I travelled to Vietnam and did my research beforehand and came down to the conclusion that if you are searching for the best eSIM for Vietnam, here’s the short answer: get a SIM Local eSIM. I used it for two weeks straight across Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Da Nang and Da Lat, and it worked surprisingly well.

I used to be that traveller where “I will just figure it out” at the airport because it is Asia, my homeground afterall. You think it is cheaper and way easier to just buy a simcard at the airport.

But please don’t do that – I have visited Vietnam and spent about 2 weeks there and my biggest issue was getting scammed.

I love the country, the coffee, the street vendors and how everything is super cheap and affordable but the last thing you should get is a simcard at the airport or a third-party kiosk because you will get scammed.

Instead of buying a physical sim card at the airport, I opted for a Vietnam eSIM from Sim Local. It was hands down the smoothest eSIM experience for me and if there was a glitch, there was always human support that I could rely on and not an AI chatbot.

Let me walk you through my experience of using Sim Local eSIM in Vietnam and why I think it is the best option out there.

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Why I recommend Sim Local eSIM vs Others?

a comparison of the vietnam esim plans available

I have heard complaints about people using eSIMs like Saily and it maybe having like 5% of internet left before everything was finished. Yeah, it was that terrible!

My starting point of my travels was from Ho Chi Minh City and using Sim Local as an eSIM was the best choice I made. The preferred option I chose for my travel experience was their US$34.00 eSIM for 75 GB (15 days) or you can use their unlimited eSIM at $39.25 (7 days) or go all the way up to US $41.00 for 180GB (30 days). The network used is Mobifone which is a reliable network in Vietnam if you stay in major cities and tourist hubs. You should also know that Facebook and YouTube have unlimited access for most of these plans with no limit which is great if you love to stream movies at night without relying on hotels WiFi.

If you are staying for a whole month or 3 weeks, it makes sense to get the 30 days eSIM option from SIM Local. The pros and cons of choosing SIM Local are:

Pros:

No sudden data cut-offs: honestly, a relief after those Saily horror stories
Clear pricing tiers to match different trip lengths
Quick, easy activation and no hunting for a physical SIM store
Better value per day on the 30-day plan if you're staying a while

Cons:

Costs a bit more upfront than some budget eSIMs
Unlimited plan is only available for shorter durations (7 days/15 days), not the full month

📱 Get the Sim Local eSIM Vietnam HERE

💜 Tip: You get 5% off with my code THEGONEGOAT

The Best eSIM for Vietnam: Sim Local vs Saily vs Airalo

	Sim Local		Saily	Airalo
	Unlimited	Unlimited Pro	Unlimited	Unlimited
Plan	15-day — $49.00	15-day — $60.25	15-day — $48.99	15-day — $48.00
Daily high-speed cap	5GB/day	10GB/day	5GB/day	3GB/day
Runs out or throttles?	No	No	Yes — throttled after 5GB/day	Yes — throttled after 3GB/day
Support	Human support	Human support	App-based live chat only	App-based, ID verification required
Best for	Travellers who want zero data anxiety	Travellers who want zero data anxiety	Budget short trips, light use	Wide network coverage
Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐

Based on this table which I have laid out, it looks like Sim Local may costs more upfront like $60.25 versus roughly $48 for the same 14 days with Saily or Airalo. But if 10GB is more than you need, their Unlimited plan (5GB/day, 15 days) is $49 which puts it rightly in the same range as Saily and Airalo while giving you more daily headroom than either.

Of course it is more expensive but there’s a reason why it is: there is no real “unlimited” on the other two. I have heard from people’s experiences and based on what I have read on Reddit, Saily throttles you down once you hit 5GB a day.

For most people, maybe it is fine if you are just checking maps and replying messages but if you are navigating and booking buses in Vietnam, running Google Maps and finding the best cafe stops throughout the country or uploading photos and doing some work, you will likely run out.

