4G in Vietnam - Prepaid SIM Card Infos 2019
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The good news: The quality of Internet availability is generally excellent in Vietnam, both in the cities and in remote locations. In restaurants, hotels & AirBnB’s there are usually WLAN available and even in the rice fields in Sapa or between the hundred rocks of Ha Longs Bay, I always had good 4G, or in the worst case 3G coverage.
4G on Smartphones: Roaming or buying a Vietnamese SIM card?
Even though the WLAN coverage in the city is good, it is very useful for travellers in Vietnam to have a permanent LTE/4G coverage, here are just a few examples:
- Use Google Maps with your scooter in the wilderness if you need to decide to drive the way left or right
- Show the taxi driver an address or location
- General research while traveling
For all those who are in Vietnam for more than a few hours it is better to buy a cheap Vietnamese prepaid sim card!
When and Where to Buy Prepaid SIM
If you arrive by plane at an international airport such as Hanoi or Ho-Chi-Minh-City, you will find at the exit kiosks which, in addition to money exchange and (expensive) taxi services, usually also offer prepaid SIM cards for surfing and/or making phone calls. These cost about 10$ / 10€ / 280.000 VND and offer something between 1GB and 8GB data what should be enough for a few days / short trip.
If you are arriving in a different way or are too stressed at the airport, you can also buy a SIM card easily at any time in the City. You can almost find everywhere mobile phone / computer stores with the advertising “SIM CARD”. Because of legal changes (see below), the SIM card will not be issued in your name. But that’s no problem, because you only want to use the card temporarily.
Attention: Big mobile phone shops no longer sell to tourists
There is an important exception with bigger Stores / mobile phone shop chains like FPT Shop or Thế Giới Di Động:
As a tourist, it is no longer possible to buy a prepaid SIM card on your own, because a Vietnamese passport / ID is required. If you are lucky or go “to a smaller shop at the next corner” the seller simply uses his ID for the registration. Or if possible, ask a local to escort you.
Which provider? I recommend Viettel
There are four Vietnamese mobile phone providers:
Personally, I switched from Mobifone to Viettel and had very good experiences with it. In cities 100% LTE/4G and even in countryside regions at least 3G. There is also an app from Viettel (Google Store / Itunes) to top up credit (can be bought in supermarkets) and to book data packages. TheseApp is unfortunately only available in Vietnamese, but works quite intuitively thanks to the pictograms
Currently the best choice: Viettel Prepaid 60GB / month for ~4$ 😎
Here’s my recommendation if you want very good network coverage and a little more data volume, if you need it or just don’t want to worry:
Viettel currently has a promotion where you get 2GB/day, so 60GB/month for 90,000 VND (currently equivalent to less then 4$). That can be booked as followed:
- Buy a new Viettel SIM card (Don’t work with existing ones)
- Top up at least 90.000VND credit if necessary
- Send SMS with
V90to the191or9123 - To check, send an SMS with
KTTKto the191
That’s it! now you have 60GB/month for 90.000VND. You can also check your Balance / Data left with the Viettel app.
You can cancel by sending HUY V90 to 191.
Note: The V90 package is only available for newly issued SIM cards, not for existing ones. For existing ones or if the promotion is unavailable check the regular data packages below.
Overview of all providers:
Viettel Packages
| Package Name | Data / Month | Price VND | Price EUR | Price $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v90 | 60.0 GB | 90,000 | 3.40 | 3.88 |
| MIMAX70 | 3.0 GB | 70,000 | 2.64 | 3.02 |
| MIMAX90 | 5.0 GB | 90,000 | 3.40 | 3.88 |
| MIMAX125 | 8.0 GB | 125,000 | 4.72 | 5.39 |
| MIMAX200 | 15.0 GB | 200,000 | 7.55 | 8.62 |
| UMAX300 | 30.0 GB | 300,000 | 11.32 | 12.93 |
Viettel data packages
To book a data package with Viettel simply send <Packagename> via SMS to 9123
To cancel send an SMS with HUY to 191
Mobifone Packages
| Package Name | Data / Month | Price VND | Price EUR | Price $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD70 | 3.8 GB | 70,000 | 2.64 | 3.02 |
| HD90 | 5.5 GB | 90,000 | 3.40 | 3.88 |
| HD120 | 8.8 GB | 120,000 | 4.53 | 5.17 |
| HD200 | 16.5 GB | 200,000 | 7.55 | 8.62 |
| HD300 | 33.0 GB | 300,000 | 11.32 | 12.93 |
| HD400 | 44.0 GB | 400,000 | 15.09 | 17.24 |
| HD500 | 55.0 GB | 500,000 | 18.87 | 21.55 |
Mobifone data packages
To book a data package with Viettel simply send DK <Packagename> via SMS to 999
To cancel send an SMS with HUY <Paketnamen> to 999
Vinaphone Packages
| Package Name | Data / Month | Price VND | Price EUR | Price $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK1 BIG70 | 4.8 GB | 70,000 | 2.64 | 3.02 |
| DK1 BIG90 | 7.0 GB | 90,000 | 3.40 | 3.88 |
| DK1 BIG120 | 12.0 GB | 120,000 | 4.53 | 5.17 |
| DK1 BIG200 | 22.0 GB | 200,000 | 7.55 | 8.62 |
| DK1 BIG300 | 36.0 GB | 300,000 | 11.32 | 12.93 |
Vinaphone data packages
To book a data package with Viettel simply send DK <Packagename> via SMS to 888
To cancel send an SMS with HUY <Paketnamen> to 888
Vietnamobile Packages
| Package Name | Data / Month | Price VND | Price EUR | Price $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M10 | 1.0 GB | 10,000 | 0.38 | 0.43 |
| M25 | 2.0 GB | 25,000 | 0.94 | 1.08 |
| M40 | 4.0 GB | 40,000 | 1.51 | 1.72 |
| M70 | 8.0 GB | 70,000 | 2.64 | 3.02 |
| M90 | 12.0 GB | 90,000 | 3.40 | 3.88 |
| M125 | 20.0 GB | 120,000 | 4.53 | 5.17 |
| M200 | 40.0 GB | 200,000 | 7.55 | 8.62 |
Vietnamobile data packages
To book a data package with Viettel simply send DK <Packagename> via SMS to 345
To cancel send an SMS with HUY <Packagename> to 345
How to top up your credit:
The easiest way to top up e.g. your Viettel prepaid card is to buy a prepaid scratch cards/code at the local supermarkets. These are available in different amounts (100.000VND, 200.000VND, 300.000VND). Depending on the provider, the code can then easily be charged by SMS and/or App.