What is important to know before choosing an eSIM for Vietnam
- Local SIM in Vietnam usually requires registration
Official tourist eSIM/SIM for foreigners typically requires registration with documentation. Viettel's official materials for tourists state that prepaid SIM and eSIM must be registered to an individual, and the original passport is needed for registration.
- eSIM is especially convenient if you need internet right after arrival
In Vietnam, tourist SIMs from local operators are often sold at the airport or at official sales points. This means that eSIM is best perceived as a way to prepare connectivity in advance and avoid wasting time on SIM registration on-site.
- For Vietnam, it's important to look not only at the volume but also at the package logic
Local packages often feature the format “X GB per day”, rather than just a single total volume for the entire trip. For example, VNPT/VinaPhone offers packages for 3, 7, 15, and 30 days with daily traffic limits. For tourists, this is an important local specificity: it’s better to choose a tariff based on the trip duration and daily usage rather than just the total number of gigabytes.
- Coverage in Vietnam is generally good, but the route matters
The ministry reported that 4G already covers 99.8% of the population, but in remote and hard-to-reach areas, coverage is still being improved. Therefore, for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and popular tourist areas, the internet is usually more predictable than in mountainous and remote routes.
- 5G is already available in Vietnam, but it is not the main selection criterion
Viettel officially launched 5G in October 2024; at the start, the network covered the capitals of all 63 provinces and cities, as well as tourist areas, airports, and other key points. For a landing page about Vietnam, it makes more sense to focus on the duration and volume of traffic, while mentioning 5G as an additional benefit where available.
Payment
Payment is accepted in Russian rubles (RUB): via SBP instant transfers, Mir, Visa, MasterCard and UnionPay cards (including international ones), Tinkoff Pay, Yandex Pay.
Setup and activation
You can install the eSIM at home in advance (Wi-Fi or another SIM's internet needed): via the «My eSIM» dashboard or the QR code from the email. After landing in Vietnam, just pick the eSIM for mobile data and enable data roaming.
More on installation and activation: guide.