Vietnam travel guide: mobile data, networks and what's on

What the network is actually like

Good in the cities, along the coast road and in most towns in the northern hills, with gaps on the high passes. On Ha Long Bay it depends where the boat anchors. Vietnam's link to the rest of the internet runs through a few undersea cables. One breaks most years, and overseas sites and apps are slow for weeks until it's fixed, wifi included.

This eSIM: up to 3G, 4G, 5G, onViettel Mobile, Vinaphone, MobiFone. Each plan on the Vietnam page says which of these it uses.

How much data you'll need

8GB for ten days from Hanoi to Saigon, 10GB if you add the north. Get offline maps for the mountain roads.

Recommended: 10GB → closest plan 10GB · 30 days, $13.76.

Where people go

• Hanoi

  Old Quarter streets are named after the goods once sold there. Cross roads at a steady walk.

• Ho Chi Minh City

  Most locals still call it Saigon. Bigger and busier than Hanoi.

• Hoi An

  Small old town of lanterns and tailors. Go early; by dusk it's packed.

• Da Nang

  Beach city with the nearest airport to Hoi An.

• Sapa

  Rice terraces in the far north, overnight from Hanoi. Cold in winter.

What's on

Timings are month-level, because most of these move year to year.

• Tết

  Late January or February

  Nationwide

  Lunar New Year. Transport sells out the week before, then many shops and restaurants close for days.

• Reunification Day and Labour Day

  30 April and 1 May

  Nationwide

  Back-to-back holidays. Beaches near the cities are full.

• Mid-Autumn Festival

  September or early October

  Nationwide; Hoi An and Hanoi's Old Quarter

  Mooncakes and lion dances. It's mostly a children's festival.

• Hoi An lantern night

  Monthly, on the 14th day of the lunar month

  Hoi An old town

  The old town turns its lights down and floats paper lanterns on the river.

Quick answers

Which networks does a Talisim Vietnam eSIM use?

Our Vietnam plans run on Viettel Mobile, Vinaphone, MobiFone, at up to 3G, 4G, 5G; a given plan may use only some of them. Each plan on the Vietnam page lists the networks it uses.

Can I top up a Vietnam eSIM?

Yes. Most Vietnam plans can be topped up with more data and days from your order page until they expire, on the same eSIM with no new QR code.

Does a Vietnam eSIM come with a phone number?

No. Data only: no phone number, calls or texts. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal and iMessage work over data.

How much data do I need for Vietnam?

8GB for ten days from Hanoi to Saigon, 10GB if you add the north. Get offline maps for the mountain roads.

Regional plans that also cover Vietnam

Crossing a border on the same trip? One of these covers the whole route on one eSIM.

Other guides nearby

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