eSIM for Vietnam: set it up before you land

An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. You add a data plan by scanning a code, with no card to swap.

Checked 20 Oct 2026

For a short or medium stay it is the easiest way to be online the moment you land. Your home SIM stays in the phone, so bank codes and calls to your home number still work.

Prices change, so this page gives levels and no fares. Anything we could not confirm says check before you go.

Will it work on your phone

iPhone: an iPhone XS, XR or later has eSIM ¹.
Android: many recent phones have it. Open Settings and look for "Add eSIM" or "SIM manager". If you cannot find it, check the maker's support page for your model.
Unlocked: the phone must not be locked to one network. A locked phone may refuse a plan from another company ¹. Ask your network to unlock it before you travel.
Bought in some countries: some models sold for one market have no eSIM. Check your exact model before you pay.

Airport SIM or eSIM

	eSIM	SIM card at the airport
Ready when you land	Yes, if set up before	After a queue at a counter
Home SIM stays in the phone	Yes	You swap it, or need a second slot
Price	Usually a bit higher per gigabyte	Local networks sell tourist packs, often cheaper per gigabyte ²
Passport needed	No	Yes, a physical SIM is registered to your passport ²
Phone needs	eSIM support, unlocked	A free SIM slot, unlocked

Airport counters of the main local networks sell tourist packs. Prices differ between sources and between the airport and city shops, so we give no figure. Check the price at the counter before you pay ².

A local SIM can be the better value on a long stay, and some people prefer one for coverage in the mountains and on islands ². If you plan to stay a month or more, compare both.

Set it up before you fly

Pick a plan on the seller's website. Check that it names Vietnam, the number of days and the amount of data.
Install it on Wi-Fi. Open Settings, then Cellular (or Mobile data), then Add eSIM, and scan the code from the seller's email. Some sellers have an app that does this.
Name the line "Vietnam" and switch it off until you land.
When you land: switch the line on and turn on data roaming for that line only. Keep your home line on for calls and codes, but turn off its data to avoid roaming charges.
Save the setup email and a screenshot of the code. You may need them if you reinstall.

Check before you go: some plans start counting days when you install them, others when they first connect to a network. Read the plan page for which one it is.

How much data for a month

Rough guide, not a rule:

Maps, messages and some browsing: a few gigabytes a month.
Daily video calls, streaming or hotspot for a laptop: many times that.
Working from your phone: pick a large plan or an unlimited plan, and read its fair use rules.

If a plan runs out, most sellers let you top up in their app. A monthly plan for a stay of 30 days is a common choice. For 90 days, compare one large plan with three monthly ones.

Comparing them honestly

Plan size: match gigabytes to your use. Unlimited plans cost more and may slow down after heavy use.
Days: a plan that is too short costs more than a plan that is a little too long.
Hotspot: some plans block sharing data. Check if you need it.
Support: look for chat support and a refund rule before you buy.
Local number: most eSIMs are data only. If you need a Vietnamese number for delivery or taxi calls, a local SIM is the usual answer.

Providers and what to do next

Airalo. Suits most visitors: many plan sizes for Vietnam, so you can match the plan to your trip.
Saily. Suits people who want a plain data plan from a well-known security company.
Holafly. Suits heavy users who want unlimited data and will pay more for it.

We do not earn anything from these links. They go to each company's own site.

Not sure what you need yet? Start with the visa check, then plan the cost in the 90-day budget.

Check my visa Plan my budget

Questions and answers

Do I need a SIM at all

Many cafes, hotels and airports have Wi-Fi, but you will want data for maps and for booking rides. Most visitors get a plan.

Can I buy an eSIM after I land

Only if you have Wi-Fi to install it. That is why we say to set it up before you fly.

Does my phone need to be registered

A physical local SIM is registered to your passport at the counter ². For an eSIM, the seller's own sign-up rules apply. Check before you go.

Is a free airport Wi-Fi enough

It is fine for the first message home. It does not cover you on the road.

Sources

All pages were checked on Oct 20, 2026. The Vietnam SIM guide is a travel site and a secondary source. We found no official price list, so we give no prices.

Apple Support, "Use Dual SIM with an eSIM" (models with eSIM, unlocked phone): support.apple.com
Vietnam Tourism, "Wifi and internet in Vietnam: SIM cards, eSIMs and staying connected" (airport counters, passport registration, price differences, coverage): vietnamtourism.com