Many travelers now head to Vietnam for its stunning temple complexes, vibrant locals, and bustling markets. A trip to Vietnam will leave you with unforgettable impressions and memories that will last a lifetime, especially if you choose a mobile operator that will keep you connected at all times.
The 4 biggest mobile operators in Vietnam are: Viettel with the widest coverage, VNPT’s VinaPhone, MobiFone, one of the oldest providers, and Vietnamobile with unlimited packages. Let’s see which of these operators is the best for traveling and local use. Also, we will figure out whether it’s better to go with a local physical SIM card or use an eSIM from online providers like Ohayu.com.
Brief overview of Vietnam’s mobile market
Vietnam has one of the best mobile infrastructures in Southeast Asia. Competition between carriers drives prices down, and the government supports the growth of digital services. Mobile internet here is not only affordable but also works well.
The biggest players in the market are Viettel, VNPT, MobiFone, and Vietnamobile. All of them give you travel packages, internet plans, and English support at major points of sale.
Connection speed and quality
Before selecting a carrier, you should consider how reliable the connectivity is when traveling. Vietnam ranks 20th in the Speedtest Global Index.
According to this data, the mobile internet download speed is 156.48 Mbps with a 19 ms wait time.
These indicators have been stable for several years, so we can confidently say that the Vietnamese mobile communications market is stable.
In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and other large cities, 4G coverage is available almost everywhere. 5G is available in major cities and is expanding; coverage varies by operator. Viettel has the broadest 5G coverage, while VinaPhone and MobiFone have more limited coverage. The speed is sufficient for Zoom calls and watching YouTube in HD.
The situation depends on the operator in rural areas. Viettel traditionally has the widest coverage, even in the mountains and on the islands. VinaPhone and MobiFone work well in cities and popular tourist regions. Vietnamobile has the cheapest deals, but coverage outside urban areas can be a bit hit or miss.
Buying a SIM card
One of the most common questions tourists ask is where and how to buy a SIM card. It’s actually very simple.
- The airport is the most convenient option. You will find kiosks with SIM cards from all major carriers. Prices are slightly higher than in the city, but the process is quick. Show your passport, choose a tariff, and receive an activated card in 5 minutes.
- There are even more options in the cities. SIM cards are sold at branded outlets, electronics stores, supermarkets, and sometimes even by street vendors. It is worth checking whether the card is activated, and be sure to register it with your passport — this is a mandatory requirement of the government.
Advantages of eSIM
eSIM is the most popular way to get stable & cheap mobile internet abroad. It is installed online via a QR code (you can install it before your trip if you are travelling from another country). No need to look for a SIM kiosk at the airport. You can install it before departure and activate it after you arrive in Vietnam using airport Wi-Fi.
Local eSIM packages are often cheaper than roaming with your service provider, reducing the risk of unexpected expenses. Ohayu has fixed-data and unlimited plans for Vietnam starting at $8.49 for 3 GB, and a Global eSIM that covers 120+ countries and automatically switches to the supported network when you cross borders.
Before purchasing, we recommend checking your device’s compatibility. You can check this in a few clicks by following this link.
Top Vietnam mobile operators
Vietnam mobile operators provide affordable tariffs, good internet, and wide coverage even in remote parts of the country. Here are four main suppliers, among which it is easy to select the best option for traveling.
Viettel
Viettel is the largest carrier in Vietnam, owned by the country’s Ministry of Defense. It is the best choice for tourists if they plan to travel all over Vietnam, from megacities to mountain villages. Viettel has the widest coverage, with 4G working steadily even in remote provinces.
SIM cards can be easily purchased at airports, supermarkets, kiosks, or through official partners. For tourists, there are special packages with internet and calls, for example, for 7, 15, or 30 days. Prices start at $3.45 for 1.5 GB of data.
Another plus is the good quality of service and simple activation process. All you need is a passport. If you want the most stable connection in the mountains, on the islands, or while traveling around the country, Viettel will be a trusted companion.
By the way, according to SpeedGeo, the download speed is 76.1 Mb/s and the upload speed is 25.4 Mb/s.
VinaPhone
VinaPhone by VNPT (Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group) is another major player in the local market, but its coverage is lower than that of its competitor Viettel. The VinaPhone network covers major cities, resorts, and popular islands such as Phu Quoc, Cat Ba, Con Dao. If the main part of the trip is planned in resort areas, VinaPhone is a very good choice. The download speed is 70.6 Mb/s while the upload speed is 25.9 Mb/s.
For tourists, the company presents convenient prepaid packages with a large amount of mobile internet and favorable call rates. For example, a monthly package with 10-20 GB will cost about $7-$12.
