FairSIM eSIM for Vietnam
In Vietnam the phone settles the price before the argument starts. Grab and Xanh SM fix the fare before you get in, the e-visa arrives by email, hotels reply on WhatsApp and Zalo, and the sleeper bus to Sapa is booked from a café.
A FairSIM eSIM for Vietnam runs on Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone or Vietnamobile at the wholesale rate. Vietnam's mobile networks are now among the fastest in the world, with a national median around 160 Mbps in late 2025, so a 5G iPhone will feel quicker than at home.
Local SIMs are famously cheap, but every one is registered to a passport and, at Viettel, a portrait photo taken at the counter. The eSIM is installed before you fly and switched on when the plane lands at Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat.
- CarriersViettel
- CompatibilityCheck if eSIM is available on your phone
- No days lostPurchase now, data will start when you arrive
Vietnam eSIM plans
Plan starts: On first data use
Coverage in Vietnam
- 4G LTE5G
Viettel
The largest network and the one to have in the mountains. Launched Vietnam's first commercial 5G in October 2024 and posted a 165 Mbps median download in Ookla's first-half 2025 report. Best coverage on the Ha Giang loop.
- 4G LTE5G
Vinaphone (VNPT)
Second network, 5G since December 2024, and Ookla's most consistent Vietnamese operator in 2025. Strong in cities and along the coast.
- 4G LTE5G
MobiFone
Third network, 5G since 2025, cheap at home but the weakest in the northern highlands.
- 4G LTE5G
Vietnamobile
The smaller fourth network, as a fallback in the cities.
4G nationwide, 5G in every provincial capital, airport and main tourist site since 2024 and 2025
Typical speed: About 160 Mbps median download nationally (Ookla, October 2025), third in Southeast Asia and inside the global top 20.
Excellent in Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, good along Highway 1 and in the Mekong Delta. Gaps on the Ha Giang and Cao Bang loops between Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Lung Cu, and out among the karst of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay. Viettel holds signal longest.
How much data do you need in Vietnam?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
North to south classic: Hanoi, Ha Long, Hoi An, Saigon
Two weeks down the coast by train, bus and a domestic flight.
Why data matters: Grab at every airport, e-tickets for trains and sleeper buses, Google Translate camera for menus, and hotel chats on WhatsApp and Zalo.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Motorbike loops: Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Hai Van Pass
Three to five days of mountain passes with an easy rider or your own bike.
Why data matters: Offline maps for the dead zones, weather checks, location sharing with the group, and photos from Ma Pi Leng when signal returns. Choose a Viettel-hosted plan.
- 7 days
- 3 GB
- 14 days
- 7 GB
- 30 days
- 15 GB
Digital nomad in Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City
Weeks or months of remote work from cafés and coworking spaces.
Why data matters: Hotspot backup for video calls, cloud sync, banking, and a plan that tops up in the app without another passport registration.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
City break: Hanoi or Saigon long weekend
Street food, museums and rooftop bars in four days.
Why data matters: Grab and Xanh SM, food tour bookings, translation, and maps through the old quarter's alleys.
- 7 days
- 3 GB
- 14 days
- 7 GB
- 30 days
- 15 GB
Beach and family: Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc
Resort-based with day trips and kids on transfers.
Why data matters: Transfers and tours booked in apps, streaming for the children, and one plan per phone managed from a single app.
- 7 days
- 8 GB
- 14 days
- 15 GB
- 30 days
- 30 GB
Overland across Indochina
Vietnam, then Cambodia and Laos by bus through Moc Bai or Lao Bao.
