Vietnam eSIM for Filipinos: Plans, Networks and Setup

Pho sa Hanoi, banh mi sa Hoi An, o baka Ho Chi Minh City muna bago tumawid sa Cambodia. Vietnam is a short, budget-friendly hop from Manila, and you'll want data the moment you land for Grab, maps and messaging. This guide covers the main options, the networks behind them and how to set up before the flight.

We checked travel eSIM listings on 29 October 2026. Prices and plans change, so open the seller's page before you pay.

TravelESIM.ph is an independent guide run by Dominet BV. We're not a mobile network, telco or eSIM seller, and we don't sell or activate SIMs. Some links on this site may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them. eSIM brands and telcos we mention may not pay us anything. That never changes what we write. Read our affiliate disclosure. No brand on this page paid to be included or reviewed it before publishing.

Your options in Vietnam

1. A travel eSIM bought before you fly, from brands like Airalo, Klook, KKday, Holafly, Saily, Nomad or Ubigi.
2. A local SIM bought after you arrive.
3. Roaming on your Globe, Smart, DITO or GOMO number.
4. Pocket wifi rented before the trip.

For most travellers with eSIM phones, a travel eSIM installed at home is the least stressful: you land, switch off airplane mode and you're online. If you're travelling as a group with one shared connection, see eSIM vs pocket wifi.

We didn't verify the rules or prices for local SIMs bought in Vietnam, so we don't cover them in detail here. If you go that route, buy from an official telco shop or counter and bring your passport.

VNPT or Viettel: which network?

The travel eSIMs we checked named one of two Vietnamese networks:

• VNPT. Airalo's Vietnam eSIM ("Xin Chao") listed VNPT with 5G.
• Viettel. Klook's Vietnam eSIM listing named Viettel.

We haven't tested speeds and can't tell you which network is better in every province. The point is to buy a plan that names its network, then check that network's coverage for your route. If you're heading to mountain areas such as Sapa or Ha Giang, or islands, coverage matters more than the price.

Example plans as listed on 29 October 2026

A few anchors only. Check the live page before you buy.

Airalo Vietnam (VNPT):

• 1GB for 3 days, US$4
• 5GB for 30 days, US$11
• 10GB for 30 days, US$18

Airalo's unlimited plans for Japan and Taiwan, which we checked the same day, listed a "lower speed rate of 1 Mbps after 3 GB usage per day". If you pick an unlimited Vietnam plan from any seller, look for the same kind of line on the package.

Klook Vietnam (Viettel): Klook listed data-only eSIMs from 1 to 30 days. Check the package for daily caps.

KKday: listed multi-country Asia eSIMs that included Vietnam, and a Southeast Asia plan covering five countries. Read which five before buying.

Remember the data in a fixed plan is for the whole period, not per day. Airalo's help page says this directly.

Planning a Cambodia side trip

If your itinerary pairs Ho Chi Minh City with Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, by bus or by flight, plan your data for both countries before you leave Manila. Switching plans at a border post with weak signal isn't fun. You have two ways to stay connected:

• Two country eSIMs. One for Vietnam, one for Cambodia. Install both at home, and switch your data line at the border. This gives you a named network in each country.
• One regional plan. Simpler if the listing clearly names both Vietnam and Cambodia and the network in each. Check the validity covers your whole trip.

We didn't verify specific Cambodia eSIM networks or prices for this guide. Whatever you choose, check the coverage list on the listing itself, not just the plan name. "Southeast Asia" doesn't always include every country in the region.

Land border crossings can have patchy signal. Download offline maps and save your bus ticket and hotel details before you leave.

Roaming with your PH number

Your telco is the no-install option. As listed on 29 October 2026, Globe's Roam Surf promos included 3GB for 3 days at PHP999 and 7GB for 7 days at PHP2,199 in covered countries. Smart, DITO and GOMO have their own roaming offers. Check that Vietnam, and Cambodia if needed, are covered by the promo.

