The short verdict
For Vietnam, Flysimio on Viettel is the pick for coverage on the widest-reaching Vietnamese network, but be honest with yourself about how much data you need: Nomad undercuts us substantially per gigabyte on large Vietnam plans, and the dated price index below shows the gap. Viettel, the largest Vietnamese carrier, has the broadest coverage including rural provinces, mountain areas, and the islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao, plus the fastest 5G rollout. Mobifone is a strong second in the cities and Vinaphone is competitive, but Viettel wins everywhere outside the big urban centres.
Flysimio Vietnam eSIM
$2.13 from · instant QR · 7-day refund
Vietnam eSIM price index — October 2026
Across 4 providers and 15 plans compared in October 2026, the cheapest Vietnam eSIM data on a standard 3–50 GB plan works out at $1.58/GB (Flysimio, priced live). On the same measure the cheapest rival plan is Nomad at $0.78/GB — cheaper than our best equivalent plan, which costs 102% more per gigabyte.
| Provider | Plan | Price | Price per GB | Network | Best for | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad | 50 GB / 30 days | $39.00 | $0.78/GB | Vietnamobile / MobiFone | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| FlysimioBuy$31.58 | 20 GB / 30 days | $31.58 | $1.58/GB | Viettel Mobile / Vinaphone | Live | |
| Nomad | 10 GB / 30 days | $17.00 | $1.70/GB | Vietnamobile / MobiFone | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| FlysimioBuy$17.20 | 10 GB / 30 days | $17.20 | $1.72/GB | Viettel Mobile / Vinaphone | Live | |
| FlysimioBuy$5.65 | 3 GB / 15 days | $5.65 | $1.88/GB | Viettel Mobile / Vinaphone | Live | |
| FlysimioBuy$9.43 | 5 GB / 30 days | $9.43 | $1.89/GB | Viettel Mobile / Vinaphone | Live | |
| Nomad | 5 GB / 30 days | $10.00 | $2.00/GB | Vietnamobile / MobiFone | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| FlysimioBuy$2.13 | 1 GB / 7 days | $2.13 | $2.13/GB | Viettel Mobile / Vinaphone | Live | |
| FlysimioBuy$109.20 | 50 GB / 180 days | $109.20 | $2.18/GB | Viettel Mobile / Vinaphone | Live | |
| Nomad | 1 GB / 7 days | $4.00 | $4.00/GB | Vietnamobile / MobiFone | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Airalo | Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 7 days | $27.00 | — | VNPT | Coverage & app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 7 days | $27.50 | — | Vinaphone (VNPT) | Unlimited data | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Airalo | Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 30 days | $69.00 | — | VNPT | Coverage & app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 30 days | $76.50 | — | Vinaphone (VNPT) | Unlimited data | Oct 8, 2026 |
| FlysimioBuy$120.00 | Unlimited (2 GB/day) / 30 days | $120.00 | — | Viettel Mobile / Vinaphone | Live |
- Airalo · Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 7 days: Airalo bills this as "Unlimited": 3 GB per day at full speed, then throttled to about 1 Mbps. Airalo's Vietnam store lists unlimited packages only.
- Holafly · Unlimited / 7 days: Unlimited with no daily high-speed cap; Holafly applies a fair-use policy for at most one day at a time.
- Airalo · Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 30 days: Airalo bills this as "Unlimited": 3 GB per day at full speed, then throttled to about 1 Mbps.
- Holafly · Unlimited / 30 days: Unlimited with no daily high-speed cap; Holafly applies a fair-use policy for at most one day at a time.
- Flysimio · Unlimited (2 GB/day) / 30 days: 2 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps. Sold as 1–30-day passes; 30 days is priced here for comparison.
How this table is priced. Flysimio prices are read live from our carrier catalog every time this page loads, so the figure here is the figure at checkout. Competitor prices are the US-dollar price shown on each provider's own site, read on the date in the last column and linked to the page we read it from; promotional prices are marked alongside the list price. Price per GB is the plan price divided by its included data — unlimited passes have no per-GB figure and are ranked by total price instead. Full method: how we test, the eSIM Price Index and what an eSIM costs.
- Nomad — checked Oct 8, 2026 — www.nomadesim.com/vietnam-eSIM
- Airalo — checked Oct 8, 2026 — www.airalo.com/vietnam-esim
- Holafly — checked Oct 8, 2026 — esim.holafly.com/esim-vietnam/
Coverage across Vietnam
| Destination | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | 5G on Viettel and Mobifone | Full coverage; Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem area excellent |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 5G on all carriers | District 1 and tourist areas fully covered |
| Hoi An and Da Nang | 4G on Viettel and Mobifone | Strong coverage throughout; beach areas covered |
| Ha Long Bay (cruise) | 4G on Viettel near shore | Coverage on the bay itself; stronger near Cat Ba Island |
| Hue | 4G on Viettel | City centre and Imperial City well covered |
| Phu Quoc Island | 4G on Viettel | North and south Phu Quoc covered; interior jungle patchy |
| Sapa and the north mountains | 4G on Viettel in town | Viettel covers Sapa town; trekking routes in valleys have signal; rice terrace ridges patchy |
| Mekong Delta | 4G on Viettel | Major towns covered; remote waterways and small islands variable |
Which Vietnam eSIM for your trip?
