HOW TO BUY A SIM CARD IN VIETNAM?

Doing research on local SIM cards before traveling to another country is a must-do because it would make your trip more convenient with easy access to local networks, to make a quick phone call or sent messages in urgent situations. Local SIM cards can be used on most unlocked phones from Europe, Asia and Australia and some unlocked phones from North America.

The SIM card itself costs 50,000 VND ($2.20), without credit.There are many types of local SIM card brands with different uses in Vietnam. In this blog, we only share the 3 main mobile internet providers in Vietnam:

  • Viettel
  • Vinaphone
  • MobiFone

Viettel

Viettel is owned by the Ministry of Defence and thus the Vietnamese army. It’s the market leader in Vietnam with about 40% of all customers on its network (most of them is living in the countryside or rural area). To check your balance, call: *101# for main account and *102# for bonus account. To top-up by voucher, type: *100*<voucher PIN>#. The vouchers are sold all around town, you just need to take look for the Viettel’s logo in the corner of the voucher. Be aware that Viettel sends a lot of advertising SMSs (spam).

Send: VTVANG to 109 before you leave the country. This will cost you 50.000 VND, but it keeps your card safe for 365 days without any worries.

Viettel’s 4G Data package:

Package Name Data / Month Price VND Price $
v90 60.0 GB 90,000 3.88
MIMAX70 3.0 GB 70,000 3.02
MIMAX90 5.0 GB 90,000 3.88
MIMAX125 8.0 GB 125,000 5.39
MIMAX200 15.0 GB 200,000 8.62
UMAX300 30.0 GB 300,000 12.93

 

To book a data package with Viettel simply send: <Packagename> via SMS to 9123

To cancel send an SMS with: HUY <Package name> to 191

Tourist SIM:

           Price      Data   Dom.

Calls

  Int.

Calls

   Validity
 100,000 VND  1 GB  20 mins  10 mins  5 days
 200,000 VND  2 GB  40 mins  20 mins  10 days
 300,000 VND  3 GB  60 mins  30 mins  15 days
 500,000 VND  5 GB  100 mins  50 mins  25 day

 

Vinaphone

Vinaphone has two types of packages same as mentioned above and in addition another type called “BIG DATA” packages, these will give you more 3G data than the throttled packages BUT does not offer free throttled data after you hit the limit.

To sign up to these plans by yourself, you send a text of the plan name (e.g. “MAX”) to the number “6088”. 6088 is Vinaphone’s number which automates the transaction.

   Package Name   Data / Month   Price VND    Price $
 DK1 BIG70   4.8 GB  70,000   3.02
 DK1 BIG90  7.0 GB  90,000  3.88
 DK1 BIG120  12.0 GB  120,000  5.17
 DK1 BIG200  22.0 GB  200,000  8.62
 DK1 BIG300  36.0 GB  300,000  12.93

 

To book a data package with Viettel simply send: DK <Packagename> via SMS to 888. To cancel, send an SMS with: HUY <Packagename> to 888

 

For the soft-capped MAX packages, you can add the following data to avoid the throttle:

  • 350 MB: 19,000 VND – activation: X19
  • 550 MB: 29,000 VND – activation: X29
  • 850 MB: 39,000 VND – activation: X39
  • 2 GB: 49,000 VND – activation: X49

For all activations, text: ‘DK<blank><activation code>’ to 888.

For longer periods, Vinatel sells their big packages for 6 or 12 months with a discount.For shorter periods Vinatel has released these packages valid for 3G and 4G/LTE:

Thunder Icon

Featured Job

      Data        Time           Price         Package name
     2 GB  2 hours  5,000 VND  DK H5
     5 GB  10,000 VND  DK H10
     1 GB  24 hours  5,000 VND  DK D5
     1.2 GB  7,000 VND  DK D7
     2 GB  10,000 VND  DK D2
     5 GB  15,000 VND  DK D15
     1 GB   7 days  20,000 VND  DK DT20

     

    Call: *101#. “TKC” is the official balance and the others are the promotional balances.

