Vietnam sim card in Ho Chi Minh City – what to buy and where to get
A local sim card is a must-prepare thing for your every trip abroad, including Ho Chi Minh City – the bustling city of Vietnam.
Why?
- We bet that you will need the internet at least for data usage on your road, including searching for locations and directions, or book a taxi.
- Your family at home will stay assured if seeing your photos shared on your social accounts or talking with you via voice apps like Facetime or WhatsApp.
- You will not feel lonely even you travel alone.
Don’t know how to get a Vietnam sim card in Ho Chi Minh City? Here is the guide for you, which covers:
- What is the best SIM Card for HCMC?
- Where to get Vietnam SIM Card in HCMC?
Table of Contents
1. What is the best SIM card to get in Ho Chi Minh City
As clearly mentioned in the Vietnam SIM Card guide,
- Best mobile network operator in Vietnam: Viettel, followed by Vinaphone, and then MobiFone.
- Recommended travel sim: Data-only Sim, unless you need to make local calls.
- Best Vietnam SIM for travelers: prepaid with a data plan
- Best Vietnam travel SIM card form: eSIM
Important:
Before buying a SIM Card for Vietnam, please make sure that your phone can be used aboard (ie. carrier-unlocked).
2. Where to buy Vietnam sim for Ho Chi Minh City
You can find it easy to buy a SIM Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, consisting of:
- Buying online,
- Buying upon arrival at the airport, and
- Buying in the city.
2.1 Buy Vietnam sim for Ho Chi Minh City online
This is the best way to get Vietnam SIM for Ho Chi Minh City and ensure that you get covered in minutes after landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport or after your first eSIM’s data is used up.
The SIM type to get by this method is a Vietnam eSIM.
You should not buy a physical Vietnam eSIM via an online store as you still need time to have it delivered to your address or present yourself at a physical store to pick it up.
eSIM for Vietnam is the single option in which a Vietnamese SIM will be ready on your phone before departure, and you can enjoy the trip to Ho Chi Minh City straight away without worry of how to get a sim card inside the city.
With this type of digital SIM for Vietnam, you also don’t need to remove your local SIM form your phone to make room for a physical Vietnam sim, it means that you can both keep your local phone number for emergency calls from your friends or keep your WhatsApp number of connecting with your friends and family at home.
However, to use an eSIM for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, you are required to have a carrier-unlocked eSIM compatible device which is well listed here.
There are several online stores that offers travel eSIMs for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, including Holafly, Vietnamesim.com, and Airalo. And we will help you to make a brief comparison here:
| Provider | Network | Data package | Validity (days) | Price | Unit price (/GB) | Support languages | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigago | Vinaphone | 7GB | 8 | US $10 | US $1.43 | English & Vietnamese |
+ The single Vietnam eSIM provider based in Vietnam + Cheapest price + Good coverage by Vinaphone Coming with Vietnamese number to receive calls and SMS |
+ Activated by texting + Cannot be topped up |
| 10GB | 16 | US $12 | US $1.2 | |||||
| 15GB | 30 | US $15 | US $1.26 | |||||
| 120GB | 30 | US $19 | US $0.16 | |||||
| Holafly | Vietnamobile | Unlimited data | 5 | US $19 | Not calculated | Spanish, English, German and French |
+ Automatically connected when the network is detected + Have package for long-term trip (over 30 days) + Affordable price |
+ Vietnamobile is not a good option for internet coverage in Vietnam + Cannot be topped up |
| Unlimited data | 10 | US $34 | Not calculated | |||||
| Unlimited data | 15 | US $47 | Not calculated | |||||
| Unlimited data | 20 | US $54 | Not calculated | |||||
| Unlimited data | 30 | US $64 | Not calculated | |||||
| Unlimited data | 60 | US $84 | Not calculated | |||||
| Unlimited data | 90 | US $99 | Not calculated | |||||
| Airalo | VinaPhone | 1GB | 7 | US $4.5 | US $4.5 | English and French |
+ Good coverage by Vinaphone + Can be topped up + Automatically connected when the network is detected |
+ The package is small, making its price quite high |
| GetNomad | TruPhone | 1GB | 7 | US $5 | US $5 | English |
+ Good coverage by Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone + Automatically connected when the network is detected |
+ The package is small + No option for long-term trips + Price is higher than others + Interval between the purchase date and the activation date is limited to 30 days. |
| 2GB | 7 | US $10 | US $5 | |||||
| 3Gb | 7 | US $13 | US $4.33 | |||||
| 5GB | 7 | US $15 | US $3 |
2.2 Buy Vietnam Sim Card at Ho Chi Minh City Airport
If your phone is not eSIM compatible, you are advised to buy a physical SIM card after landing at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) Airport and completing your immigration procedures.
