eSIM for Vietnam
Vietnam has fast 4G in every city and along most of the coast, with 5G rolling out in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone all sell tourist SIM cards at the airport, and they are inexpensive.
So the honest version of this page starts with a question: how long are you staying, and is Vietnam the only country on the trip?
Plans are not on sale yet
When the local SIM is the better deal
For a month or more in Vietnam alone, a local SIM bought with your passport usually costs less per gigabyte than any travel eSIM. That is worth saying plainly.
A travel eSIM makes more sense for a short trip, when you want to be online the moment you land, or when Vietnam is one stop in a longer Southeast Asia route.
Why data matters from the first minute
Grab is how most visitors get from Tan Son Nhat or Noi Bai airport into town, and how they pay for rides and food afterwards. The app needs mobile data. Being online before you reach the taxi rank saves you a negotiation at the curb.
Ha Giang, Sapa and Ha Long Bay
The Ha Giang loop and the roads around Sapa are covered along the main routes, with gaps in the high passes and valleys. Viettel generally reaches furthest in the mountains.
On overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, signal comes and goes between the karst islands. Boat wifi exists but is shared by everyone on board.
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Plans are not on sale yet
We are testing which destinations people actually need before we connect a supplier. Tell us where you are going and you will be first to know when plans for that destination go live.
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Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on one plan
Many travellers cross into Cambodia or Laos by bus. A regional Southeast Asia plan keeps you on one eSIM across those borders, instead of buying a new SIM at each crossing.
What you do not get
A Vietnamese +84 number. Grab works without one, but some local services and delivery apps expect a local number for SMS codes. If you need that, buy a local SIM with your passport.
See connectivity options
Compare optionsCommon questions
Can I use Grab in Vietnam with a travel eSIM?
Yes. Grab needs a data connection and an account; a local number is not required for rides.
Does it work on the Ha Giang loop?
On most of the main road, yes, with gaps on the high passes. Download the route before you set off.
Should I buy a SIM at the airport instead?
For a long stay in Vietnam only, often yes. For a short trip or several countries, an eSIM saves time.