks compare
Vietnam has three mobile networks for visitors: Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone. All three are state-owned, run 4G and have launched 5G: Viettel on 15 October 2024, VinaPhone on 20 December 2024 and MobiFone on 26 March 2025. The right network depends on your route, how long you stay and whether you need a local number.
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Pocket Wi-Fi or eSIM for your trip to Vietnam?
An eSIM puts mobile data on your own phone, with nothing extra to carry, charge or return. A pocket Wi-Fi router is a separate device that shares one connection: Global WiFi, a Japanese rental firm, lets up to 5 devices connect to its Vietnam routers. A router suits groups sharing one plan; solo travellers rarely need one.
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Apps to install for Vietnam: Grab, Be, Green SM, Zalo and payments
Grab works in Vietnam for cars, motorbikes and food, and you can pay in cash or by card. As of September 2026, Grab's help centre lists a 4% foreign payment fee on cards issued outside Vietnam. Be and Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) are local ride apps. Zalo, with 78.3 million monthly users in mid-2025, is Vietnam's main messaging app.
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Vietnam phone and internet FAQ: WhatsApp, hotspot, 5G and calls
Yes. WhatsApp messages and calls run over mobile data or Wi-Fi in Vietnam, and your account stays on your home number when you use a Vietnamese SIM or eSIM. The blocking order Vietnam issued on 21 May 2025 named Telegram, not WhatsApp. For normal calls on a Vietnamese line, use a phone with VoLTE.
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City guides
Staying connected in Da Nang and Hoi An: SIM, eSIM and getting around
Da Nang International Airport (DAD) sits about 3 to 5.5 km from central Da Nang and about 29 km from Hoi An Ancient Town, as of September 2026. Install an eSIM before you fly or buy a SIM at the airport with your passport, then book Grab, Be or Xanh SM.
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Staying connected in Nha Trang: SIM, eSIM and getting around
Nha Trang is served by Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR), about 35 km from the city, a ride of about 45 to 60 minutes as of September 2026. Install an eSIM before you fly or buy a SIM at the airport with your passport, then take bus 18, a taxi, Grab or Xanh SM.
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Staying connected on Phu Quoc: SIM, eSIM and getting around the island
Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) is about 10 km south of Duong Dong town, at least 15 minutes by road, and a taxi costs about 180,000 to 220,000 VND as of September 2026. Install an eSIM before you fly or buy a SIM at the airport with your passport.
Read the guide →Staying connected in Ho Chi Minh City: SIM, eSIM and getting around
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is about 6 to 8 km from central Ho Chi Minh City, about 15 to 30 minutes by car in normal traffic as of September 2026. Install an eSIM before you fly or buy a SIM at the airport with your passport, then take bus 109, a taxi, Grab, Be or Xanh SM.
Read the guide →Staying connected in Hanoi: SIM, eSIM and getting around
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is about 27 km north of central Hanoi, about 45 minutes to an hour by road as of September 2026. Install an eSIM before you fly or buy a SIM at the airport with your passport, then take bus 86, a taxi, Grab, Be or Xanh SM into town.
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