Destination
Internet in Vietnam for tourists: eSIM or local SIM?
What coverage is like in Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, what to get instead of a local SIM, what’s up with Telegram and what to expect when you move between regions.
Plan for your trip: Vietnam · Data for your trip — See plans →
The easiest way for tourists to get online in Vietnam is an eSIM: you install the profile at home, and mobile data comes on after landing in Hanoi, Da Nang, Cam Ranh or Phu Quoc. Cities and resorts usually have fast coverage; it’s weaker on the northern mountain roads, on remote beaches and out on the water. A local SIM requires your passport and mandatory number registration, while one Vietnam plan works across the whole country, from Hanoi to Phu Quoc.
How do I get mobile data in Vietnam?
You can get mobile data in Vietnam in two ways: buy a local SIM or install an eSIM from a foreign provider. Local SIMs are sold at the airports in Hanoi, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc, as well as at carrier stores and stalls near markets. You’ll need your passport: as of October 2026, SIM registration is mandatory in Vietnam and is done right at purchase.
An eSIM works differently. You install the profile at home over Wi-Fi, the QR code arrives in the chat in about 30 seconds, and the plan starts counting on its first connection to a network in your destination. You don’t need a slot for a second physical card: the eSIM becomes a second line, and your home number stays put.
| Option | What you need | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| MoreSim eSIM | A phone that supports eSIM | Installed at home, works from landing |
| Local SIM | Passport and mandatory registration | Airport queue; you need a free slot |
| Cafe and hotel Wi-Fi | Nothing | Almost everywhere, but only works on the premises |
Which to choose depends on how long you’re staying. For a two-week vacation, there’s usually no point in dealing with a local SIM: you need data in the taxi to the hotel, and you may never need a Vietnamese number the whole trip. Local SIMs are mostly for people who live in Vietnam for months, order deliveries and use local services that verify by text.
Where is mobile coverage good in Vietnam, and where is it weak?
Vietnam has good mobile coverage in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang and the resort areas of Phu Quoc, and weaker coverage on the mountain roads around Sapa, Ha Giang and Da Lat, on wild beaches and on the water. Reviews are contradictory because someone in central Hanoi and a motorbike traveler in the Ha Giang mountains have very different experiences. Go by where exactly you’re heading and how you’re getting around, not by overall ratings.
- Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City: dense urban areas, strong network, outages are rare.
- Da Nang and Hoi An: signal is usually stable in town and on the beaches, but the network in Hoi An’s Old Town can get congested in the evening.
- Nha Trang: coverage is usually good downtown and along the waterfront.
- Phu Quoc: data works in Duong Dong and the resort areas, but the signal drops on wild beaches and in the north of the island.
- Mountains (Sapa, Ha Giang, Da Lat): on winding roads and in villages, the network can vanish for kilometers at a time.
- Ferries, boats to the islands and night trains: data comes and goes, so don’t count on it.
Is there internet on Phu Quoc and other islands?
Phu Quoc does have mobile data: the airport, Duong Dong and the resort areas on the west coast are well covered, while in the north of the island and on wild beaches your phone will spend a long time searching for a network. Phu Quoc is one of Vietnam’s most popular island destinations, and its main tourist areas have no trouble with coverage.
On boats out to Vietnam’s islands, signal comes and goes, so it’s smarter to assume there’s no internet on the water and keep what you need saved on your phone. Before heading out to sea, save your return point on the map and agree with your guide on a pickup time: that’s more reliable than any plan. The islands off Nha Trang, the ride from Cam Ranh airport and the day trip to Da Lat are covered in detail in our separate guide to Nha Trang.
What should you do on your first day in Vietnam?
On your first day in Vietnam, the key thing is to switch your eSIM on for mobile data right after landing, because taxis, motorbike rides and food delivery all run through apps here.
- Check that your phone supports eSIM: the @moresim_bot bot has an automatic compatibility check.
- Buy a plan for Vietnam and install the profile at home over Wi-Fi; you can pay with Telegram Stars from any country, right in the bot (bank card and SBP payments currently work with cards issued in Russia).
- Download offline maps and save your accommodation address in both Latin script and Vietnamese.
- After landing, turn off airplane mode and give your phone a couple of minutes to find a network.
- Select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming on it: most travel eSIMs connect to the local carrier as a roaming partner, so there’s no data without it. If your plan’s instructions say otherwise, follow them.
- Turn off mobile data on your home SIM so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier.
- Book a ride in an app right in the arrivals hall: it’s easier than haggling at the exit.
Taxis and motorbike rides in Vietnam run almost entirely through apps such as Grab, Xanh SM and Be: the route, the driver and the payment are all sorted on your phone. That’s why you need data from literally the first minute. Same with food delivery and table bookings: without data, you’ll be explaining yourself with hand gestures.
