Vietnam eSIM: What We Checked and How to Choose
Travel eSIMs work in Vietnam: confirmed on September 29, 2026. We compared 4 providers' plans, a local SIM and your carrier's roaming. A 10-day trip usually needs 3 to 6 GB; size yours below.
Some data was checked on September 29, 2026 and may have changed. Confirm on the provider's site before you buy.
Checked September 29, 2026 · How we check
eSIM coverage in Vietnam: what's confirmed
eSIM status: yes Holafly · September 29, 2026
We found no confirmed regional differences in coverage among the providers we checked, so the status covers the whole country.
We found no official tourist eSIM page from Viettel, VinaPhone or Mobifone, only resellers tourist.viettel.vn · September 29, 2026
- Since Dec 24, 2024 Decree 163/2024 requires carriers to match subscriber ID data against the national database and verify identity, including by video calltilleke.com · September 29, 2026
- Since Apr 15, 2026 (Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN), moving your SIM to a new phone requires a face re-check, otherwise outgoing service is suspendedvietnam.vn · September 29, 2026
Coverage can differ between a provider’s plans, since they may use different partner networks. Check the provider’s coverage map before you buy.
eSIM vs. local SIM vs. roaming in Vietnam
| Option | Price per GB | Passport | Where to buy | When it works | US card payment | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM Airalo (opens in a new tab) | unlimited €10.503 days | not neededbought online | online, website or app | You can install the eSIM at home before the trip and start using data as soon as you land | yes | September 29, 2026 |
| eSIM Holafly (opens in a new tab) | unlimited $11.903 days | not neededbought online | online, website or app | Install before you fly, the plan clock starts when the eSIM connects to a network in the country | yes | September 29, 2026 |
| eSIM Saily (opens in a new tab) | from $2.663 GB for $7.99 | not neededbought online | online, website or app | install before you fly, works on arrival | no confirmed data | September 29, 2026 |
| eSIM Yesim (opens in a new tab) | from €1.1020 GB for €22 | not neededbought online | online, website or app | install before you fly, works on arrival | yes | September 29, 2026 |
| Local SIMViettel, Vinaphone (VNPT), Mobifone | ≈ 199,000 VNDVinaPhone Tourist SIM: 199,000 VND, 1 GB per day for 15 days, plus 50 international minutes | requiredA passport is required: Viettel's tourist SIM order form asks for a photo of your passport and a portrait photo | At international airport arrival halls and VinaPhone stores in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City | after you buy and register it there | on the spot: card or cash, depends on the store | September 29, 2026 |
| Your home carrier roaming | AT&T International Day Pass and Verizon TravelPass both cost $12 a day in their 210+ destination lists. We could not confirm Vietnam on the carriers' own country lists, so check your carrier's app before you go. T-Mobile country page was not reachable. | not needed | turn on with your carrier | right away, if roaming is on | — | September 29, 2026 |
eSIM plans we checked
| Provider | Data | Valid | Price | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | unlimited | 3 days | €10.50 | Airalo · September 29, 2026 |
| Airalo | unlimited | 7 days | €24.50 | Airalo · September 29, 2026 |
| Airalo | unlimited | 15 days | €43.50 | Airalo · September 29, 2026 |
| Airalo | unlimited | 30 days | €62.50 | Airalo · September 29, 2026 |
| Holafly | unlimited | 3 days | $11.90 | Holafly · September 29, 2026 |
| Holafly | unlimited | 7 days | $27.50 | Holafly · September 29, 2026 |
| Holafly | unlimited | 15 days | $50.50 | Holafly · September 29, 2026 |
| Holafly | unlimited | 30 days | $73.90 | Holafly · September 29, 2026 |
| Saily | 3 GB | 30 days | $7.99$2.66 per GB | Saily · September 29, 2026 |
| Yesim | 1 GB | 30 days | €2.50€2.50 per GB | ye-sim.app · September 29, 2026 |
| Yesim | 5 GB | 30 days | €9.60€1.92 per GB | ye-sim.app · September 29, 2026 |
| Yesim | 10 GB | 30 days | €16€1.60 per GB | ye-sim.app · September 29, 2026 |
| Yesim | 20 GB | 30 days | €22€1.10 per GB | ye-sim.app · September 29, 2026 |
Plans that cover your calculator result are highlighted in green. Prices are as of the check date and may vary by the buyer’s country.
For a short trip, an eSIM is the easy option: you install it at home, it works as soon as you land, and your US number stays on the phone. The cheapest gigabyte among the plans we checked: $2.66 with Saily (3 GB for $7.99, September 29, 2026); €1.10 with Yesim (20 GB for €22, September 29, 2026). We don't convert currencies; each provider quotes its own. A local SIM makes sense if your phone lacks eSIM or you need a local number; you'll need your passport to buy one. Your carrier's international plan is the fallback: compare its price in the row above.
How much data do you need in Vietnam?
Tick how you use your phone when traveling and the calculator gives a range in gigabytes. Your settings are saved in the link, so you can share it.
Example
10 days: maps and rides, messaging, social media at a medium level, 15% buffer.
≈ 3–6 GB
Turn on JavaScript to size a plan for your own trip.
You need about 10 days≈ 3–6 GB
The per-day figures are our editorial estimate, not measurements of specific apps. See How we check for the formula.
