eSIM Vietnam: Mobile Data Without a Local SIM Card
An eSIM Vietnam plan from Anosim gets your phone online in Vietnam without a trip to a phone shop. It is a travel eSIM for Vietnam with data only: you install it at home, turn it on when you arrive and use maps, messengers and ride apps straight away. Your own SIM stays where it is, so your number keeps working for WhatsApp and banking messages from home.
eSIM or Vietnam SIM card: what changes for your trip
A local Vietnam SIM card means finding a counter after a long flight, swapping cards and keeping your home SIM somewhere safe. A Vietnam eSIM skips all of that. You buy it online, pay from your Anosim balance and are online once the plane has landed.
Vietnam is outside the EU roaming rules, so data on a European tariff is normally charged as roaming there. With a separate prepaid eSIM for Vietnam, you know before departure which plan you are travelling with. The one thing a data eSIM does not give you is a Vietnamese phone number.
Coverage in Vietnam: north, south and in between
The eSIM connects to local networks across the country. Coverage includes Hanoi and Haiphong in the north, Hue and Vinh in the centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa and Can Tho in the south, plus Bac Ninh, Hai Duong and other cities.
Your phone uses 3G, 4G/LTE or 5G, depending on the network operator and where you are. Speed can be limited by the operator's fair-use policy.
Before you fly to Vietnam: a short checklist
Work through these points at home, ideally a few days before the flight:
Is your phone eSIM-ready?
It must support eSIM and be free of a SIM lock. Some iPhone models from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have no eSIM.
Buy the plan
Open the eSIM page, choose Vietnam and a data plan, log in and pay from your balance. You can top up the balance with cryptocurrency or by bank transfer.
Scan the QR code over Wi-Fi
Your phone needs an internet connection while it adds the eSIM. The QR code works one time only: keep the profile on the phone and contact support instead of scanning again if something fails.
Mind the activation window
You have 180 days after purchase to activate the plan. The validity itself only begins when the eSIM first connects to a supported network in Vietnam.
First minutes in Vietnam: three settings
After landing in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, open your phone settings:
1. Turn the eSIM on
Until now it was switched off; switch it on under mobile data or SIM.
2. Make it your data line
Choose the eSIM as the line for mobile data, so your home SIM does not use roaming.
3. Allow data roaming for the eSIM
Enable data roaming for this eSIM. Within one or two minutes it usually connects to a local network.
No signal yet?
Restart the phone, turn airplane mode on and off once and set network selection to automatic. Our support answers 24/7 via Telegram, website chat and email.
Your home number stays on the phone
Because the eSIM only handles data, your regular SIM can stay active next to it. Friends reach you on WhatsApp as usual, and you can call them over the internet. Streaming, video calls and photo uploads run over the eSIM as well.
Sharing the connection as a hotspot with a laptop or tablet depends on the network operator in Vietnam.
Verification codes while in Vietnam
A data eSIM has no phone number and therefore cannot receive SMS. When an app you want to use in Vietnam sends a code by text message, take an Anosim number for it:
- Activation: one number for one code
- Rent Service: a number kept for one service that may ask again
- Rent Number: a full number for all your services
If a number is virtual, it is labelled as such in the provider selection.
Travelling on from Vietnam
Many routes through Southeast Asia continue to other countries. Each destination has its own plan, for example eSIM Thailand or eSIM Japan. All countries and regions are listed in the order form on the eSIM overview.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Vietnam?
The best eSIM for Vietnam is one that covers the cities on your route and fits how much you use your phone. Anosim plans are data only, prepaid and bought without an ID check.
Does the Vietnam eSIM card include a phone number?
No. It is a data plan. For SMS codes, use Activation, Rent Service or Rent Number.
Does the eSIM work in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi?
Yes, both are covered, as are Haiphong, Hue, Can Tho, Bien Hoa, Vinh, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong and other cities.
When should I install the eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Switch it on only after arriving in Vietnam.
Do I lose days if I buy early?
No. The plan starts with the first connection in Vietnam. Just activate it within 180 days of purchase.
Can I use my phone as a hotspot in Vietnam?
That depends on the network operator.
Which network speed can I expect?
3G, 4G/LTE or 5G, depending on the operator and your location. Fair-use rules may reduce the speed.
Is Vietnam covered by EU roaming?
No. Vietnam is outside the EU roaming rules, which is why a separate data plan is useful for travellers with a European tariff.