- SIM card store hours: the mobile shops at the airport operate from 7am to 2:30am daily, so you cannot get the SIM if you are landing out of this time.
- You can get it either before you go through passport control or after. We highly recommend getting it AFTER you’ve got your bags and left the customs area, because the desks before passport control are not official sellers that may overcharge you and many people report the SIM card desk stopped working after 12 hours
- You will need to show your passport for subscription.
- You can make payment by your credit card, or you can exchange your money to Vietnamese at the currency exchange shops in the arrival hall to buy your sim at the airport.
- Remember to ask the staff to help you insert the SIM and register.
- Pick up your bags and exit the customs
- Turn left and walk towards the end of the building
- After walking just 80 meters or so at the very end of the terminal building, you will see on your right hand side 3 offices selling SIM cards. They belong to the 3 largest telecom companies in Vietnam: Viettel, Mobifone, and VinaPhone.
2.3 Buy Vietnam Sim Card in Ho Chi Minh City town
This way is recommended for those who don’t have an eSIM compatible device and leave Tan Son Nhat airport without a data SIM for Vietnam or have their data used up when they are in the city.
There are 2 addresses that you can visit for a Vietnam SIM card in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Post offices
- Official Mobile Network stores (Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone)
- Mobile shops/vendors
2.3.1 Get Vietnam sim Card in post offices in HCMC
You can easily find a local SIM Card of any mobile carrier in any post office in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in the city center, which offers you Vietnam sim at reasonable price.
A good point of buying a sim card at the post office is its availability. If you don’t care much about the numbers and just want to get one to call other people, you can get one at the post office quickly.
The only drawback is its limited numbers. If you really want an easy-to-remember number, you should try other options.
- Please be informed that a post office in Ho Chi Minh City in particular, in Vietnam in general is distinguished by this signboard (VIETNAM POST):
2.3.2 Get Vietnam sim Card in official mobile network stores in HCMC
People can get a sim card at any mobile network stores in Ho Chi Minh City. The SIM Card prices at those stores are almost the same, but they also offer easy-to-remember numbers at higher rate.
TIPS
- If you are doing a business and need a number for customer to memorize easily, you may think of these options.
- If you are on a short trip and do not pay much attention to which number you are using, just buy any number at a normal rate.
There are several of such offices in Ho Chi Minh City. Those stores carry their official logo. It means that, if you want to buy a Viettel SIM Card, visit a store with Viettel Logo, if you want to buy a Vinaphone SIM card, visit a store with Vinaphone logo, etc.
Notice
- One official store has one logo only.
- If you see any store with logos of different mobile carriers, it’s not an official store, but a sim card seller.
Here are addresses of some official mobile network stores in HCMC that you can reach:
| District | Official store address | Phone number | Operating hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Duc City | 1188 Kha Van Can - Linh Chieu Ward - Thu Duc | 02862840168 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| 258 Le Van Viet - Tang Nhon Phu B Ward - Thu Duc | 02862808909 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| 156 Tran Nao - An Khanh Ward - Thu Duc | 02862960110 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| 162A Nguyen Thi Dinh - An Phu Ward - Thu Duc | 02862807113 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| 31 Do Xuan Hop - Phuoc Long B Ward - Thu Duc | 02862827615 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| No. 01, National Highway 1A, Quarter 6 - Linh Trung Ward - Thu Duc | 02866595678 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| 816 Provincial Road 43 - Binh Chieu Ward - Thu Duc | 02866551298 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| District 1 | 164 Tran Quang Khai - Tan Dinh Ward - District 1 | 02862912679 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| 166C-D-E Tran Hung Dao - Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward - District 1 | 02866551205 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| District 3 | 456 Le Van Thi, Ward 14, District 03 | 02862970608 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| District 4 | 385 Ton Dan - Ward 15 - District 4 | 02862615579 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| District 5 | 214-216 Hong Bang - Ward 15, District 5 | 02862610101 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| 190 Le Hong Phong - Ward 4 - District 5 | 02862610525 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| District 6 | 251G Nguyen Van Luong - Ward 11 - District 6 | 02862605605 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| District 7 | 273 Nguyen Thi Thap, Tan Phu Ward, District 7 | 02862621636 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| 956 Huynh Tan Phat - Tan Phu Ward - District 7 | 02862621188 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| District 8 | 143 Duong Ba Trac, Ward 1, District 8 | 02862630459 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| 322 Tung Thien Vuong Ward 13, District 8 | 02862635009 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| District 10 | 299 3/2 Street - Ward 10 - District 10 | 02862995046 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| 312 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 14- District 10 | 02862933202 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| Binh Thanh | 58 Nguyen Van Dau - Ward 6 - Binh Thanh District | 02862941010 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
