The short answer: buy your Vietnamese SIM at an arrivals-hall counter or a carrier-owned store, in person, with your passport. Under rules that took effect in April 2026, subscriber details are verified against facial biometric data, and foreigners registering with a passport are expected to complete the process at a store counter. Pre-registered SIMs bought online before you travel sit awkwardly with that requirement.
If you would rather skip the counter entirely, an eSIM can be activated before you leave home. Match a data allowance to your trip length on the Coral eSIM plan list.
In Vietnam, a SIM only works once it is registered
The verification rules changed in April 2026
Vietnam has required real-name registration of mobile subscribers for years. A circular that took effect on 15 April 2026 (Thông tư 08/2026/TT-BKHCN) goes further: subscriber records are checked against four data points, including personal identification details, name, date of birth and facial biometric data.
Verification can be done through the national digital identity app (VNeID), through a carrier's own app, or at a carrier service point. Residents can finish it in an app, but foreigners registering on a passport are reported to need an in-person visit with the physical passport and the SIM. Lines that are not verified face progressive restrictions, starting with outgoing calls.
What this means for a traveller
- You have to be there yourself. Someone else buying or registering a line on your behalf does not satisfy the requirement
- You need the physical passport. A photocopy or a photo on your phone will not get you through the process
- Your photo is taken at the counter. Allow a few minutes per person, more if there is a queue
Implementation details can change. Check the current guidance close to your departure date. This article reflects information published as of August 2026.
Where to buy a SIM card in Vietnam
Carrier counters in the arrivals hall
Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and Da Nang international airports all have carrier counters in arrivals. For a visitor this is the most reliable option: hand over your passport and the counter handles registration, activation and fitting the SIM. Staff generally speak English.
Two caveats. Counters may be closed for late-night and early-morning arrivals, and airport pricing tends to be higher than in the city. If you land in the middle of the night, do not build your plan around buying at the airport.
Carrier-owned stores in the city
Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone all run their own stores in the major cities. Terms are often better than at the airport and the plan choice is wider. The trade-off is that you have to get there during opening hours, and you have no connectivity between landing and arriving at the store.
Avoid street stalls and small resellers
Since 2023 Vietnam's telecom regulator has been cracking down on agents distributing SIMs that are already activated, often registered under someone else's details. A line like that does not meet the verification requirement and can be cut off later. However cheap it looks, buying outside official channels is not worth the risk.
Choosing between Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone
Vietnam has three main mobile operators, and these are effectively what you will be offered at a counter.
- Viettel: the largest operator, with the widest reach into rural and mountainous areas. The safer pick if you are heading outside the cities
- Vinaphone (VNPT): state-linked, solid in urban areas and commonly available at airport counters
- MobiFone: urban-focused. Within Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang the practical difference is small
If your trip stays in the main cities and their surroundings, the three are close enough that the choice rarely matters. Pick the operator with the broadest coverage only if you plan to reach places like Sapa, Ha Giang or the islands.
Pricing is a combination of data volume and validity
Tourist-oriented SIMs usually include little or no calling, and the price is set by how much data you get and how long it lasts. Some plans give a daily allowance, others a total for the period.
Check these before you pay:
- Does the validity cover your whole trip? Buying a short plan and finding you cannot extend it is the classic mistake
- Can it be topped up? Some tourist plans cannot be recharged once the data is gone
- Is tethering allowed? Ask at the counter if you plan to share the connection
- What currency and payment methods apply? Some counters take cash only
This article deliberately avoids quoting figures, because plans and exchange rates move. Read the counter's own price board and confirm the four points above before deciding. If an offer looks dramatically cheaper than everything around it, there is usually a reason.
Check your handset before you rely on a local SIM
A SIM is no use if the phone cannot use it. Vietnam switched off its 2G network in October 2024, and 3G is scheduled to close in 2028. An older handset may show no service at all. Assume 4G capability is the minimum.
The second check is whether your phone is carrier-locked. A locked handset will not accept another operator's SIM, so sort this out before departure.
Finally, swapping in a local SIM means SMS sent to your home number no longer reaches you. Verification codes from banks and booking sites are the usual casualty. Receiving SMS verification codes abroad covers the ways around this.
Local SIM or eSIM for Vietnam
With verification tightened, a local SIM is firmly a "sort it out after you land" option. The decision comes down to effort against certainty.
A local SIM makes sense when
- You are staying a while and genuinely need a Vietnamese phone number for deliveries or bookings
- Your phone does not support eSIM
- You land during the day with time to spare for the counter
An eSIM makes sense when
- You arrive late at night or early morning, or you are on a short stopover. Closed counters stop being a problem
- You would rather not hand over a passport and be photographed at a counter
- You want to keep your home number active and move only data onto a local plan
- You want a working connection the moment you land, for maps and ride-hailing
The airport-counter comparison is covered in buying a SIM at the airport versus an eSIM, and Vietnam-specific guidance is in how to choose an eSIM for Vietnam. Country and duration combinations are on the plan page.
FAQ
Can I buy a Vietnamese SIM card before I travel?
Such products are sold online, but Vietnamese rules expect the line to be registered to the person actually using it. A SIM registered under someone else's details can be suspended later. If you want everything arranged before departure, an eSIM bought in your own name fits the rules more cleanly.
How late are the airport SIM counters open?
It varies by airport and by counter, and late-night or early-morning arrivals may find them closed. If you land at an awkward hour, do not depend on buying at the airport, and expect to be offline until you reach a city store.
Is a photocopy of my passport enough to register?
No. You need the physical document. The rules effective April 2026 verify facial biometric data alongside your name and date of birth, and counters photograph you as part of the process, so a copy or a phone image will not do.
Which carrier should I choose: Viettel, Vinaphone or MobiFone?
For a trip around Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang, the difference is small. If you are heading to Sapa, the highlands or the islands, Viettel's wider rural reach is the safer default. In practice you choose from whichever operators staff the counter you reach.
What happens to my home number if I insert a local SIM?
If you physically swap the SIM, your home number goes offline. On a dual-SIM phone you can keep the home number registered and route only data through the local line. Keep that setup if you rely on SMS codes from banks or booking sites.
In Vietnam, the only reliable route is buying in person at an official counter
Picking up a SIM from a street stall is no longer how this works. With the April 2026 rules verifying facial biometric data, the process assumes the traveller turns up in person, passport in hand, at an official counter. The flip side is reassuring: do it that way and the line will work.
Let the itinerary decide. Daytime arrival with time to spare, buy a local SIM at the airport counter; late arrival or a short stay, use an eSIM. Making that call in advance is what keeps you from landing with no way to get online. Durations and data allowances are listed on the Coral eSIM plan page.