The common setup is to keep your PH SIM on for SMS and bank OTPs with data roaming off, and use the travel eSIM for data. See roaming vs eSIM for the full comparison.

Check your phone first

• Dial *#06#. An EID means your phone supports eSIM.
• On iPhone, go to Settings, General, About and look for "No SIM Restrictions" under Carrier Lock, as Apple describes.
• If your phone was bought on a postpaid plan, it may be locked. Ask your telco before you buy an eSIM.
• For Android models, see the eSIM compatible phones list on our sister site.

Setting it up

1. Install at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before the flight. Name the line "Vietnam".
2. Check when validity starts. Airalo says most plans start when the eSIM connects in the coverage area, but some start on install.
3. Set mobile data to the Vietnam eSIM. Turn data roaming on for that line only if the instructions say so.
4. Turn off data roaming on your PH line. Apple warns that leaving both lines on can still bring roaming fees from your home line.
5. On landing, turn off airplane mode and wait for VNPT, Viettel or whichever network your plan names.

If it doesn't connect

Airalo's help page lists the usual fixes, and they apply to most travel eSIMs:

• Check the eSIM is turned on and selected for data.
• Turn off airplane mode and wait a few seconds.
• Check the APN against the seller's instructions.
• Select the network manually.
• Turn off other eSIMs for a moment.
• Switch from 5G to 4G.
• Restart the phone.

Still nothing? Contact the seller's support from airport Wi-Fi with screenshots of your settings. Do it before you leave the airport, while airport Wi-Fi is still in reach, rather than from the back of a taxi.

How much data to get

Grab rides, maps and translation apps are the heavy hitters on a Vietnam trip. For a rough figure, check your phone's average daily data use at home and multiply by your trip days, plus a little extra. If the seller allows top-ups, start a bit smaller and add data if needed. If you'll share a hotspot, check the listing allows it.

Travelling as a barkada

Group trips change the maths. You can:

• Each get your own eSIM. Everyone stays connected when the group splits up for shopping or side trips. Costs scale with the number of people.
• Share one phone's hotspot. Cheaper, but the host phone's battery drains fast, and everyone loses data when that person wanders off. Check the plan allows hotspot and how much.
• Rent a pocket wifi. One device for the group, but someone has to carry and charge it, and return it on time.

Our eSIM vs pocket wifi guide walks through the trade-offs.

Before-you-fly checklist

• Phone checked for eSIM and no carrier lock.
• eSIM bought, installed on home Wi-Fi and labelled.
• Validity start rule read.
• Data roaming off on your PH line, unless you plan to use roaming.
• Offline maps downloaded for each city, plus Cambodia if you're crossing.
• Hotel addresses and bookings saved as screenshots.
• Seller's support chat or app installed and signed in.
• A small power bank, because maps and hotspot drain batteries.

Ten minutes on this list at home saves a lot of stress at the arrivals hall.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best eSIM for Vietnam?

There's no single best. Choose a plan that names its network, VNPT or Viettel in the listings we checked, with enough data for your days. Read any daily cap on unlimited plans.

Kailangan ko ba ng hiwalay na eSIM para sa Cambodia?

Depende. Pwede kang bumili ng dalawang country eSIM, o isang regional plan na malinaw na kasama ang Vietnam at Cambodia. Basahin ang listahan ng countries sa listing bago magbayad.

Does a Vietnam travel eSIM include a phone number?

The listings we checked were data-only. Keep your Globe or Smart SIM for calls, SMS and bank OTPs.

When should I install my Vietnam eSIM?

A day or two before the flight, at home on Wi-Fi. Check whether validity starts on install or on first connection in Vietnam.

Is roaming cheaper than an eSIM for Vietnam?

It depends on your trip length and data use. Compare your telco's roaming promo with a travel eSIM for the same days, and remember roaming needs no install or eSIM-ready phone.