eSIM for Vietnam: Grab, Zalo and the long road
A Vietnam eSIM covers the whole country, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, on one plan. Adding Cambodia, Laos or Thailand? Take the Asia eSIM. You’ll use most data for Grab, maps and messages with hotels and guides, and signal gets patchy on Ha Long Bay and in the northern mountains.
Which plan
| Trip | Plan |
|---|---|
| Vietnam only | Vietnam |
| Vietnam plus Cambodia, Laos or Thailand | Asia |
| A long trip across Asia and beyond | Global |
Vietnam plan sizes at the time of writing:
| Type | Plan size | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed data | 1 GB | 7 days |
| Fixed data | 2 GB | 15 days |
| Fixed data | 3 GB | 30 days |
| Fixed data | 5 GB | 30 days |
| Fixed data | 10 GB | 30 days |
| Fixed data | 20 GB | 30 days |
| Unlimited, daily high-speed cap on the plan line | ∞ | 5, 7, 10 days |
Plan sizes on sale on 17 October 2026. Prices change with the catalog, so they are shown live on the Vietnam page, not here.
Apps you’ll use
- Grab for cars, motorbike taxis and food, with a fixed price shown before you book.
- Zalo, Vietnam’s most used messaging app. Some hotels, drivers and guides prefer it to WhatsApp. It works over data like any messenger.
- Maps and a translation app with the Vietnamese offline pack downloaded.
On the road
Vietnam is long, and many trips run the length of it by train, bus or plane. Signal is usually good in cities and along the main routes. It gets patchy in a few places:
- Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay: better near the harbour, less reliable among the islands. Download what you need before boarding.
- The northern mountains: around Sapa and on the Ha Giang loop, expect gaps on passes and in valleys. Offline maps and a power bank are essential on a motorbike trip.
- Overnight trains and buses: signal comes and goes; download films and maps beforehand.
If data feels slow, check why travel data is slow before you top up.
How much data
| Data a trip uses | 10 days | 14 days | 21 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maps and messaging | 2.3 GB | 3.2 GB | 4.8 GB |
| Plus socials and photos | 5.8 GB | 8 GB | 12.1 GB |
| Streaming or hotspot | 14.9 GB | 20.9 GB | 31.4 GB |
Our recommender's rates, with 15% headroom added.
City arrival notes: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc. The Vietnam eSIM guide shows the network and the cheapest plan per trip length, from live data.
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked: supported devices.
- Pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or card. Your account is created from the payment.
- Install at home on Wi-Fi. On iPhone it installs from a link; elsewhere you scan the QR code. Both are on the install page and in your receipt. Steps for iPhone and Android.
- When you land, turn on the eSIM line and Data Roaming for it. Validity starts when it first connects in the destination.
Prefer an app? eSIM for Travel by e-sim.net finds the plan, installs it and shows what is left.
Questions
Which eSIM is best for Vietnam?
For Vietnam alone, the Vietnam plan covers the whole country, north to south. If you are adding Cambodia, Thailand or Laos, the Asia eSIM covers them together at the time of writing.
Is an eSIM worth it for Vietnam?
Yes, for most trips. Grab, maps and messages with hotels and tour operators all need data, and you'll spend a lot of time on the road between cities.
Does my eSIM work on a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Often near the harbour and parts of the bay, less reliably further out among the islands. Download what you need before boarding.
What is Zalo and do I need it?
Zalo is Vietnam's most used messaging app. Some hotels, drivers and guides use it instead of WhatsApp. It runs over data, so it works on a travel eSIM.
How much data do I need for two weeks in Vietnam?
About 3.2 GB for maps and messaging, about 8 GB with photos and social apps, and about 21 GB if you stream. These include 15% headroom.