How to install an eSIM for Vietnam before you fly
- Buy a plan. Pick a provider and a data size that fits your trip (use the calculator below), and make sure your destination is covered by the plan.
- Get the QR code. After payment the provider emails a QR code or link, or shows an install button in its app.
- Install it at home on Wi-Fi. Scan the code: iPhone, Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM; Android, Settings → SIMs → Add eSIM. Do this before you fly: installing needs a connection, and roaming data is expensive or unavailable. You often can install a profile only once, so don't delete it.
- Turn on the eSIM data line. When you land, set the eSIM as your cellular data line and turn on Data Roaming for it. Keep your home line for calls and texts, and turn off data on it to avoid roaming charges.
- Check the APN. No connection? Compare the APN (access point) with the provider's instructions and enter it manually if needed.
Not working after you land? Check this
- Data Roaming is on for the eSIM line.
- The eSIM, not your home SIM, is selected for cellular data.
- The APN matches what the provider lists.
- Toggle airplane mode or restart the phone.
- The plan is active: with some providers the validity starts at the first connection in a covered country.
Paying from the US
Every eSIM provider has its own card policy, and it changes. Below is what each provider itself states, with the date we checked. Confirm on the provider's site before you buy.
| Provider | Takes US cards | Other payment options (per provider) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | yes | — | Airalo · September 29, 2026 |
| Holafly | yes | — | Holafly · September 29, 2026 |
| Saily | no confirmed data | — | — |
| Yesim | yes | — | ye-sim.app · September 29, 2026 |
Vietnam eSIM FAQ
Do I need an eSIM for Vietnam?
You don't strictly need one, but it's the easiest way to get data in Vietnam. Travel eSIMs for Vietnam are sold and supported, confirmed on September 29, 2026. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked.
What's the best eSIM for Vietnam?
There is no single best one: it depends on how much data you need and for how long. Starting prices we verified: Airalo from €10.50 (unlimited, 3 days); Holafly from $11.90 (unlimited, 3 days); Saily from $7.99 (3 GB, 30 days); Yesim from €2.50 (1 GB, 30 days). Cheapest per gigabyte: $2.66 with Saily (3 GB for $7.99, September 29, 2026); €1.10 with Yesim (20 GB for €22, September 29, 2026). Size your trip with the calculator, then compare the plans table. Providers don't pay for position here.
Do I need a passport to buy a local SIM in Vietnam?
Yes. You need your passport to buy and register a local SIM. A passport is required: Viettel's tourist SIM order form asks for a photo of your passport and a portrait photo
Can I pay for a Vietnam eSIM with a US card?
Confirmed to accept US cards: Airalo, Holafly, Yesim. No confirmed data for the rest. Some banks flag foreign online payments, so keep your banking app handy for a 3-D Secure prompt.
eSIM or local SIM: which is cheaper in Vietnam?
An eSIM is simpler: set it up at home, it works on landing, and no passport check. A local SIM wins if your phone lacks eSIM or you need a local number.
Where can I buy a Vietnam SIM card?
At international airport arrival halls and VinaPhone stores in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City
How we check
- Data calculator. For each use you tick: days × daily use. The sum is the base, then we add your buffer (0 to 30%). The low end is base × 0.8, the high end is (base + buffer) × 1.15, rounded to whole gigabytes. Daily GB for light / medium / heavy: maps and rides: 0.03 / 0.06 / 0.12; messaging: 0.02 / 0.06 / 0.2; social and photos: 0.1 / 0.3 / 0.7; video: 0.3 / 0.7 / 1.5; work: 0.1 / 0.4 / 1.0. These are editorial estimates, not measurements of specific apps.
- Plans and coverage. Taken from the provider's official country page, with the link, date and a quote saved. Providers often vary prices by the buyer's country and promos, so checkout may differ.
- Card payment. We say yes or no only when the provider states it in its help center or on its payment page. Otherwise: no confirmed data.
- Rechecks. Prices and card payment every 30 days, coverage every 90 days. If data is older than 45 days, the page shows a warning.
- No ratings, no paid placements. Providers don't pay for position in these tables and there are no affiliate links right now: links go to the official sites.
A guide, not a guarantee that a given number will work on a given network.
Sources for this page
| Fact | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam: Airalo, unlimited / 3 days | Airalo | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Airalo, unlimited / 7 days | Airalo | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Airalo, unlimited / 15 days | Airalo | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Airalo, unlimited / 30 days | Airalo | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Airalo, US card payment | Airalo | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Holafly, unlimited / 3 days | Holafly | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Holafly, unlimited / 7 days | Holafly | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Holafly, unlimited / 15 days | Holafly | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Holafly, unlimited / 30 days | Holafly | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Holafly, US card payment | Holafly | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Saily, 3 GB / 30 days | Saily | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Saily, US card payment | Saily | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Yesim, 1 GB / 30 days | ye-sim.app | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Yesim, 5 GB / 30 days | ye-sim.app | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Yesim, 10 GB / 30 days | ye-sim.app | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Yesim, 20 GB / 30 days | ye-sim.app | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: Yesim, US card payment | ye-sim.app | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: passport for a local SIM | tourist.viettel.vn | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: local SIM price | vnpt.vn | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: roaming | AT&T | September 29, 2026 |
| Vietnam: eSIM availability | Holafly | September 29, 2026 |