Do you need to switch anything when moving between regions?
There’s nothing to switch: Vietnam is one country, and a Vietnam plan keeps working in Hanoi and on Phu Quoc alike. Your phone latches onto the nearest tower on its own, sometimes with a pause of a minute or two after landing or after leaving an area with no coverage.
If you take a domestic flight, repeat the usual routine: airplane mode on the plane, off after landing. On trains or buses through mountain stretches, expect dead zones: that’s the terrain, not the plan or the carrier.
How do you make calls from Vietnam, and what happens to bank texts?
MoreSim plans are data-only, with no phone number. You can call over messaging apps where they aren’t restricted, and bank texts keep arriving on your home SIM. In Vietnam that caveat matters: in May 2025 the authorities ordered local carriers to block Telegram, and as of October 2026 reports on whether it works on local networks differ. There’s no telling in advance how it will behave on a travel eSIM, so agree on a backup messaging app with family. If you need a Vietnamese number for deliveries or local services, that’s a job for a local SIM.
With a travel eSIM, your home SIM stays in the phone as a second line. Bank texts with verification codes reach it only if roaming is available on your home plan and the line is switched on and has found a network in Vietnam. Whether roaming is available and what incoming texts cost depends on your home carrier, so check its app before you fly. Keep mobile data off on your home line, and check your banking app login and a second way to confirm payments before you leave.
How much data do I need in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, maps, messaging, taxis and searching for places use little data, while video, stories and video calls use a lot. The data and validity options for Vietnam are on the country’s catalog page. If you shoot and post every day, decide in advance: top up the plan, or upload clips in the evening over hotel Wi-Fi.
People regularly ask about unlimited data in Vietnam. As of October 2026, the MoreSim catalog has no full-speed unlimited plans: every plan is mobile data with an allowance for the whole trip or for one day, and daily plans slow down after the daily allowance. Get a plan with extra data and top up without a new eSIM: use “Top up data” on the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app, if top-ups are available for that plan. If you’re looking at an unlimited plan from another seller, read the terms first: every unlimited plan has conditions, and it’s better to learn them before you buy than mid-trip.
- Turn off app auto-updates over mobile data.
- Post trip videos over Wi-Fi, not mobile data.
- Screenshot your tickets and bookings.
- Carry a power bank: heat and constant network searching drain the battery faster.
- Check your remaining data in the bot or in your account on the website.
MoreSim support is reachable via /support in the Telegram bot, a ticket in your account and email. If data doesn’t kick in after landing or something odd happens with your settings, you’ll get an answer whether you’re on Phu Quoc or in Sapa, whatever the time difference.
Most post-landing problems are fixed in two steps: select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. If that doesn’t help, message us via /support in the bot and we’ll sort it out together.
FAQ
How do I get mobile data in Vietnam?
There are two practical options: a local SIM or an eSIM from a foreign provider. A local SIM is issued at the airport or a store against your passport, and number registration is mandatory. An eSIM is installed at home over Wi-Fi and the plan starts counting on its first connection to a network in Vietnam, so you have data right in the arrivals hall.
Do tourists need a SIM card in Vietnam?
A local SIM is mainly for people staying a long time or who need a Vietnamese number for deliveries and local services. For a regular vacation, an eSIM is enough: it doesn’t take up a slot, you install it in advance, and your home number stays on as a second line. Getting a local card takes your passport, number registration and time at the airport.
What is the internet like on Phu Quoc?
In Duong Dong, around the airport and along the resort-lined west coast, coverage is usually strong. In the north of the island, on wild beaches and on boat trips, the signal drops noticeably and sometimes disappears. Download an offline map of the island and save your accommodation address in advance: that solves most problems.
Is there unlimited mobile data in Vietnam?
Unlimited plans exist on the market, but as of October 2026 the MoreSim catalog has no full-speed unlimited plans: there are plans for the whole trip and daily plans that slow down after the daily allowance. For a vacation, a plan with some extra data is usually enough, and if you run out you can top up without a new eSIM: use “Top up data” on the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app, if top-ups are available for that plan. Whoever you buy an unlimited plan from, read its terms first.
Does Telegram work in Vietnam?
In May 2025 the Vietnamese authorities ordered carriers to block Telegram, and as of October 2026 reports on whether it works on local networks differ. There’s no guarantee how Telegram will behave on a travel eSIM. Agree on a backup messaging app with family and check the situation before your trip.
What should I look for in reviews of mobile coverage in Vietnam?
Reviews are contradictory because everyone’s experience differs: a tourist in central Hanoi and a motorbike traveler in the Ha Giang mountains won’t see the same picture. Look at the region and trip type (city, island, mountains) rather than the overall rating. And remember that no plan adds towers where there are none.