Compares Viettel, the MobiFone Travel eSIM, airport tourist SIMs, the international Saily eSIM and roaming for Vietnam. Viettel from an official store offers the best coverage and value (e.g. 60,000 VND 7-day plans), while an eSIM activated before departure is the easiest option for short trips and the first minutes after landing.
- Viettel has the strongest coverage, including in the mountains, and often the best value.
- Buy from an official operator counter or store, not the first reseller - airport SIMs carry a markup.
- A Viettel 7-day bundle (e.g. 5G60T/5G60H) is around 60,000 VND at an official store.
- For a month, a Viettel 30-day plan (5G120H/5G150T/5G180H) is the recommended default.
- For a short trip, an international eSIM such as Saily avoids any store visit.
- A passport is required to register a local SIM/eSIM.
- At airports, use the operator's official counter in arrivals (Viettel at HAN T2 and SGN).
Comparison table
| Option | Typical price | Data / validity | Coverage and speed | Hotspot | Phone number | Passport registration | Where to buy | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official city Viettel SIM/eSIM | e.g. 60k VND for 7 days (5G60T 5 GB/day or 5G60H 15 GB total), 120k - 180k VND for 30 days depending on plan | 7–30 days | Opensignal testing rates Viettel the strongest network for coverage/consistency; Reddit reports confirm better signal even in the mountains | yes / usually yes | yes with a local SIM/eSIM | yes, official materials mention the need for a valid passport | official Viettel airport kiosk or an authorized/official store | best coverage, often the best price/performance too |
| MobiFone Travel eSIM | the official travel program advertises 1 free eSIM / 30 days per passport; exact campaign parameters may change | promo / per campaign | good in cities, but trails Viettel in coverage | not clearly documented | the eSIM may carry a local profile depending on the offer | yes, tied to your passport | online / official travel landing page | easiest if the promo is active, but verify before departure |
| Airport tourist SIM | experience from HAN/SGN suggests roughly 200k - 350k VND for tourist bundles; usually pricier than in town | usually 7–30 days | depends on the operator; best to stick to Viettel/Vina/MobiFone | often yes | usually yes | yes | arrival hall, airport counter/kiosk | fastest physical purchase, but often with a markup |
| International eSIM (Saily) | 3.99 USD / 1 GB / 7 days up to 28.99 USD / 20 GB / 30 days; daily-cap plans from 18.99 USD | 1–20 GB / 7–30 days, or 5 GB a day | works the moment you land, but tends to cost more than a local SIM | tethering allowed; data-only | no local Vietnamese number | no eKYC | buy before departure, activate via QR | easiest option for the first minutes after landing |
| Roaming with your home operator | depends on your home operator | depends on your plan | depends on the partner network | mostly yes | you keep your number | no local registration | nothing to buy | emergency backup only, not a recommended default |
The comparison rests on official Viettel and MobiFone materials, Opensignal measurements, and fresh Reddit reports from travelers on airport vs. city prices.
Practical recommendation by length of stay
- 3 days: an international eSIM, or any activation before departure. Local tourist plans often start at 7 days, so on a three-day trip you are not playing for the lowest absolute price but for zero stress after landing. Saily lists a 1 GB/7 day Vietnam bundle at 3.99 USD, with a 5 GB/day plan at 18.99 USD for five days if you need more.
- 7 days: Viettel at an official store. A quasi-official overview lists 5G60T and 5G60H at 60,000 VND - exactly the case where an airport "tourist SIM" mostly buys you a convenience markup. Reddit posts from 2026 put it bluntly: "go to an official store, not the airport".
- 30 days: Viettel again, if your priority is coverage and minimal trouble outside the big cities. Official and semi-official materials show 5G120H, 5G150T and 5G180H with 30-day validity. Staying in a city and wanting maximum simplicity, the MobiFone Travel eSIM or a 20 GB Saily plan are worth considering - but purely on the numbers Viettel wins on coverage.
Where exactly to buy
- At airports, use the operators' official counters in arrivals, not the first reseller you pass. Viettel's own materials list a presence in HAN T2 arrivals and in the SGN international arrival hall after baggage claim.
- In the cities, the best-documented are the MobiFone store locator and the VNPT/VinaPhone store locator. For Viettel the safest route is official channels or maps - a tourist-friendly public locator is harder to find than MobiFone's or VNPT's.
Quick verdict
- Cheapest - an official city store, ideally Viettel.
- Easiest - an eSIM activated before you board.
- Best coverage - Viettel.
- Best for 3 days - a Saily eSIM or another profile bought before departure.
- Best for 7 days - a Viettel 7-day bundle from an official store.
- Best for 30 days - a Viettel 30-day bundle, or a local eSIM from an official channel.
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