| Trip type | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi + Ha Long Bay | Flysimio 5 GB (Viettel) | Viettel covers both destinations |
| Ho Chi Minh City + Mekong Delta | Flysimio 5 GB (Viettel) | Viettel has best Mekong rural coverage |
| Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) | Flysimio 5 GB (Viettel) | Full coverage of central coast |
| Phu Quoc beach holiday | Flysimio 5 GB (Viettel) | Viettel covers the island's main tourist areas |
| North Vietnam trekking (Sapa, Ha Giang) | Flysimio 10 GB (Viettel) | Viettel reaches mountain towns; signal limited on remote passes |
| Full country north to south | Flysimio 10 GB (Viettel) | One Viettel plan covers the entire country |
Vietnam eSIM vs a tourist SIM at the airport
Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone sell tourist SIMs at the airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and every SIM in Vietnam must be registered with your passport. A travel eSIM is installed before you fly and connects to Viettel Mobile and Vinaphone when you land, with nothing to register on arrival.
| Flysimio eSIM | Vietnamese prepaid SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you buy it | Online, before you fly | Carrier shop, airport or convenience store |
| Network | Viettel Mobile and Vinaphone | The carrier you buy from |
| Vietnamese phone number | No (data-only) | Yes |
| Home number | Stays active on your regular SIM | Removed while the Vietnamese SIM is in |
| Registration | None in Vietnam | Passport registration required |
Grab, Zalo and calls in Vietnam
Grab, Google Maps and WhatsApp all work over the eSIM data, and Zalo, the messaging app most Vietnamese use, works too. The eSIM is data-only, so there is no Vietnamese number for SMS. Phone settings (data roaming, keeping your number) are covered step by step in how to use an eSIM abroad.
Travelling on to Cambodia, Thailand or Laos? Every tier of the Asia eSIM includes Vietnam, and the cheapest one also covers Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Installing your Vietnam eSIM
- Buy before your flight — install on home Wi-Fi.
- Open the Flysimio email for the QR code.
- iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code.
- Android: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add SIM.
- Scan the QR code.
- Label it "Vietnam" and set as data line.
- Disable Data Roaming on your home SIM.
- Your phone connects to Viettel when you land at Hanoi (HAN), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), or Da Nang (DAD).
Frequently asked questions
Which SIM card is best for tourists in Vietnam?
For most trips, a travel eSIM: no airport queue, no passport registration, and it runs on Viettel Mobile and Vinaphone. A local tourist SIM is cheaper per gigabyte for long stays.
Can I use my US cell phone in Vietnam?
Yes, if it is unlocked and supports eSIM. Install the Vietnam eSIM before you fly for data and keep your US line on for calls and texts with data roaming off.
Should I buy an eSIM before traveling to Vietnam?
Yes. Buy and install it on Wi-Fi at home, so it connects as soon as you land; the validity only starts when it first connects in Vietnam.
What is the best eSIM for Vietnam?
Flysimio on the Viettel network is a strong Vietnam pick for most travelers, and was marginally cheaper than Nomad at 5 GB in October 2026 — but Nomad is far cheaper on large Vietnam plans, so check the dated price index if you need 20 GB or more. Viettel has the widest coverage in Vietnam including rural mountains, islands, and the Mekong Delta, and Flysimio offers the lowest price.
Does eSIM work in Ha Long Bay?
Yes, on Viettel. Ha Long Bay has 4G coverage near shore and around Cat Ba Island. On overnight cruise routes in the middle of the bay, signal is present but weaker. Most cruise ships also have Wi-Fi, which is useful when signal drops.
Does eSIM work in Hoi An?
Yes. Hoi An Ancient Town and the beach area (An Bang, Cua Dai) are fully covered by Viettel 4G. The cycling routes between Hoi An and Da Nang are also well covered.
Which eSIM uses Viettel in Vietnam?
Flysimio, Holafly, and Nomad route through Viettel for Vietnam plans. Airalo and Saily use Mobifone. Viettel has the widest geographic coverage and is the recommended carrier for any travel outside major cities.
How much data do I need for Vietnam?
Vietnam has very fast and cheap mobile data. For a two-week trip with moderate use (maps, social, messaging), 5 GB is sufficient. Vietnam's fast network means you consume data quickly, so heavy users should consider 10 GB.
Does eSIM work in Sapa?
Yes, on Viettel. Sapa town has 4G LTE. Trekking routes in the Muong Hoa Valley and to Ta Van village have signal on the main paths. Remote mountain passes and ridge lines above the valley have reduced or no signal.
Flysimio Vietnam eSIM
$2.13 from · instant QR · 7-day refund
Maya Okafor
Senior Travel Connectivity Editor
Maya has tested eSIMs across 40+ countries over five years of full-time travel — from Tokyo subways to Patagonian backroads. She runs Flysimio’s hands-on network and speed testing.