Vietnam is in touch: eSIM, money, Grab, and the airport

Вьетнам на связи: eSIM, деньги, Grab и аэропорт

The plane is landing, airplane mode is off - and a quick check begins of what you prepared at home.

Is the electronic declaration opening? Is there internet? Can you call a car? Is the payment method working? Is the address of the right hotel saved?

In Vietnam, most of these tasks can be solved with a phone. To avoid searching for Wi-Fi, cash, and transport at the last moment after landing, let's prepare communication, documents, money, and the route in advance.

Three days before arrival: fill out the PAI

In 2026, Vietnam began implementing the electronic declaration Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) for foreign travelers. Below is the procedure relevant as of July 29, 2026.

According to the current announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, the system is used in major international airports:

  • Noi Bai in Hanoi - HAN;

  • Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City - SGN;

  • Da Nang - DAD;

  • Cam Ranh for Nha Trang - CXR;

  • Phu Quoc - PQC.

It is recommended to fill out the declaration within three days before arrival or upon arrival. After submission, the system generates a QR code.

There is only one official address:

prearrival.immigration.gov.vn

Life hack: save the QR code not only in the browser. Take a screenshot and place it in a separate album titled "Vietnam." At the airport, the page may reload, and mobile internet may not connect immediately.

PAI does not replace a visa or the right to visa-free entry. It is a separate preliminary declaration. The Vietnamese Ministry of Internal Affairs also warns about counterfeit websites that attempt to obtain card data, so do not search for the form through advertisements.

Entry: guidelines for citizens of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan

As of July 2026:

  • Citizens of the Russian Federation with a regular passport can enter without a visa for up to 45 days; the current program is valid until March 14, 2028;

  • Citizens of Kazakhstan can stay without a visa for up to 30 days per trip, but no more than 90 days in total within 180 days.

For visa-free entry, the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. Conditions depend on citizenship, passport type, and purpose of the trip, so check the rules for your specific document before purchasing a ticket.

When an e-visa is needed

As of July 2026, an electronic visa is useful if the visa-free regime does not apply due to citizenship, duration, or number of entries. The official e-visa of Vietnam is issued for a maximum of 90 days and can be single or multiple entry.

Applications and results should only be submitted on the official portal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Vietnam:

evisa.gov.vn

Before submission, check each letter of your name, document number, visa validity dates, and chosen entry point against your passport. Save the application registration code, and download and print the completed e-visa. PAI and e-visa are different documents: having an electronic visa does not cancel the preliminary declaration.

Save offline:

  • passport page;

  • tickets;

  • hotel reservation;

  • insurance;

  • QR code PAI;

  • hotel address and phone number;

  • visa confirmation, if needed.

The first five minutes after landing: don’t rush to turn on the main SIM

The main task is to get internet without accidentally activating expensive roaming on your home SIM.

If you are using eSIM for the trip:

  1. Select a new eSIM for cellular data.

  2. Enable "Data Roaming" for it - tourist eSIM usually needs it to connect to the partner network.

  3. Ensure that the home SIM is not selected for mobile internet.

  4. Wait for network registration and only then open Grab and maps.

Install the eSIM in advance while you have stable internet at home and time to check the settings. Do not postpone installation until the airport or arrival.

When choosing a package, separately check the start of billing: it may be tied to the installation of the eSIM or the first connection to a supported network. The condition is specified in the card of the specific offer - take it into account during the early installation.

Another important point: the tourist package may provide only mobile internet, without a phone number, regular calls, and SMS. For Grab, maps, messages, and translators, mobile data is sufficient, but still check the service composition in the card of the selected offer.

Before purchasing, check the card of the specific package:

  • data volume;

  • total or daily limit;

  • validity period;

  • start of billing;

  • available speed;

  • top-up options;

  • phone compatibility.

Money: remove three zeros, but look at the bill

The official currency is the Vietnamese dong, VND.

Due to the number of zeros, the amount may seem unusual in the first days. For quick everyday checks, you can mentally remove three zeros: 100,000 VND turns into "100 thousand dongs." This is not a conversion to rubles, but a simple way not to get lost in denominations.

A nuance confirmed by a local tourist portal: the bills 20,000 and 500,000 VND are similar in shade. When handing money to a driver or seller, check not only the color but also the denomination.

Cash will be especially useful:

  • in small cafes;

  • at markets;

  • with street vendors;

  • in remote areas;

  • as a backup payment method for Grab.

International payment cards are usually accepted by hotels, large stores, restaurants, and tourist services.

Russian cards, Sber QR, and VRB ATMs

Payment options below were verified on July 29, 2026, and may change. Check the conditions with your bank before the trip.

