Vinaphone is Vietnam’s second-largest carrier, but in 2026, it is the speed king. Recently ranked the fastest 5G in Southeast Asia by Ookla, Vinaphone now beats regional giants like Singapore’s Singtel, Malaysia’s Unifi, and Thailand’s AIS. In cities, its speeds are virtually identical to Viettel.
For tourists, the practical edge is this: among the three major carriers, Vinaphone tourist SIM is the most straightforward option that bundles a local +84 number, local calls, and international call minutes — available at any airport counter or city store, no app registration or video call required. If you need to register for Grab, receive OTPs, or call a restaurant — it’s ready on day one.
This article will explain when to choose Vinaphone, SIM plan options available, prices, where to buy, possible alternatives, and more.
I. Is Vinaphone Right for Your Trip?
Choose Vinaphone if:
- Your trip covers cities and main tourist routes (Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, Hoi An, Phu Quoc).
- Real-world speed tests in Hanoi show Vinaphone at ~85 Mbps download — virtually tied with Viettel (~88 Mbps). In daily use, you won’t notice the difference. The gap shows up when you leave urban areas. Vinaphone coverage weakens in mountainous and remote regions faster than Viettel, which has deeper rural infrastructure.
- You need a Vietnamese phone number for Grab/Zalo registration, OTPs, or local calls
- You want a cost-effective option without sacrificing urban performance
Don’t choose Vinaphone if:
- Your itinerary includes Ha Giang, Sapa, the Central Highlands, or remote Mekong Delta
- Signal reliability in off-the-beaten-track areas is the priority
→ Full Viettel vs Vinaphone vs MobiFone comparison
II. Vinaphone Tourist SIM Plan + Prices (Updated)
Vinaphone offers one dedicated plan for international visitors:
| Validity | Data | Local calls | Intl. calls | SMS | Price |
| 15 days | 1GB/day | 50 mins | 50 mins | 50 | 199,000₫ (~$8) |
What you get:
- Local +84 Vietnamese phone number
- 10,000₫ credit on the main balance
- International calls via prefix 1714 to: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more
Note: The SIM auto-deactivates after 15 days. Price excludes the physical SIM card (~10,000–20,000₫ at the store). Plans are subject to change, so you should verify before buying.
However, if you need more data than 1GB/day and don’t need international calls, skip the tourist SIM and ask for current 5G data packages at the official store. They are prepaid data-only plans with more GB per dollar and lower price per GB. Below are some noticeables:
| Plan | Validity | Data | Notes | Price |
| 5G30 | 3 days | 7GB/day | Data only | 30,000₫ (~$1.20) |
| 5G70 | 7 days | 8GB/day | Data only | 70,000₫ (~$2.80) |
| 5G150 | 30 days | 7GB/day | Free TikTok, YouTube, social | 150,000₫ (~$6) |
| SODA125 | 30 days | 8GB/day | Data only | 125,000₫ (~$5) |
| D20 | 24 hours | 25GB/day | Best for short stays | 20,000₫ (~$0.80) |
→ See details here: https://digishop.vnpt.vn/di-dong?tab=c333
III. Vinaphone eSIM – Get it before you fly
If you prefer not to queue at the airport or hand over your passport at a counter and your phone is compatible with eSIM, a Vinaphone eSIM from vietnamesim.com is the alternative — buy online, QR code arrives by email, install it at home, activate it when you land. No passport required, no physical card to swap.
Below are eSIM plans with a local +84 number included:
| Plan | Validity | Data | Includes | Price |
| Vina 7D | 7 days | 2GB/day | +84 number + 1,000 on-net mins | $10.90 |
| Vina 10D | 10 days | 5GB/day | +84 number + 1,000 on-net mins | $12.90 |
| Vina 15D | 15 days | 5GB/day | +84 number + 1,000 on-net mins | $14.90 |
| Vina 30D | 30 days | 5GB/day | +84 number + top up to call/text | $19.90 |
→ Browse all Vietnam eSIM plans
⚠️ The included +84 number is not guaranteed to work for app registration or SMS verification (Zalo, banking apps, etc.). It handles calls and SMS in most cases — but OTP support can’t be promised for every service.
Pro-Tip: To check eSIM compatibility technically: dial *#06#. An “EID” number in the result means that your phone supports eSIM.
Physical SIM vs. eSIM at a glance:
| Criteria | Physical SIM | Vinaphone eSIM |
| Price | Cheapest | Slightly higher |
| Setup | After landing + passport | Before flight, no passport |
| Phone number | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (+84) |
| Coverage | Identical | Identical |
| Intl. calls | 50 mins (tourist SIM) | On-net mins included |
| Best for | Budget travelers | Convenience, dual SIM |
IV. Where to Buy a Vinaphone SIM Card – 3 Options
1. At the airport
Vinaphone kiosks are in the arrivals hall at Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (HCMC), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), and Phu Quoc. The shop is blue-branded and hard to miss.
What to expect:
- Staff speak basic English and handle full SIM setup for you
- The process takes 5–10 minutes
- Most counters accept both cash (VND) and credit cards
- Operating hours: typically 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM (may extend during peak seasons)
What to bring:
- Passport (original, not a photo)
- Cash in VND as backup — some kiosks prefer it
Note: Airport plans run 20–30% higher than city store prices. For a short 3–5 day trip the convenience is worth it. For anything longer, it’s worth choosing other options for better value.
2. At official Vinaphone stores
Official stores offer SIM plans at better prices and full plan selection. Staff activate everything before you leave. Remember to bring your physical passport because registration is required by Vietnamese law.
