The eSIM cards in Vietnam are surely here to stay. It’s no coincidence that this technology is known as the alternative to roaming. Its size is 90% smaller than a regular nano-SIM card, and manufacturers have introduced this chip directly into the device as they understand it’s the best option for users. Hence the name of “Embedded SIM” and not “electronic SIM” as some think at first.
Travel to Vietnam! It is one of the Asian countries on the rise. Surely it will make you think of visiting Halong Bay, the mountains of Sapa, or the beach of Nha Trang, but you must not forget Ho Chi Minh City, the old Saigon with the Cathedral of Notre Dame, are places that you can not miss and what better experience to be in these places with the best internet connection! To have internet there are multiple options such as; SIM cards, activate roaming, rent a Pocket Wi-Fi, or buying the new eSIM cards to travel to Vietnam.
Do not worry if you do not know how virtual cards called eSIM work, in Roami we will tell you everything you need to know about eSIM in Vietnam, international operators, local eSIM, its features, requirements, rates, so you save time and money.
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What you should know about the eSIM Vietnam card:
Before buying your eSIM card you must keep in mind the requirements. Why? It is very important that you know the details, because, since this technology is so recent, there are cell phones that are not yet compatible. Therefore, we suggest you review the following list.
- You must have a cell phone compatible with eSIM: in addition to that, check that your cell phone is supported by the operator or eSIM card provider. We anticipate that the iPhone XR or more recent versions are preferred by the companies providing the virtual SIM.
- It is essential to have an email address to register and receive your eSIM.
- It is important that you have an internet connection: your eSIM profile will be downloaded from the operator’s servers after scanning the QR code or installation code.
- Some providers will ask you to install their App to download the eSIM.
Cellular eSIM card providers for travel to Vietnam
After knowing the list of the main requirements, we can see which companies provide the eSIM card. Knowing which providers are available in the market we can compare their rates and purchase your eSIM according to your need to connect to the Internet in Vietnam. These are companies that sell international eSIM cards intended for use in your tourism or business trips abroad. They are listed below:
- Holafly
- Gigsky
- Au by KDDI
- SIM2Fly
Rates and data plans from eSIM providers for travel to Vietnam
Then you can compare and choose the rate and data plan that best suits your budget. For this reason, we have listed the providers that offer different rates and plans to travel to Vietnam.
Holafly plans and prices in Vietnam:
- Unlimited data for 5 days at $19
- 15 days of unlimited data at $47
- Unlimited data for 20 days at $54
- 30 days of unlimited data at $64
Gigsky rates and prices in Vietnam:
- 1GB for 1 day for $14.99
- 2GB for 15 days for $26.99
- 3GB for 30 days at $36.99
Au by KDDI plans and rates for Vietnam:
- 5GB for 30 days at $53
- 8GB for 30 days at $81
TravelSIM prices and rates for Vietnam:
- 500MB for 30 days at 1$9
- 1GB for 30 days at $25
- 2GB for 30 days at $41
- 3GB for 30 days at $59
- 5GB for 30 days at $93
Comparison of eSIM providers for Vietnam
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | Support | Sales channels |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 5 | 19USD | Spanish, English, German and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 15 | 47USD | Spanish, English, German and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 20 | 54USD | Spanish, English, German and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 30 | 64USD | Spanish, English, German and French | Web |
| Gigsky | 1GB | 1 | 14.99USD | English | App Store, Google Play |
| Gigsky | 2GB | 15 | 26.99USD | English | App Store, Google Play |
| Gigsky | 3GB | 30 | 36.99USD | English | App Store, Google Play |
| Au by KDDI | 5GB | 30 | 52USD | English, Portuguese | App Store, Google Play |
| Au by KDDI | 8GB | 30 | 81USD | English, Portuguese | App Store, Google Play |
| SIM2Fly | 6GB | 8 | 19USD | English | Web |
| SIM2Fly | 6GB | 15 | 37USD | English | Web |
| TravelSIM | 500MB | 30 | 19USD | Spanish and English | Web |
| TravelSIM | 1GB | 30 | 25USD | Spanish and English | Web |
| TravelSIM | 2GB | 30 | 41USD | Spanish and English | Web |
| TravelSIM | 3GB | 30 | 59USD | Spanish and English | Web |
| TravelSIM | 5GB | 30 | 93 USD | Spanish and English | Web |
Features of eSIMs for travel to Vietnam
A very important fact is to know the features that eSIM cards provide, that is why we have prepared a brief list of the features that you should take into account, since eSIM cards are not the same as physical SIM cards, their requirements are different. Please see the following features:
- Most eSIM cards do not offer analog calls, only data. For voice communication, you can use Apps such as Skype or WhatsApp.
- They can be installed only once, so if you are having issues with your eSIM card; do not remove it from your cellphone, better yet, contact your eSIM provider.
- Some eSIMs set up automatic APNs.
- You can add several data plans on your iPhone, this depends on the available memory, although it is only possible to use one at a time.
- You can buy plans with unlimited data, so you won’t have to worry about running out of data.
- Back to your dual SIM iPhone, you can keep your local SIM when you travel to Vietnam. Remember to configure your iPhone to avoid surprise bills.
eSIM coverage for travel to Vietnam
Why do we need to know the coverage in Vietnam? It is of utmost importance that you know the coverage that your eSIM will offer you. You may be acquiring a very cheap eSIM card but that does not provide good coverage in Vietnam, since the eSIM cards that will offer you better network coverage on your trip to Vietnam are those that have more roaming agreements with major operators such as Viettel, Vinaphone, Vietnamobile or Mobifone. We show you the following coverage maps of the main operators.
Viettel 3G coverage map in Vietnam
Vinaphone’s 3G network coverage in Vietnam
Mobifone 3G coverage map in Vietnam
Local cellular operators offering eSIM in Vietnam
We show you a brief list of local cellphone operators, what you should keep in mind is that this list of operators is intended for permanent residents and not for travelers, although there are exceptions.
- Viettel
- Vinaphone
- Vietnamobile
- Mobifone
Frequently asked questions about eSIM in Vietnam
We answer the most common questions you may have before purchasing your eSIM to travel to Vietnam.
It is not necessary to present a passport, some suppliers do require your address.
Some eSIMs allow you to share your data with other devices. However, we recommend that you check with the provider’s customer service.
After installing the virtual SIM profile, select it as the default cellular medium, turn on data and roaming and your virtual SIM should work!
Yes, just like physical cards, virtual SIM cards also have an expiration date.