    To top-up by voucher, type: *100*<voucher PIN>#.

    Mobifone

    Mobifone is the 3rd provider in the country with 18% market share. It’s in the process of privatisation. Speed and coverage are good in the centers and around the coast, but can be weak in the mountains.

    The speed of the 3G network has a max. of 7.2 Mbps. The default data rate outside of packages is: 75 VND per 50 KB. This can be set by texting ‘M0’ to 999. The 3G packages can’t be used on 4G.

    They have one daily package: 1.5 GB for 24 hours that costs 10,000 VND. For activation, text: ‘D10’ to 999

    This package auto-renews. To stop text: ‘HUY QT’ to 999. Furthermore, you can book these monthly 3G packages:

     Monthly 3G packages:
        Data            Price     Activation         Overuse
     50 MB  10,000 VND  M10  25 VND

    per 50 KB

     150 MB  25,000 VND  M25
     450 MB  50,000 VND  M50

     

    For activation text: <code> to 9084.

    These packages can be upsized with the following data:

    • 500 MB: 15,000 VND, activation: MAX15
    • 1 GB: 25,000 VND, activation: MAX25
    • 2 GB: 35,000 VND, activation: MAX35

    To subscribe text: “DK”<blank><activation code> to 999. All packages auto-renew. To stop text: “HUY”<blank><activation code> to 999. To check data balance, text “KT DATA” to 999. All texts to 999 cost 200 VND per SMS.

     

    4G/LTE data packages 

    For 4G/LTE be sure to have a new 4G-enabled SIM card. In July 2018 Mobifone has released these monthly plans for their new 4G in up to 150 Mbit/s and 3G Mobifone:

        Data             Price

        Activation

       Overuse
                        Monthly 4G basic data packages
     3.8 GB  70,000 VND  HD70      throttled
     5.5 GB  90,000 VND  HD90
     8.8 GB  120,000 VND  HD120
     16.5 GB  200,000 VND  HD200
     33 GB  300,000 VND  HD300
     44 GB  400,000 VND  HD400
     55 GB  500,000 VND  HD500
                     Monthly 4G Data Plus packages + Call minutes
      1.5 GB  70,000 VND  DP70       cut-off  70 mins
     2 GB  100,000 VND  DP100  100 mins
     3 GB  120,000 VND  DP120  120 mins
     4 GB  200,000 VND  DP200  200 mins
     6 GB  300,000 VND  DP300  300 mins
     9 GB  600,000 VND  DP600  600 mins
     15 GB  1,500,000 VND  DP1500  unlimited

     

    Activate by texting: ‘DK <code>’ to 999. To check data balance text: ‘KT DATA’ to 999. All packages auto-renew. To stop text: “HUY”<blank><activation code> to 999. Voice included in the Plus packages is domestic only for all lines.

    To see your balance, call: “*101#”. “TKC” is the official balance and the others are the promotional balances. To top-up by voucher, type: *100*<voucher PIN>#.

    Where can you buy SIM cards in Vietnam?

    • At the Airport: After stepping off the plane, passing through the checkpoints, and picking up your baggage, you will see many booths or kiosks at the airport that are selling “the best sim card”. If you’ll buy a SIM card from a legit place in Vietnam, you will need to present your passport.
    • Sim cards are also sold in grocery stores, supermarkets, at small shops on the streets, phone shops, credit kiosks etc.

    Author

    Vietnam Teaching Jobs (VTJ), which was founded in 2012 is a well-established platform for teachers to find their dream teaching job in Vietnam. Covering the entirety of the country, we have successfully paired thousands of happy teachers and schools. Be part of the thousands of happy teachers working in Vietnam, register and apply for your dream job today!

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    Author Details
    Vietnam Teaching Jobs (VTJ), which was founded in 2012 is a well-established platform for teachers to find their dream teaching job in Vietnam. Covering the entirety of the country, we have successfully paired thousands of happy teachers and schools. Be part of the thousands of happy teachers working in Vietnam, register and apply for your dream job today!