How to find a store:
- Google Maps: search “Vinaphone store” near your location
- Official store locator: vnpt.vn/ho-tro/diem-giao-dich
Selected store locations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City:
| Ward | Address | Phone | Hours |
| Hoan Kiem | 75 A/B Dinh Tien Hoang | 024.38254320/024.38252196 | Mon–Fri 07:30–18:30 / Sat–Sun 8:00–17:00 |
| Cau Giay | 165 Cau Giay | 024.32262258 | Mon–Fri 7:30–18:30 / Sat–Sun 8:00–17:00 |
| Tay Ho | 664 Lac Long Quan | 024.37735888 | Mon–Fri 7:30–18:30 / Sat–Sun 8:00–17:00 |
| Cau Giay | 97 Nguyen Chi Thanh | 02437738773 | Mon–Fri 7:30–20:00 / Sat–Sun 8:00–17:00 |
| Dong Da | 22 Dong Cac (5 O Cho Dua) | 024.37764767 | Mon–Fri 07:30–18:30 / Sat–Sun 8:00–17:00 |
| Yen Hoa | 138 Trung Kinh | 024.37690271 | Mon–Fri 7:30–18:30 / Sat–Sun 8:00–17:00 |
| Saigon | 80 Nguyen Du, Ben Nghe | 02838277713 | Mon–Fri 7:30–19:00 |
| Cho Lon | 26 Nguyen Thi | 02839508888 | Mon–Fri 7:30–18:30 |
| Vuon Lai | 02 Hung Vuong | 02838391468 | Mon–Fri 7:30–18:30 |
| An Lac | 466 Kinh Duong Vuong | 02836670000 | Mon–Fri 7:30–19:00 |
| Thu Duc | 352 Doan Ket | – | Mon–Fri 7:30–18:00 |
| Tan Dinh | 21 Dien Bien Phu | 0911160160 | Mon–Sat 8:00–22:00, |
| Phu Nhuan | 241 Hoang Van Thu | 02838445544 | Mon–Fri 8:00–19:00 |
Notes:
- Verify hours and current addresses on Google Maps before visiting.
- Check the official website of VNPT – Vinaphone for current plans before visiting. The tourist SIM isn’t always on the main display — ask for it by name: SIM Du Lịch or Tourist SIM.
What to bring: Passport (original). Registration is required by law for all SIM purchases in Vietnam.
3. Phone Shops and Retail Chains
The Gioi Di Dong (Thế Giới Di Động) and CellphoneS are the two most reliable retail chains stocking Vinaphone SIMs across Vietnam. Both have locations in every major city and staff who can help with activation.
Circle K branches also carry Vinaphone for top-ups, though plan selection is limited.
Hotels sometimes sell SIMs on-site — convenient but are typically priced at a premium. Only worth it if you genuinely can’t make it to a store.
⚠️Tip: Avoid unbranded kiosks or street vendors. Stick to official stores or recognized retail chains for a properly registered SIM.
4. Buy Online via Travel Agencies & Ecommerce Stores
Vinaphone SIM cards are available on travel booking platforms like Klook and Traveloka or ecommerce platforms like Shopee.
This option suits travelers who have already arrived in Vietnam and want SIM delivery to their hotel, or those who’ve pre-arranged accommodation and want the SIM waiting for them.
Note: Ensure the seller explicitly states the SIM includes passport registration. Unregistered SIMs may stop working within days.
→ Full guide to Hanoi SIM card guide
→ Full guide to Ho Chi Minh City SIM card guide
V. Vinaphone 5G: What Tourists Can Expect
Vinaphone commercially launched 5G in late 2024 — the second carrier in Vietnam to do so after Viettel. Since then, independent benchmarks from Ookla consistently place Vinaphone’s 5G ahead of Singtel, Unifi, and AIS across Southeast Asia.
In practical terms for tourists:
- Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang — 5G in central districts, tourist zones, business areas. Real-world speeds of 150–300 Mbps in cities.
- Hue, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hoi An — solid 4G; 5G expanding into these areas.
- Rural areas and highlands — 4G throughout most areas; coverage thins faster than Viettel in remote spots.
- Ha Giang, deep Mekong — possible 3G fallback; Viettel is the safer choice here.
Your SIM connects to the best available signal automatically — 5G → 4G → 3G. No manual switching needed.
VI. How to Activate and Top Up
1. Physical SIM
Activation: Insert the SIM, power on. Activates automatically on network connection. If not, dial *101# or visit a Vinaphone store.
Check your number: Dial *101#
Check data balance:
- SMS “DATA” to 888 (free)
- SMS “TRACUU” to 900 (free)
Top up: Scratch cards at Circle K, VinMart, and convenience stores. Or top up via the My Vinaphone app with Visa/Mastercard directly.
2. Vinaphone eSIM (from vietnamesim.com)
Installation & activation:
- Scan the QR code from your email to install the eSIM profile
- Enable roaming for the eSIM line in phone settings
- Arrive in Vietnam — connects to Vinaphone automatically
Check data balance: Go to Settings > Mobile Data > your eSIM line
Top up: Buy a new plan at vietnamesim.com’s store anytime when your current plan is going to run out. The eSIM will be delivered by email in minutes, activated immediately.
VII. Final words
Vinaphone is the strongest choice for city-focused Vietnam trips — a fast urban network, a tourist SIM that includes a local number and international calls, and 5G that now benchmarks best in Southeast Asia.
For the smoothest setup, the Vinaphone eSIM from vietnamesim.com gets you connected before you land — same network, same quality, no airport queue.