Staying connected in Vietnam: Which option to choose?

Staying connected in Vietnam is easier and more affordable than you might expect. This guide will help you understand which options a traveler has to stay connected in Vietnam and point out which the best connectivity option is, so you will not never have to worry about being out of touch during your Vietnam trip.

I. Overview of Internet access in Vietnam

Vietnam has a good internet infrastructure with approximately 70% of its 97+ million population connected to the internet. For travelers, staying connected is straightforward and affordable.

Some news that help you understand more about the Internet landscape in Vietnam:

• Vietnam has emerged as a strong player in global internet connectivity, now ranking 9th worldwide for mobile internet speeds.
• Mobile users in Vietnam enjoy impressive download speeds of 281.41 Mbps and upload speeds of 43.82 Mbps, with a responsive latency of 21 milliseconds.
• Top 3 mobile internet providers are Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone. Among which, Viettel stands out as the market leader.

Vietnam’s internet accessibility exceeds many neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. While occasional brief outages can occur during severe weather, most tourists find staying connected remarkably straightforward.

II. Does Vietnam have free WiFi?

Yes, free WiFi is widely available throughout Vietnam, especially in urban and tourist areas. You can find free WiFi at:

• Most hotels, cafes, and tourist spots. Ask for the WiFi password during check-in.
• Cafes and restaurants across Vietnam. Vietnam has a strong cafe culture, especially in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll find many coffee shops filled with locals and tourists using WiFi. Just ask staff for the password when ordering your drink.
• Shopping malls, airports, bus stations, and many public spaces in major cities.
• Tourist attractions and popular sites. Free WiFi in tourist sites can enhance visitor experience.

The quality of these free connections varies. Hotel WiFi is generally reliable, while public networks in crowded places may slow down during busy periods. Speeds are usually good enough for browsing, social media, and messaging apps, but might struggle with video calls or downloading large files during peak hours.

Tip: For your security, consider using a VPN when connecting to public WiFi networks in Vietnam, just as you would with any public WiFi worldwide.

III. How is the mobile internet in Vietnam?

Mobile internet in Vietnam is fast, affordable, and widely available throughout the country. The 4G network covers about 95% of populated areas, providing reliable connectivity in cities, tourist spots, and most rural regions.

Connection speeds are good by Southeast Asian standards, with typical 4G downloads of 20-40 Mbps in cities. Even in remote areas, speeds usually support video calls, streaming, and browsing without issues.

Vietnam is currently expanding its 5G network in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, offering speeds over 100 Mbps for compatible devices.

Is mobile data in Vietnam expensive?

No, mobile data in Vietnam is very affordable. Data packages cost much less than in Western countries while offering generous data allowances.

For example:

• Short-term packages (1-7 days) cost as little as $1-3
• Tourist SIM packages provide 30-100GB of data for only $5-10
• Monthly plans with unlimited data start around $8-12

IV. How to get your phone connected while traveling in Vietnam

You can stay connected in Vietnam using your mobile phone with 04 ways:

1. Tourist SIM cards – the saving option

Tourist Vietnam SIMs are perfect for short visits. They’re affordable, easy to use, and provide plenty of data. You can buy a tourist SIM card for Vietnam in 3 ways below:

• Pre-order online: Buy before your trip and collect at the airport when you arrive.
• Buy after landing at the airport: When you land in Vietnam, you will see many mobile carrier booths right after arrival hall. For about $7, you can walk away with a ready-to-use SIM card loaded with more data than you’ll probably need (usually 30-60GB) valid for a month. Staff will set everything up while you wait. You will need to provide your passport to register a new SIM.
• Buy in the downtown area: if you miss the airport option, you can visit any Viettel, MobiFone, or Vinaphone store downtown. Convenience stores like Circle K also sell SIMs, though carrier stores offer better assistance.

Pro Tip: Airport SIMs might cost $1-2 more than city stores, but the convenience is worth it after a long flight.

2. eSIM – the hassle-free choice

If your phone supports eSIM (most newer smartphones do), this is the most convenient option:

• No physical SIM to insert or lose
• Purchase and set up before leaving home
• Keep your home SIM active for calls/texts while using Vietnamese data
• Activates automatically when you land in Vietnam

You can buy eSIMs from online providers like Vietnamesim.com (we are a branch of GIGAGO, but specialized for Vietnam only). The eSIM has enough functions like physical ones but does not require swapping out and inserting. You can buy it online, receive it through email and install it by scanning a QR code. eSIM is perfect for travelers who want everything ready before arrival.

Choose Viettel eSIM for trips longer than 15 days – get cheap data.

Choose Vinaphone eSIM for trips of 7+ days when you need a local phone number for reservations.

Pro Tip: Warrant that your phone is unlocked before buying Vietnam SIM cards/eSIM.

3. Pocket WiFi – great for groups

Pocket WiFi or portable WiFi is a small, battery-powered device that creates a personal WiFi hotspot using local mobile networks. This option is particularly convenient if you’re traveling with family or friends, or if you need to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

You can rent these devices from service providers at major Vietnamese airports, through your hotel, or from online rental services before your trip. Typically, you’ll pay a daily rental fee (around $5-8 per day) plus a refundable deposit. Most providers offer unlimited data plans with reasonable speeds for everyday use.

4. International roaming – convenient but costly

If convenience is your priority over cost, you can simply use your home carrier’s international roaming service. Most major carriers worldwide offer travel passes or international packages to Vietnam. Using international roaming means you keep your regular phone number and don’t need to configure any new settings.

Everything works right away when you land. However, this convenience comes at a price – typically $10-15 per day for limited data allowances.

V. How do I use a SIM card or eSIM for my trip to Vietnam?

Using a physical SIM card

• Insert the SIM card into your phone’s SIM tray. Make sure it is oriented correctly.
• Allow time for the SIM card to automatically activate after you turn your phone back on. You might receive a confirmation SMS. Unless, the provide will assist you.

Using an eSIM

eSIM (embedded sim) is a digital SIM card inserted directly into your phone. This means you do not need a physical SIM. Here is how to use an Vietnam eSIM while traveling:

• Scan the QR code sent from your eSIM provider to install the eSIM plan on your phone.
• Go to Settings menu on your phone, choose the eSIM as the primary source for mobile data when you are in Vietnam.
• When you are in Vietnam, you can start using your phone with the mobile data of eSIM plan.

VI. Internet restrictions in Vietnam

Vietnam maintains moderate internet controls while offering generally reliable connectivity. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram are accessible, though occasional slowdowns occur during politically sensitive events.

Some popular sites and services are restricted. These include:

• Certain news websites (BBC Vietnamese, Radio Free Asia)
• Adult content
• Gambling websites
• Select foreign political content

Netflix and most streaming services work normally, though content libraries differ from other countries due to licensing.

For unrestricted browsing, many travelers use VPNs, which are neither explicitly legal nor actively blocked. Popular options like NordVPN and ExpressVPN generally function well throughout the country.