A Vietnam SIM card is a convenient way to stay connected during your trip. Though Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere, mobile data access is sometimes best.  A Vietnam travel SIM card is very cheap and useful. There is no reason not to buy one. Now let Visit Vietnam Tours share everything about it.  Why you need a Vietnam SIM card  A Vietnam SIM card offers many benefits. High-speed internet access: Thanks to Vietnam’s strong network infrastructure, you won’t have to wait long to find what you need. Staying connected: A Vietnam SIM card will give you a seamless connection. Of course, you can connect with Wi-Fi at your hotel, a random restaurant, or a cafeteria. However, there isn’t often free Wi-Fi in public places like parks or the streets. If yes, the signal is quite alarming. In some cases, a no-password Wi-Fi can harm your security or privacy.  Convenience: A Vietnam SIM card is helpful for apps like Grab, Google Maps, or Google Translate when you cannot identify your position or communicate with local people. Besides, you can also make reservations (for tours, at restaurants, etc.) more easily.  Budget-friendly: A local SIM card is much cheaper than international roaming services when traveling abroad.  Where to buy a Vietnam SIM card  On-site At the airport: Buying a physical SIM card at Vietnam’s international airports is said to be the simplest way for foreigners. You can find kiosks selling SIM cards here. Their staff can speak English and help you activate it immediately.  Mobile network operator stores are available across the country. However, they are easier to find in big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, etc. The most popular operators are Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone, etc.  Authorized retailers: Many retailers and convenience stores (like Circle K) in Vietnam are granted a license to sell SIM cards. Famous retail stores such as The Gioi Di Dong, FPT, CellphoneS, and more can be listed.  Online eSIM: Purchasing a Vietnam eSIM online is also convenient for international tourists. Our local telecom suppliers offer these via their websites or mobile apps. You just need to choose a suitable SIM plan, provide some of your identity information, and scan the QR code sent to your email. It will be activated as soon as you land in Vietnam. You don't have to go to a store or wait for delivery.  As eSIM is a new technology, it can be incompatible with old phone models. Thus, you should check before registering an eSIM card.  Booking delivery: You can buy a physical Vietnam SIM card via a mobile store’s official website or a reliable e-commercial platform in Vietnam. Nevertheless, we don’t highly recommend this method as it’s inconvenient. You will have to wait long and activate the SIM yourself, which could be troublesome for a foreigner.  Vietnam SIM card prices  You can choose pre-paid or post-paid cards and a standard SIM or data-only SIM card. A standard Vietnam SIM card costs from 50,000 to 100,000 VND (around $2-4). To use mobile data, you need to register a daily or monthly data package. The price could start at only 5,000 VND/day. Data-only SIM cards can vary from 70,000 VND for one month to more than 1 million dong for a year. It depends on the mobile network operator, data allowance, your demands, and the duration of your trip to Vietnam.  ** Please note that these are current prices when the article is published and are for reference only. However, it’s always affordable to get such a strong internet connection in Vietnam. Best Vietnam SIM card providers  Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone, and Vietnamobile are the top SIM card providers in Vietnam. All have pros and cons. You can choose any of them depending on your needs and budget.  Viettel Viettel is a leading Vietnamese telecommunications corporation. It is considered the best provider with widespread network coverage and high speed. Viettel has the most extensive network, from urban and rural to mountainous areas. That’s why it is often recommended for international visitors.  Recently, Viettel was named the world’s second-strongest telecoms brand by Brand Finance. It earned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 89.4/100. It also often reaches the highest customer satisfaction index in the telecommunications industry.  Vinaphone Vinaphone is not much inferior to Viettel. It also offers robust connectivity, but the coverage is a little smaller than Viettel's. Vinaphone was Vietnam’s Winner at the Speedtest Awards for mobile network speed during Q2 and Q3 2023. Its speed score is 55.87 Mbps, with a median download speed of 53.24 and a median upload speed of 23.39 Mbps. Viettel ranked second with a speed score of 53.51, followed by Mobifone (40.3 Mbps). Mobifone MobiFone provides its customers with pre-paid SIM card plans that are flexibly designed. MobiFone was honored with the Outstanding Telecommunications Service Provider for Online Customer Service Quality award at the World Mobile Broadband & ICT Summit 2023. It has great coverage in the cities. However, if you are planning a trip to remote areas in the countryside or mountains, Mobifone might not be a good choice.  Vietnamobile  Vietnamobile’s services are usually the cheapest but have little to no coverage outside major cities. Therefore, if you travel in a big city and want to save money, Vietnamobile could be an option.  How to activate a Vietnam SIM card eSIM card After purchasing, you will receive the activation instructions from the mobile network operator. Follow them to install and use it.   Physical SIM card If you buy a Vietnam SIM card at the airport or stores, the salesperson will help you insert it into your mobile phone. Then, they will also activate and choose a data plan based on your demand. If it is a nano SIM card, they can adjust the size to fit your phone.   If you have to activate the SIM card yourself, here’s the general guide: Insert the SIM card into the phoneYou may get the provider's activation messages informing you of the phone number, balance, and available services.Identity verification: Some providers may require your additional information.Top-up for pre-paid SIM cards: It can be done with top-up cards or mobile banking. Restart your phone: Sometimes, you need to restart your device if it doesn’t work after you finish the activation.  These are basic things you should know about a Vietnam SIM card. Feel free to ask for help whenever you need it. Just keep in mind that we Vietnamese are very friendly and supportive!