SIM card scams in Vietnam

vantth
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Published: April 2025

SIM cards are easy to find throughout Vietnam – at airports and even at small corner shops – and often include affordable data and texting packages. The purchase process is usually quick and straightforward. In Vietnam, a SIM card is like a key to your phone – it allows you to use maps to find your way, call taxis, and stay connected with other people online. While most SIM card purchases in Vietnam are legitimate and trouble-free, travelers should still be aware of potential SIM card scams in Vietnam that occasionally occur. This article outlines what to watch for when buying a SIM card in Vietnam, helping you make informed decisions and avoid any potential issues.

I. Common SIM card scams in Vietnam

Scams are various, but the most common are:

  • Overcharging: Scammers might charge you 250,000 VND for a SIM card that is really worth just 100,000 VND. That is more than double the price. Sometimes, scammers offering “special tourist deals” that sound good but turn out to be rip-offs.
  • Faulty or inactive SIMs: some SIMs look fine at first but stop working soon after you leave the stall. For example, you might get no data signal when you try to use it outside the airport.
  • Pre-activated plans: Some small stores and even airport vendors buy SIM cards in bulk and resell them at inflated prices. These SIM cards are often pre-activated before being sold. As a result, a “30-day unlimited data” plan might already be partially used or close to expiring.
  • Misleading plans: these scammers promise big things, like 4GB of data every day for your trip. But, then you check your phone and there is barely any data – or none at all. They lie about what you are getting.
SIM card sold in Vietnam

II. Where scams commonly occur

SIM card scams are found at the following spots:

  • Airports, such as Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Vendors near hotels or markets
  • Tourist hubs in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city

III. How to avoid SIM scams

  • Buy smart: Choose to buy from big, trusted companies or stores like Viettel, MobiFone, Vinaphone. These are Vietnam’s main phone brands and have official counters inside the airports or stores in the city. Avoid random stalls outside of the airport. SIM shops in the city are usually safer and cheaper, even if it means waiting a little longer to get your SIM.
  • Check before you leave: Before you walk away, make sure the seller registers the SIM with your passport – it is a rule in Vietnam, and it keeps your SIM legal. Then, insert it into your phone and test it right there. You should open a map or a website to see if the data works. If it does not, tell them to fix it before you go.
  • Choose safer alternatives: You do not have to buy SIM cards at the airport. A smart option is to get an eSIM online before your trip. Online providers like Vietnamesim.com specifically offer eSIM specifically for Vietnam travel. You can choose either Viettel eSIM or Vinaphone eSIM – services offered by two biggest mobile network operator.

IV. What is a good tourist Vietnam SIM card?

A good tourist SIM gives you 5 – 10GB of data, lasts for 7 – 30 days, and costs between 100,000 and 200,000 VND. This amount is enough for maps, chat, and some videos. That’s the normal price from a real seller—not the crazy high prices scammers charge.