| 76C Highway 13 – Ward 26 - Binh Thanh | 02862947142 | 8:00 – 20:00 | |
| 167 Trang Long Bulding - Ward 12 - Binh Thanh District | 02862947483 | 8:00 – 20:00 |
Get more addresses here https://vietteltelecom.vn/cua-hang
| District | Official store address | Phone number | Operating hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Duc | 503 To Ngoc Van, Tam Phu Ward, Thu Duc | 84918728282 | Monday – Sunday: 8:30 – 12:00, 14:00 – 20:00 |
| 178 National Highway 13, Hiep Binh Chanh Ward, Thu Duc | 84941983456 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 18:00 Saturday: 8:00 – 12:00 | |
| 352 Doan Ket, Binh Tho Ward, Thu Duc | 84916673828 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 18:00 Saturday: 8:00 – 12:00 | |
| District 1 | 80 Nguyen Du Ward, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 | 84903475605 | 7:30-16:30 |
| 21 Dien Bien Phu, Da Kao Ward, District 1 | 84918847688 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 17:00 | |
| District 2 | 492 Nguyen Duy Trinh, Binh Trung Dong Ward, District 2 | 84915507939 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 18:00 Saturday: 8:00 – 12:00 |
| 147/3 (Alley 151) Tran Nao, Binh An Ward, District 2 | 84916568786 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 18:00 Saturday: 8:00 – 12:00 | |
| District 3 | 535-537 Dien Bien Phu Ward 3, District 3 | 84837732732 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 17:30 Saturday: 8:00 – 12:00 |
| 121 Pasteur, Ward.6, District 3 | 84918847688 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 18:00 Saturday: 8:00 – 12:00 | |
| District 4 | 122 Vinh Hoi, Ward.4, District 4 | 84919527474 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 18:00 |
| District 5 | 1 Chau Van Liem Ward 14, District 5 | 84918010333 | Monday – Saturday: 8:00 – 19:00 Sunday: 8:00 – 16:00 |
| District 6 | 331 Pham Van Chi, Ward 3, District 6 | 84888845168 | Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 17:00 |
In addition, there are also many Vinaphone agents in HCMC which can be searched here
| District | Official store address | Phone number | Operating hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Duc | 170 Nguyen Duy Trinh, Binh Trung Tay Ward, Thu Duc | 0896163678 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 19:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:30 – 17:00 |
| 384 Vo Van Ngan, Binh Tho Ward, Thu Duc | 0896163678 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 20:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 – 18:00 | |
| District 1 | 80 Nguyen Du, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 | 0708606660 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 21:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 – 19:00 |
| District 3 | 400B Le Van Sy, Ward 14, District 3 | 0901111009 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 20:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 – 18:00 |
| District 4 | 214 Khanh Hoi, Ward 6, District 4 | 0765077979 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 20:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 – 18:00 |
| District 5 | 313 An Duong Vuong, Ward 3, District 5 | 0708859585 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 20:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 – 18:00 |
| District 6 | 663-665 Hau Giang , Ward 11, District 6 | 0938265682 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 21:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 – 19:00 |
| District 7 | 441 Nguyen Thi Thap, Tan Phong Ward, District 7 | 02837719288 | Monday – Friday: 7:30 – 21:00 Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 – 19:00 |
Get more addresses at https://www.mobifone.vn/ho-tro-khach-hang/vi-tri-cua-hang
2.3.3 Get Vietnam sim Card in Mobile shops in HCM:
Besides the post offices and the official mobile network stores, travelers to Vietnam can easily find the local SIM Cards at any mobile shops which are located everywhere around the city.
However, we would not recommend this way unless you need it immediately and for short usage, as most of these vendors cannot register the SIM for you. That means a SIM card bought from them is the pre-activated sim with an attractive promotion that can be deactivated at any time. In addition, they are not good at English to support you.
We hope this information has helped you when you go to buy a proper sim card. Traveling around with a good connection to the internet is important in a country where you don’t speak the native language. Hopefully you have a great time in Vietnam with some full bars on your phone! If you are about to visit Vietnam' capital city, getting a Vietnam sim card in Hanoi is highly recommend.