When I first planned my trip to Vietnam, staying connected wasn’t something I thought too much about. I assumed I could just rely on hotel Wi-Fi and maybe grab a local SIM card at the airport. But once I arrived, I quickly learned how important it is to have stable internet everywhere—whether it was ordering a Grab ride in Ho Chi Minh City, checking Google Maps in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, or sending photos back home from Ha Long Bay.
Here’s what I experienced while trying different ways to get online in Vietnam, and why I eventually found eSIMs to be the easiest option.
Public Wi-Fi – Good but Not Always Reliable
Like many travelers, I started by hopping on the free Wi-Fi in cafés and hostels. In Hanoi, it was fine for sending messages, but when I tried uploading photos or making video calls, the connection often dropped. Outside the big cities, Wi-Fi was much harder to find, and I didn’t feel comfortable connecting to unsecured networks all the time.
Roaming with My Home SIM – Too Expensive
I also tried roaming with my home SIM for the first two days. It worked fine, but when I checked my phone bill later, the costs were shocking—almost $12 per day just for basic data. That’s when I realized roaming was not sustainable for a trip that would last three weeks.
Buying a Local SIM – Some Hassle Involved
At Da Nang Airport, I decided to buy a prepaid SIM card. The staff were helpful, but the line was long, and I had to hand over my passport for registration. The data worked well in the city, but topping up later was confusing because the instructions were only in Vietnamese. I managed, but it wasn’t as convenient as I hoped.
Switching to an eSIM – The Game Changer
Halfway through my trip, another traveler I met in Hoi An recommended trying an eSIM. I was skeptical at first, but it turned out to be a game changer. I bought one online, received the QR code instantly, and set it up on my phone in minutes. No more paperwork, no waiting in line, and the coverage worked everywhere—from the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the rice fields of Ninh Binh.
What I liked most was the flexibility. I could still keep my original SIM in my phone for WhatsApp verification, while using the eSIM for fast 4G/5G data. Hotspot sharing also worked perfectly when I traveled with friends.
If you’re curious about how it works or which plan to choose, I highly recommend checking this guide: Vietnam eSIM: The Ultimate Vietnam eSIM Guide 2025. It helped me understand which networks were strongest in different regions and how to set everything up step by step.
Tips from My Own Experience
– Download Google Maps offline before heading to rural areas.
– Grab and Zalo are the most useful apps—you’ll need internet for both.
– Bring a power bank; using maps and hotspot can drain your battery fast.
– Don’t wait until the last minute—set up your eSIM before your flight lands so you’re ready to go.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I wish I had started with an eSIM right from the beginning. It would have saved me time, stress, and money. Vietnam has so much to explore—from the chaos of Hanoi traffic to the peaceful lanterns of Hoi An—and worrying about internet access shouldn’t get in the way.
If you’re traveling to Vietnam in 2025, my advice is simple: skip the roaming fees, skip the long airport lines, and just go with an eSIM. It made my trip smoother, and I’ll definitely use one again next time I return.