Visa and Mastercard issued by Russian banks do not work outside of Russia.

With Russian UnionPay cards, the situation depends on the specific issuing bank and the accepting ATM or terminal. As of July 29, 2026, RSHB confirms the possibility of using its UnionPay cards in Vietnam, and UnionPay International includes the country in its overseas acceptance network. However, the experience of one card cannot be transferred to all Russian UnionPay cards: check with your bank before the trip whether operations are allowed in Vietnam, and verify fees and limits. Look for the UnionPay logo on the ATM or terminal.

With the "Mir" card, you can withdraw cash in dongs at ATMs of the Vietnam-Russia Joint Bank VRB. VRB itself confirms servicing "Mir" cards and publishes a list of suitable ATMs.

Withdrawal life hack:

  1. Before the trip, open the current list of ATMs on the VRB website and save the nearest address offline.

  2. Take a physical "Mir" card and make sure you remember the PIN code.

  3. At the ATM, select withdrawal in the local currency VND.

  4. Before confirming, check the available amount and fee on the screen.

  5. After the operation, check the final deduction in the app of the Russian bank.

Conditions depend not only on VRB but also on the bank that issued the card: it may set its own fee, limit, or restriction on foreign transactions. There are not many VRB ATMs, so this method is better considered a backup rather than the only source of money.

Official VRB page for "Mir" cards: mircardvn.com

Another option for Sber clients is to pay for local purchases via QR through "SberBank Online." You need to open the QR scanner in the app, scan the seller's code, check the amount, and confirm the payment. The deduction occurs from the ruble account with conversion to dongs.

Important: this does not mean that the app recognizes any QR code in Vietnam. The point must have a supported payment QR, and the phone must have working internet and the latest version of the app. Before confirming, compare the recipient's name, amount in VND, and the amount deducted in rubles. Sber QR is a useful additional method, but not a replacement for cash and backup payment options.

Practical set:

  • a small amount of VND for the first day;

  • a working foreign card, if available;

  • Russian UnionPay - only after checking the conditions with your bank;

  • payment via Sber QR, if the service is available in your app;

  • physical "Mir" card for VRB ATM as a backup;

  • a spare card separate from the main one;

  • cash not kept in one wallet.

Currency exchange and banks: what to check before the operation

Exchange foreign cash currency at banks and official exchange points with clear signage and rates. Licensed exchange agents can also be found in international airports, large hotels, tourist areas, and shopping centers.

Practical order:

  1. Check the rate and possible commission before handing over the money.

  2. Count the currency at the cash desk.

  3. Check the denominations of VND.

  4. Take the exchange receipt.

  5. Do not agree to exchange with a random person for a slightly better rate.

Major airports have exchange points and ATMs. For the first day, it is reasonable to obtain a small amount rather than exchange the entire budget at once.

ATMs are common in cities, but conditions vary. Before confirming, the screen may show:

  • ATM owner's fee;

  • limit for one operation;

  • an offer to convert the amount into your card's currency.

If the ATM offers withdrawal in the card's currency at its own rate - this is Dynamic Currency Conversion, or DCC. Compare the conditions; it is usually clearer to refuse the ATM's conversion and choose withdrawal in the local currency VND, so that the rate is determined by the bank that issued the card.

Withdrawing many small amounts is unprofitable if a fee is charged for each operation. But carrying the entire budget in cash is also not advisable. Before the trip, check your bank's app for fees for withdrawals abroad, daily limits, and support contacts.

Grab needs to be set up before departure

Grab in Vietnam covers several tasks at once: car, motorbike taxi, food delivery, and some household orders.

Do at home:

  • install the app;

  • register an account;

  • confirm the number via SMS;

  • add a working international card if you plan to pay cashless;

  • enable geolocation;

  • save the hotel in favorites.

Grab officially allows payment for rides in cash and available cashless methods in the app, including international cards. But it is still better to check the card in advance: the bank may decline the linking or request additional confirmation.

Life hack: even with a linked card, keep some small cash. This way, you won’t have to solve a payment problem at the car if the bank declines the operation or the app temporarily does not offer the needed method.

Do not agree to "I am your Grab" at the exit

The safe scenario is simple:

  1. Order the entire trip in the app.

  2. Choose the pickup point indicated by the app.

  3. Verify the car brand and number.

  4. Ensure that the driver in the car matches the profile.

  5. Only then get in.

Official safety recommendations separately warn about people who approach tourists and introduce themselves as Grab or other service drivers. If a person offers a ride outside the app, you do not see the final price, route, and car details.

Take a screenshot of the order. If the connection drops in the parking lot, you will have the car number, driver’s name, and pickup point.

