Best eSIM for Vietnam in 2026: 8 Options Compared

Gohub sells Vietnam eSIMs, so we have a stake in this comparison. Competitor and local SIM prices are copied from their own websites, and we say where another option does better.

For most visitors, the best eSIM for Vietnam is a cheap daily-data plan that works the moment you land, with no passport check. Gohub's Unlimited plan costs $3.69 for 7 days, with 6 GB a day at full speed on the Vinaphone network. If you are heading to the northern mountains, pick a plan on Viettel, the network with the widest coverage.

Quick picks (Gohub prices on October 8, 2026)

Check that your phone supports eSIM · Choose your Vietnam plan

Vietnam eSIM comparison: Gohub vs Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Ubigi and local SIMs

For a one-week trip, Gohub's Unlimited plan was the cheapest data-only option we checked. Holafly charges $27.50 for a week of unlimited data, and Airalo's cheapest unlimited plan is $34.50 for 10 days. Local tourist SIMs are also good value and include call minutes, but you must register with your passport and a face check.

Where each one wins, and the catch

• Gohub: the lowest price for daily data, hotspot allowed and no registration. Plans come with a Vietnamese number for data. The catch: no call minutes, and the Unlimited plan runs on Vinaphone, not Viettel.
• Airalo: a well-known app with small plans from $4. The catch: unlimited data slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day, and the shortest unlimited plan is 10 days.
• Holafly: true unlimited data, so there is nothing to count. The catch: $27.50 a week, and hotspot is limited to 1 GB a day.
• Nomad: a choice of three networks and hotspot allowed. The catch: unlimited data drops to 512 kbps after the daily allowance.
• Ubigi: a simple 10 GB plan that lasts a month, with hotspot allowed. The catch: no daily or unlimited option on its Vietnam page.
• Local tourist SIMs: lots of data and real call minutes. The catch: passport and face verification, and a kiosk queue if you buy at the airport.

How we compared

On October 8, 2026, we checked each provider's public Vietnam page and the carriers' official tourist pages, using the price shown without discount codes. Dollar figures for local SIMs use about 26,000 VND to 1 USD. We have not run our own speed tests on competitor plans. Saily is not included because we could not load its Vietnam prices.

eSIM or local SIM in Vietnam?

Choose an eSIM if you want to be online the moment you land and skip registration. Choose a local tourist SIM if you need to make local phone calls, for example to book tours or call drivers.

• Registration. Since April 15, 2026, every Vietnamese subscriber must verify their identity with a face photo, and foreign passport holders are matched against the national immigration database (Tuoi Tre). Unverified lines are blocked. Gohub's Vietnam plans need no registration.
• Where to buy. Viettel sells tourist SIMs at kiosks in the arrival halls of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang airports. You need your physical passport and a live selfie. MobiFone sells a tourist eSIM on its travel page.
• Your home number. An eSIM leaves your home SIM in the phone, so bank codes and calls still reach you. Swapping in a local SIM card removes it unless your phone has two slots.

Which network works where

Vietnam has three main networks: Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone. Viettel won or shared all 10 awards in Opensignal's August 2026 report, with MobiFone close behind. Viettel launched commercial 5G in October 2024, mainly in big cities.

Coverage notes are summarised from Vietnam Tourism and published traveller guides.

Gohub Vietnam eSIM plans

All Gohub Vietnam plans allow hotspot, need no registration and come with 24/7 support on WhatsApp. Prices are from the Gohub Vietnam page on October 8, 2026.

Unlimited: best value for most trips

Vinaphone 4G. 6 GB a day at full speed, then unlimited at 5 Mbps, which is still fine for maps, messaging and standard-definition video. The 6 GB refills at 11 p.m. Vietnam time.

See Gohub Unlimited plans

Viettel 5 GB per day: best for the northern mountains

Viettel 4G and 5G, the network with the widest coverage. 5 GB a day at full speed. When you use it up, data stops until the next day rather than slowing down.

See Gohub Viettel plans

Other Gohub plans. Gohub also sells 3 GB-per-day plans (from $5.60 for 3 days) and fixed plans such as 10 GB for 7 days ($9.10). For most trips the Unlimited plan gives more data for less.

Apps to set up before you fly

• Grab is the main app for rides, airport pickups and food delivery. Sign up before you leave, using your home number, so the verification code arrives while your home SIM is on.
• Zalo is the messaging app most Vietnamese hotels, guides and drivers use. Set it up with your home number before the trip too.
• Offline maps. Download Google Maps areas for the mountains, Ha Long Bay and Phong Nha.

How to set up your Vietnam eSIM

1. Check your phone. iPhone XR, XS and later support eSIM, as do most recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. The phone must be unlocked, meaning not tied to your home carrier.
2. Install at home or at your hotel, on Wi-Fi. Airport Wi-Fi works but can be slow. Scan the QR code from your email:
   • iPhone: Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Add eSIM. On iOS 17.4 and later you can also long-press the QR code.
   • Google Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add eSIM.
   • Samsung Galaxy: Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM.
   Your phone may show the new line as "SkySim". That is normal.
3. Set it as your data line. Name it "Vietnam" and choose it for mobile data. Keep your home SIM on for calls and bank codes.
4. Turn on Data Roaming for the Vietnam eSIM when you land. This costs nothing extra because the plan is prepaid. Leave Data Roaming off on your home SIM so your home carrier cannot charge you.

Timing and usage tips:

• Unlimited and Viettel plans start counting days when they first connect in Vietnam, so you can install them a few days early.
• 3 GB-per-day plans start counting as soon as you install them, so install them on the day you fly.
• Check your data: on the Unlimited plan, text KT DATA to 5596. On the Viettel plan, text KTTK to 191, and dial *101# to see your number.

No signal after landing?

1. Check that Data Roaming is on for the Vietnam eSIM.
2. Check that the Vietnam eSIM is selected for mobile data.
3. Turn Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds, then off.
4. On the Unlimited plan, check the APN, the data setting name in your mobile data settings. It should be m9-wintel.
5. Still nothing? Message Gohub on WhatsApp with your order number. Support is open 24/7. If they cannot fix it within an hour, Gohub provides a replacement eSIM or another solution (replacement policy).

FAQ

What is the best eSIM for Vietnam?

For most trips, Gohub's Unlimited plan was the cheapest we found, with 6 GB a day at full speed. For the northern mountains, a Viettel plan gives better coverage. If you need local call minutes, a MobiFone or Viettel tourist SIM is the better pick.

Does an eSIM work in Vietnam?

Yes. Travel eSIMs connect to Vietnamese networks such as Viettel and Vinaphone and work wherever that network has signal.

Do I need a Vietnamese number for Grab or Zalo?

Sign up for both before the trip with your home number, so the verification code reaches your home SIM. After that, they work on your eSIM data.

How much data do I need?

Maps, Grab, Zalo and social media use up to about 1 GB a day. Video calls and streaming use 2 GB or more. Gohub's Unlimited plan gives 6 GB a day, which covers almost everyone.

Can I use one eSIM for Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand?

Gohub's Asia and Southeast Asia plans do not currently include Vietnam or Cambodia, so buy a Vietnam plan for that part of the trip. Several country plans can be installed on the same phone.

Can I keep WhatsApp and my home number?

Yes. WhatsApp keeps working on your eSIM data, and your home SIM stays on for calls and SMS codes.

Get your Vietnam eSIM before you fly

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