Vietnam eSIM
Mobile data for your trip to Vietnam. Install at home, switch it on when you land.
Network: MobiFone, Vietnamobile (4G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Vietnam. Networks: MobiFone, Vietnamobile (4G). Uses several local networks and switches automatically when one has no coverage.
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Vietnam: the quick facts
Vietnam is the street food of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay and the rice terraces of the north. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our Vietnam eSIM with hotspot keeps you and your laptop online from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
- CurrencyVietnamese dong (VND, ₫)
- PlugsType A and C, 220 VUS and EU two-pin plugs fit
- LanguageVietnamese, some English in tourist areas
- Emergency113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance
- Taxi appsGrab, Xanh SM and Be
- NetworksMobiFone and Vietnamobile (4G)
- Time zoneUTC+7 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in Vietnam
Most trips run from north to south, or the other way round: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa in the north, Da Nang and Hoi An in the centre, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
Ha Long Bay
Thousands of limestone islands in green water, best seen on an overnight cruise. Lan Ha Bay nearby is often quieter.
Hanoi
The Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, street food and egg coffee. The capital is also the start for trips to Ha Long Bay and Sapa.
Hoi An
A yellow old town full of lanterns, tailors and cafés. Cycle to An Bang beach, or come for the lantern-lit evenings.
Ho Chi Minh City
A busy city of scooters, rooftop bars and street food, with the War Remnants Museum and day trips to the Mekong Delta.
Da Nang
Long beaches, the Marble Mountains and the Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills. Hoi An is about 45 minutes away.
Sapa
Rice terraces and hill tribe villages in the mountains of the north. The terraces are greenest from June and turn golden in September.
How do we compare?
Cheaper than Airalo and Holafly on every Vietnam plan, and hotspot is always included.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Cheaper on every plan5 GB for 30 days from €9,49 | Yes | No | No |
Two networksMobiFone and Vietnamobile | Yes | VNPT | Vinaphone |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB plansPay only for the data you need | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs Vietnam SIM card
You can also buy a SIM from Viettel, Vinaphone or MobiFone at the airport counters in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Local SIMs are cheap, but you register them in person with your passport and a photo.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Operator counter at the airport or a store |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After the queue and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | Cheap, paid in dong |
| Passport | Not needed | Passport and face check |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Staying for months, or need a Vietnamese number for apps like Be? Then a local SIM is the cheapest option. For a holiday, the eSIM saves you the airport queue and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in Vietnam: dong, cash and ATMs
Vietnam uses the Vietnamese dong (VND, ₫). Prices have a lot of zeros, and the rough converter below gives you a quick idea.
- Cash is king at street food stalls, markets and small shops. Hotels, supermarkets and chain cafés take cards, sometimes with a 2 to 3% fee.
- Most Vietnamese ATMs charge foreign cards about 50,000 to 55,000 dong per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts at once.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose dong.
- Count the zeros: the 10,000 and 100,000 dong notes look alike. Keep small notes for street food and Grab bikes.
Rough dong converter
About
| ₫ 10,000 | ≈ €0.34 |
|---|---|
| ₫ 50,000 | ≈ €1.71 |
| ₫ 100,000 | ≈ €3.42 |
| ₫ 500,000 | ≈ €17 |
| ₫ 1,000,000 | ≈ €34 |
Approximate, rounded rate for a rough idea only. Your bank or card uses its own rate.
Weather and best time to visit Hanoi and Vietnam
Vietnam is long, so the weather differs from north to south. Hanoi has a cool, dry winter and a hot, wet summer. The south is warm all year, and the central coast gets most rain in autumn.
-
Dry season in the south
December to AprilSunny and dry in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, and cool to chilly in Hanoi and Sapa.
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Summer in the north
May to AugustHot and humid with heavy showers in Hanoi. Good beach weather in Da Nang and Hoi An.
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Rain on the central coast
September to DecemberTyphoons and floods are possible around Da Nang and Hoi An, especially in October and November. The north is pleasant in autumn.
Grab vs Xanh SM: which taxi app to use in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Grab is the easiest app for visitors: it works with your own number and takes foreign cards. Xanh SM's electric taxis are a good second option, often a little cheaper. Prices go up in rain and rush hour.
Grab
The biggest app in Vietnam, in every big city. Cars and motorbike taxis, paid by card or in cash. It works with your own phone number.
Xanh SM
Electric taxis and scooters in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, often a little cheaper than Grab. Cash is the safest way to pay.
Be
A local app that is often cheapest for motorbike rides. You need a Vietnamese phone number to sign up.
Grab at the airport
At Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), book in the app and walk to the Grab pick-up zone, which is separate from the taxi rank. GrabBike is not available for airport pick-ups. Ignore drivers who approach you before you have booked.
Internet rules in Vietnam: SIM registration, Telegram and wifi
Local SIM: passport and photo
A Vietnamese SIM card is registered in person with your passport, and since 2026 operators also check your face. Our eSIM needs no counter visit: you buy it online and install it at home.
Telegram and VPN
Vietnam ordered a block on Telegram in 2025, so it may not work on local wifi and SIM cards. WhatsApp, Facebook, Zalo, Google Maps and Grab work normally, and you can use a VPN if you want one.
Free wifi
Almost every hotel, café and restaurant has free wifi, but it is often slow or drops out. On sleeper trains and boats in Ha Long Bay, mobile data is your best option.
Rules change, so check before you travel.
Internet in Hanoi for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An and across Vietnam. It uses MobiFone and Vietnamobile on 4G. Coverage is best in cities and along the coast. In the mountains around Sapa and out at sea in Ha Long Bay, expect gaps.
Using hotspot in Vietnam
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before departure and leave the line off.
- After landing in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android). Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
Vietnam. One thing I often hear from travellers is that it's their favourite country in Southeast Asia. My personal favourite thing about Vietnam? Banh mi. What a meal. I visited this one stall in Ho Chi Minh City and I still can't stop thinking about it. Vietnam has been through so many years of war, which makes it a country where you can learn a lot about the past. But don't forget to get out of the cities! Explore the rice terraces around Sapa, take a cruise on Ha Long Bay or cross the country on a motorbike. There's so much to discover. Enjoy your trip!
Peter, founder of ArrivalSIM
Vietnam eSIM FAQ
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Vietnam?
That is the easiest way. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing, so you can book a Grab straight away. Installing in Vietnam also works, as long as you have wifi to download it.
Do I need to register the eSIM with my passport in Vietnam?
No counter visit is needed. A Vietnamese SIM card is registered in person with your passport and a face check, but our eSIM is bought online and installed at home.
Does the eSIM work in Sapa and Ha Long Bay?
Yes. Coverage is good in towns and on the main routes. Expect weaker signal on remote mountain trails around Sapa and on boats far out in Ha Long Bay.
Does hotspot work with the Vietnam eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in Vietnam?
Yes. When we compared prices on their own websites, every Vietnam plan of ours cost less than the same amount of data at Airalo, including their shorter plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB. Holafly only sells unlimited plans, priced per day, and costs more for the same trip length.
Which plan fits two weeks in Vietnam?
Maps, messaging, Grab and some social media: the 10 GB plan. More video, or hotspot for a laptop: the 20 GB plan. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
Many nationalities can apply for an e-visa online before the trip, and some can visit without a visa for a short stay. Check the official rules for your passport before you book.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Vietnam?
Plans from €3,99 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.