Vietnam eSIM providers at a glance

ProviderDataDurationPriceHotspot
Airalo Top pick1 – 20 GB7 – 30 days$4.50 – $22YesDetails →
Yesim Cheapest1 – Unlimited3 – 30 days$1.50 – $55YesDetails →
Saily1 – 20 GB7 – 30 days$3.49 – $20YesDetails →
DrimsimPay-as-you-goNo expiry~$3.00/GBYesDetails →

Starting prices shown. Plans and pricing change — verify on Airalo, Yesim, Saily, or Drimsim before purchasing.

Detailed provider reviews for Vietnam

Airalo

Recommended

Airalo connects to Viettel — Vietnam's largest carrier with the widest coverage, including rural areas and mountainous regions in the north. For travelers going beyond Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Airalo's Viettel coverage provides the best reliability.

1 GB
$4.50 · 7 days
3 GB
$7.50 · 15 days
5 GB
$10.00 · 30 days
10 GB
$15.00 · 30 days
20 GB
$22.00 · 30 days
Pros
  • Viettel network — best coverage across Vietnam
  • Works in rural areas and Ha Long Bay
  • Very affordable plans for Vietnam
  • Regional Asia eSIM covers Vietnam + neighbors
  • Hotspot on all plans
Cons
  • Not the cheapest per GB (Yesim is cheaper)
  • 1 GB plan too small for most trips
  • No unlimited option for Vietnam
  • 5G limited to major cities only
Visit Airalo →

Yesim

Best price

Yesim offers the lowest per-GB rates for Vietnam — as low as $0.40/GB on larger plans. For backpackers and budget travelers exploring Vietnam for weeks, this is the cheapest way to stay connected with generous data allowances.

1 GB
$1.50 · 3 days
5 GB
$5.50 · 14 days
10 GB
$9.00 · 30 days
Unlimited
$24.00 · 7 days
Pros
  • Lowest per-GB pricing for Vietnam
  • Unlimited plans available
  • Excellent value for backpackers
  • Real-time data monitoring
Cons
  • Coverage may be weaker in remote northern mountains
  • Smaller user base for Vietnam specifically
  • Fair usage cap on unlimited
  • Network partner less transparent
Visit Yesim →

Saily

Privacy-focused

Saily provides Vietnam plans with NordVPN security features — particularly useful given Vietnam's internet censorship and monitoring. The ad blocker and web protection add genuine value for privacy-conscious travelers.

1 GB
$3.49 · 7 days
3 GB
$7.49 · 30 days
5 GB
$10.99 · 30 days
20 GB
$19.99 · 30 days
Pros
  • Privacy features valuable in Vietnam's internet environment
  • Ad blocking improves browsing experience
  • Competitive pricing for Vietnam
  • NordVPN security pedigree
Cons
  • Coverage in 150+ countries (fewer than Airalo)
  • Newer in Vietnam market
  • 30-day activation window
  • No unlimited option
Visit Saily →

Drimsim

Pay-as-you-go

Drimsim works across Vietnam at ~$3/GB. Useful as a backup for multi-country Southeast Asia trips — one balance covers Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos without switching eSIMs.

Pay-as-you-go
~$3.00/GB in Vietnam
No expiry
Balance never expires
Pros
  • One balance for all SE Asian countries
  • No plan management needed
  • Good backup eSIM
  • Balance never expires
Cons
  • $3/GB expensive vs Yesim's $0.40/GB
  • No bulk discounts
  • Basic app
  • Not suitable as primary data
Visit Drimsim →

How much data do you need in Vietnam?

Vietnam has widespread free Wi-Fi in hotels, hostels, cafes, and many restaurants. However, speeds vary wildly and public networks are often insecure. Mobile data is essential for Grab (the dominant ride-hailing app), navigation, and translation.

Our recommendation: For a 2-week backpacking trip (maps, Grab, messaging, social media): 5–10 GB total. Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries for eSIM data, so there's no reason to skimp.

Light user (maps, messaging): 1–3 GB/week. Yesim 1 GB ($1.50).

Moderate user (Grab, social media, photos): 5–10 GB/2 weeks. Yesim 10 GB ($9).

Heavy user (remote work): Unlimited. Yesim unlimited ($24/7 days).

Network coverage in Vietnam

Vietnam has three major networks: Viettel (largest), Mobifone, and VinaPhone. Viettel dominates with the widest coverage, including mountainous northern provinces and rural Mekong Delta areas.

4G coverage is strong in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and all major tourist destinations. Ha Long Bay has decent coverage. Sapa and northern mountain areas have improving but occasionally patchy coverage.

Note: Vietnam's 5G is rolling out in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Most eSIM plans use 4G which delivers 15–50 Mbps — sufficient for all travel needs.

Tips for using an eSIM in Vietnam

Install before you fly. Vietnamese airport SIM vendors are cheap but require registration. An eSIM saves time and works instantly at Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat airports.

Grab is essential. Grab (ride-hailing) is the safest and most reliable transport in Vietnam. It requires data — budget accordingly.

Download Google Translate offline. Vietnamese is tonal and hard to read. Camera translation helps enormously with menus and signs.

Internet note: Vietnam restricts some websites and social media platforms intermittently. A VPN can help — Saily includes built-in web protection, or use a separate VPN app alongside your eSIM.

Consider a regional Asia plan. If combining Vietnam with Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos, regional plans from Airalo are often cheaper than buying per-country.

Frequently asked questions

For the lowest prices, Yesim is unbeatable — starting at $1.50 for 1 GB. For the most reliable coverage (especially outside cities), Airalo on the Viettel network is the safer choice.
Yes. Ha Long Bay has decent 4G coverage from Viettel and Mobifone. Signal may weaken in remote cave areas, but most cruise itinerary locations have coverage.
Prices are comparable. Local SIMs are very cheap ($3–5 for 30GB), but eSIMs save time and hassle. The price difference is minimal, and eSIMs win on convenience.
Yes. Grab works normally with eSIM data. You can use your existing Grab account from other Southeast Asian countries.
Vietnam occasionally restricts access to some social media and news sites. A VPN can help — Saily includes built-in web protection, or use a separate VPN alongside your data eSIM.
Vietnam is cheap for data, so get more than you think you need. 5–10 GB covers 2 weeks of moderate use. Yesim's 10 GB plan is just $9 — one of the best deals available.