Ho Chi Minh City: SGN now has three terminals

Tan Son Nhat can no longer be perceived as one small terminal.

The scheme is as follows:

  • T2 serves international flights;

  • most domestic flights have been moved to T3;

  • domestic flights of VietJet Air continue to be served in T1.

Exceptions and airline distribution may change, so for domestic flights, check the terminal in the ticket and the airline's app, not in an old article from a search.

This is especially important when transferring from an international flight to a domestic one. "I am already at the airport" does not mean "I am already at the right counter."

Life hack: save two screenshots - the arrival terminal and the terminal for the next departure. Show the Grab driver not just "Tan Son Nhat," but the specific terminal.

Hanoi: HAN - T1 and T2 are not in the same building

In Noi Bai:

  • T1 - domestic flights;

  • T2 - international.

There is a free airport shuttle between the terminals. According to current airport information, the journey takes about 8–10 minutes, but you need to add waiting for the bus, finding the stop, and re-navigating inside the terminal.

If you arrive on an international flight and then fly within Vietnam, do not plan the transfer as if you just need to walk to the next hall.

Life hack: the address "Hanoi" does not guarantee a short trip. Noi Bai is significantly farther from the center than Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City. Before ordering a car, open the route and compare the time with check-in or train departure time.

Da Nang: Grab has introduced PIN-based pickup

Since June 30, 2026, Grab has been testing a four-digit PIN code pickup in the domestic flight area of Da Nang airport.

The scenario may look like this:

  1. You select the appropriate GrabCar.

  2. The app shows the pickup area and PIN.

  3. At the parking lot, the code is passed to the driver.

  4. The trip begins after confirming the PIN in the driver’s app.

Pickup points may change, so the current scheme is always found inside the app. Do not go to the first car with the Grab logo until you see your order scenario.

Hotel address: the name is worse than the point on the map

In Vietnam, there are hotels with similar names, branches, and buildings. Additionally, the same name may be displayed differently in Russian, English, and Vietnamese.

Save:

  • the hotel entrance point on the map;

  • the full address in Vietnamese;

  • the reception phone number;

  • a screenshot of the reservation;

  • the name of the district;

  • a message from the hotel with instructions for the driver, if available.

Life hack: mark not just the building but the actual entrance. In large complexes, the entrance on the other side of the block can easily add ten minutes of walking with a suitcase.

Google Maps allows you to download the area offline. But without internet, public transport, bicycle, and walking routes are not available in offline mode. Therefore, the offline map is insurance, not a complete replacement for communication.

Translator: prepare not the language, but four ready phrases

Download Vietnamese and Russian or English language packs for offline translation.

Separately save four phrases. Cyrillic below conveys pronunciation only approximately: in Vietnamese, tones are important, so it is more reliable to show the driver the original text on the screen simultaneously.

  • Vui lòng đưa tôi đến địa chỉ này - "Please take me to this address."

  • Vui lòng cho tôi xem tổng số tiền - "Show me the total amount."

  • Tôi sẽ trả bằng tiền mặt - "I will pay in cash."

  • Vui lòng gọi cho khách sạn - "Please call the hotel."

A ready phrase is faster than voice translation in a noisy terminal. Even better - ask the hotel in advance to send the address and instructions for the driver in Vietnamese.

What else to save before departure

Create one album or offline folder on your phone:

  • QR code PAI;

  • passport and insurance;

  • tickets;

  • hotel reservation and address;

  • flight number and terminal;

  • route to the hotel;

  • transfer contacts;

  • eSIM data and connection instructions;

  • eSIM order confirmation;

  • bank contacts;

  • backup amount and payment method.

Do not store a single copy of the eSIM QR code on the same phone you will use to scan it. For automatic installation, use the link from your personal account or email, if provided; for the manual method, save the connection data in advance.

Checklist before boarding

☐ entry conditions checked for my passport

☐ PAI filled out on the official website

☐ QR code PAI saved offline

☐ arrival terminal noted

☐ transfer terminal checked

☐ Grab installed and number confirmed

☐ card linked or cash payment selected

☐ have some VND

☐ hotel address saved in Vietnamese

☐ hotel entrance point marked on the map

☐ offline map downloaded

☐ translator works offline

☐ eSIM installed considering activation moment

☐ clear which SIM is responsible for mobile internet

Vietnam does not start with searching for Wi-Fi and negotiating with a random driver. If documents, address, Grab, and mobile internet are prepared in advance, after landing, you only need to go through control, turn on communication, and build the route.

You can view current eSIM packages for Vietnam in the catalog eSIM.bar. Before purchasing, check the conditions of the selected package and device compatibility.