MobiFone
MobiFone is one of the oldest providers in Vietnam. Locals often prefer it because of the stable service in cities, suburbs, and many tourist areas. Although the connection in remote areas is slightly inferior to Viettel, in cities and resort centers, MobiFone delivers excellent quality.
Flexible plans are available for tourists. For example, you can buy a SIM with the internet for 5, 15, or 30 days. The basic package with 5-10 GB of internet starts at $2.68. If you require more traffic, there are deals with 20-30 GB starting at $8.
An additional advantage is good technical support in English, which is important for foreigners.
Vietnamobile
Vietnamobile is a small but quite popular carrier among those looking for the cheapest mobile internet. Its strong point is favorable tariffs in cities, especially in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and tourist centers along the coast.
Vietnamobile provides many unlimited packages at very affordable prices. For example, you can receive 3 GB for $1.34. This is a very attractive option for those who spend most of their time in cities and actively use social media, streaming, or messengers.
But it is worth considering: Vietnamobile’s network is limited, and in the mountains, provinces, and remote islands, the signal may be weak or nonexistent.
Who is the true leader among Vietnam mobile operators?
Opensignal’s recent report for September 2025 sheds light on the state of mobile communications in Vietnam. The market picture is vivid and multifaceted: MobiFone and Viettel have clear advantages in different nominations. Competitors are gradually catching up, and there is a neat division into main categories of user experience.
MobiFone emerged as the absolute leader in the most key parameters. This carrier confidently holds the top spot in Download Speed (Joint Winner) and Upload Speed Experience. However, in the Coverage Experience category, Viettel received the highest score of 8.4 on a 10-point scale.
MobiFone shares the Availability category with Vietnamobile. It scored 98.4% of time, ahead of Viettel by 3.3 percentage points. Vinaphone and Viettel are showing decent results too, just slightly behind.
It is worth noting that VinaPhone showed quite good results in the Reliability Experience category – 793 points, the third after Viettel (Winner) and MobiFone.
This provider also scored 96.4% in terms of availability, which is super critical for users in remote or rural areas.
Vietnamobile jointly won the Availability category with MobiFone but didn’t win in any of the other nominations, showing that there are still challenges in improving the overall user experience.
This rating demonstrates an important trend: stable coverage alone is no longer enough for modern users. In the era of streaming, mobile games, and the constant need for high bandwidth, the quality of video and voice services and data transfer speeds are coming to the fore.
Thus, consumers looking for the best mobile internet and communication quality in Vietnam should focus primarily on MobiFone and Viettel. Competitors still have work to do to bring their services closer to today’s user requirements.
MVNOs in Vietnam: alternatives to large Vietnam mobile operators
MVNOs are a great alternative to traditional carriers, especially for travelers. If you are looking for a budget-friendly, convenient, and flexible communication option, you should check out these companies.
MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) don’t own the tower and base station infrastructure. Instead, they lease the network from large carriers (for example, Viettel or VNPT) and deliver the service packages. They create tariffs, promotions, and extra services targeting specific user groups.
Why do tourists benefit from MVNOs?
- MVNOs often deliver packages that are much cheaper than those of traditional carriers.
- Many short-term packages are perfectly suited for traveling for a few days or weeks.
- MVNOs use the infrastructure of market leaders, so the quality of calls and the internet is often not inferior.
- Many MVNOs work through apps, have a convenient registration process, and even support eSIMs.
Now, let’s take a quick look at some popular Vietnamese MVNOs that are worth keeping in mind.
| Name | Pros | Price |
| myLocal | Top 1 choice for foreign tourists, digital nomads, or business travelers; the balance between the internet, local calls, and even some international minutes | From $2.61 |
| FPT SIM | Project from a large Vietnamese IT corporation FPT; integration with other digital services of the company: cloud solutions, VPN, corporate services | From $1.1 |
| VNSKY | Packages for active users of social networks, streaming, and messengers; for budget travel | Available after selecting a number |
Let’s summarize
So, which carrier to choose for a successful trip to Vietnam? It all depends on your route. Viettel is great for traveling all over the country, including villages, mountains, and islands. It has the best coverage and technical support. VinaPhone is a good option for the city rhythm with stable connection speeds. MobiFone is a cross between Viettel and VinaPhone, a perfect choice for short trips. Vietnamobile is a budget option and works well in cities, but has a poor signal in rural areas. Each has fairly low and reasonable prices.
But to stay online all the time and have a good connection upon arrival, consider an eSIM from Ohayu. It is a choice for everyone who appreciates quality and stability, because it can connect you to multiple local networks, and the Global plan even extends across borders.
