Internet in Vietnam for travellers: which eSIM to choose
Vietnam is a destination of long routes: lots of maps, lots of transfers and lots of photos. Two ways to take data with you: a data plan, or unlimited with 2 GB a day.
Which plan suits your trip length
| Trip | Data plan | Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 1 GB · €4.95 | €9.95 |
| 7 days | 10 GB · €22.95 | €21.95 |
| 15 days | 20 GB · €35.95 | €44.95 |
| 30 days | 20 GB · €35.95 | €81.95 |
Prices include VAT and match the Vietnam page. Validity: the 1 GB plan, 7 days; 3 to 20 GB, 30 days. In Vietnam our largest plan is 20 GB.
Vietnam is one of our most expensive destinations per gigabyte, so it's worth getting the size right here: work it out in two minutes before you choose.
When unlimited pays off and when it doesn't
Here the maths is the other way round from other destinations: a week of unlimited data costs €21.95 and the 10 GB plan costs €22.95. In other words, unlimited is cheaper than our 10 GB plan.
- For a week, unlimited is the default choice unless your usage is very light: for less money you get 2 GB every day.
- If your trip is short and you don't use your phone much, the 1 GB plan (€4.95) or the 3 GB plan (€9.95) will do.
- For 15 days or more, look at both: 20 GB for €35.95 against €44.95 for 15 days of unlimited.
What exactly the unlimited plan includes
2 GB a day at full speed and, once that's used, 1 Mbps until the next day.
Those 2 GB reset every day. It's written on the plan card, next to the price: why we tell you before you pay.
Where your traffic exits
In Vietnam, your traffic exits in Singapore.
Some websites and apps will see you there: the language they greet you in or a search engine's local results may change. For maps, messaging, social media and video nothing changes.
We deliberately chose plans that don't route traffic out through Hong Kong, because some apps are more likely to be blocked there. That decision makes the daily plan more expensive, which is why Vietnam's costs more than Turkey's.
The network is 5G, with whatever coverage each area has.
How to activate it
- Install it at home, on Wi-Fi. It doesn't use data or start the clock.
- When you land, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- The days start with the first connection to a Vietnamese network.
Steps for each model are in the installation guide; for compatibility, use the checker.
Frequently asked questions about internet in Vietnam
Do I keep my own number and WhatsApp?
Yes. It's a data eSIM: your SIM stays in your phone with your number.
Why does the 10 GB plan cost more than a week of unlimited?
Because prices for data plans and daily plans come from different price lists. In Vietnam it happens that the 7-day unlimited plan (€21.95) is cheaper than the 10 GB plan (€22.95). We leave that in plain sight rather than hiding one of the two options.
What's the largest plan you sell here?
20 GB for €35.95, valid for 30 days.
What happens when I use up the day's 2 GB?
You drop to 1 Mbps until the next day; the service isn't cut off.
How does it compare with Holafly?
We cover it on its own page, with prices checked by hand and dated: Glowi vs Holafly in Vietnam.
Our recommendation for a week in Vietnam
The 7-day unlimited plan for €21.95: 2 GB a day at full speed and, here, cheaper than our 10 GB plan.