Why data matters: Bus and border timing, hostel bookings and group chats that keep working when you cross, if you pick the Asia regional plan.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
What your home carrier charges in Vietnam
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for Vietnam start at $5.99 and never bill per day.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per line per day, 5 GB of high-speed data per day then slower speeds | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line, $6 for each additional line, charged only on the days you use it | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| T-Mobile International Pass (US) | $10 for 1 day and 2 GB, $50 for 10 days and 15 GB, $75 for 30 days and 30 GB | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Vodafone UK | £8 per day, £6 on plans started before 11 August 2021 | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Rogers (Canada) | C$18 per day with Roam Like Home | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Orange (France) | Connexion 24h at €8.99 per day, or a Pass Voyage from €9.99 for 3 days; €13.31 per MB without either | from $5.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
Three steps between you and the internet abroad. Nothing to pick up at the airport.
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for Vietnam
Apply for the e-visa only at evisa.gov.vn. It is US$25 for single entry, valid up to 90 days, and takes 3 to 5 working days. Many European passports get 45 days visa-free.
Install Grab before you land and pay in the app. Airport taxis quoting a flat price are the classic overcharge.
Riding the Ha Giang loop? Choose a Viettel-hosted plan, download offline maps and share your location with your group; the app shows the network.
Hoi An floods most Octobers and Novembers. Check the forecast before booking the old town.
Trains and buses sell out around Tet. Book on Vexere or 12Go weeks ahead.
Heading on to Thailand or Malaysia? The Asia regional plan covers both. Cambodia and Laos are not on it, so buy their single-country plans in the app before the Moc Bai or Lao Bao crossing.
A 5G iPhone gets real 5G in every provincial capital now. Budget more data than you expect; fast networks burn it faster.
Keep your home SIM on for SMS codes with data roaming off. The eSIM has no Vietnamese number.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi is everywhere in Vietnam: cafés, hotels, hostels, even sleeper buses, and it is usually quick in cities. It fails on the road, on Ha Long boats and in the mountains, which is exactly when you need a map.
Local SIM card or eSIM in Vietnam?
Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone kiosks in the arrivals halls at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and Da Nang sell tourist packs from roughly ₫60,000 for a week to ₫150,000 to ₫200,000 for a month (US$2.50 to US$8), some of the cheapest mobile data anywhere. Airport bundles run 20 to 30% above city shops.
Every Vietnamese SIM must be registered to a passport, and Viettel takes a portrait photo as well, so the kiosk queue crawls when three flights land together. Unregistered SIMs get cut off. A FairSIM eSIM is bought and installed at home, needs no passport at a counter, and is topped up from the app rather than with scratch cards.
Vietnam eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Vietnam?
Yes. Unlocked eSIM phones connect to Viettel or Vinaphone 4G and 5G networks across the country with a travel eSIM.
Which Vietnamese network will I get?
FairSIM plans for Vietnam use Viettel, the largest network with the best mountain coverage, Vinaphone, MobiFone or Vietnamobile. The app shows the network for each plan.
Do I get 5G in Vietnam?
Yes, on a 5G phone. Viettel launched 5G in October 2024 and Vinaphone in December 2024, covering every provincial capital, airport and major tourist site. Elsewhere you get fast 4G.
Can I hotspot my laptop?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot, with no separate cap. Nomads in Da Nang should budget an extra 1 to 2 GB a day for it.
When should I install the eSIM?
Install at home on Wi-Fi and enable the line after landing. Validity typically starts on the first connection in Vietnam.
Do WhatsApp and Zalo calls work?
Yes, over data. The eSIM has no Vietnamese number, so keep your home SIM active for SMS codes.
How much data do I need for two weeks in Vietnam?
Around 10 GB for maps, Grab, translation and photos; 20 GB or more if you stream or work remotely.
Is a local SIM better than an eSIM in Vietnam?
Local SIMs are very cheap, but each one is registered to your passport at a counter and unregistered SIMs are cut off. The eSIM skips the queue and tops up in the app.
Will the eSIM work on the Ha Giang loop?
In the towns, yes; on the passes between Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Lung Cu every network drops for long stretches. Viettel holds on longest, so pick a Viettel-hosted plan and download offline maps.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