I rather have that security of knowing fully that I can just move on and be less anxious about being with no data in the middle of nowhere in Vietnam.

So the extra $11-12 isn't really for more data, it's for not having to think about data at all. Is important especially when you're three weeks into a trip.

If you're the kind of traveller who's mostly on WiFi and only needs your phone for the odd Grab ride, save the money and go with the other options. But if your phone is your lifeline the way mine is on the road, constantly navigating or documenting and being constantly connected, Sim Local Unlimted eSIM Vietnam plan is the one that never made me anxious.

How Easy It is To Get Scammed in Vietnam? And This is Why You Should Get an eSIM in Vietnam

why is it so easy to get scammed in vietnam when buying a simcard

The most common carriers are Viettel, Mobiphone and Vinaphone. The biggest problem is with pre-activated sims. You will find a lot of vendors selling pre-registered sims that already have days stripped out from your 30 days planned.

The other problem is data caps and false promises where you are sold “unlimited high speed data” but it finishes up in a few hours and or slows down massively which is why it can’t be trusted.

Also, buying an eSIM at the airport is a problem. I heard from my friends who came and they said they massively try to oversell and scam you especially in Hanoi and Da Nang and before you know it your data is gone in a matter of hours.

The best way in my opinion is to forget about the simcard era and cheap sims like how we used to always do it in Asia, and to actually go digital with a proper Vietnam travel eSIM like Sim Local.

Who Is Sim Local Best For?

Solo Travellers

If you’re travelling Vietnam solo for a few days to a few weeks, this plan works great for you since you are technically in charge of navigating, translating, booking Grabs and buses on your own, so having data that doesn’t quit half way through matters more than anyone else.

Families and Groups Travelling Together

One underrated perk here: Sim Local includes hotspot and tethering at no extra cost and with no separate GB limit. This is great if you are travelling in groups which means one person can hold the eSIM and share connection with everyone’s else phones. You save so much more and it is useful for when you are splitting time between one city and another.

Digital Nomads

If you’re working while travelling, uploading content or doing video calls, or need dependable connectivity for hours at a stretch, the 30-day 180GB plan will be worth it.

If you are not sure, what plan works for you, you can use this cool find a plan tool.

My Experience Using Sim Local eSIM in Vietnam

my experience using sim local in vietnam

I went with the 75GB (15-day) plan on the Mobifone network for this trip. The moment I switched on data after immigration, it was easy to connect to Sim Local. You don’t need to change the settings or restart your phone. I remember being almost suspicious of how easy it was because in every other country I've used eSIMs in something always needed troubleshooting.

Before this I have used Sim Local in Italy and Peru so I fully trust and know it will work well in Vietnam considering how smooth it was for me.

Over three weeks bouncing between Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Da Nang, the connection held up. Speeds in the cities were fast enough to run Google Maps live, take WhatsApp video calls and watch movies without buffering. Not once did I hit a wall where my data slowed to a crawl which is the exact nightmare scenario I'd heard about with other providers.

It did dip slightly in more rural stretches heading towards Da Lat through the mountains where the speed slowed but it never fully cut out.

The one time I did need support, it was a quick message and an actual person responded via WhatsApp which was easy to solve any issues I had on the go.

How To Install Sim Local eSIM in Vietnam

Here's how it works:

Buy your plan — use this link to save 5%. Choose your data amount and duration.
Activate your new eSIM by downloading the plan or scanning the QR code
Turn on Data Roaming in your mobile settings.
That's it. You're connected.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best eSIM for Vietnam?

Based on my two weeks testing it, I recommend using Sim Local as the best eSIM in Vietnam if you want good, stable connection. It worked for me and they may not be as popular as others, but you get better value for your money.

Does Sim Local work in rural parts of Vietnam?

Yes, though speeds can dip in more remote stretches if you are taking a bus or public transport. The connection got back on the moment we landed in civilisation.

What happens if your Sim Local eSIM doesn’t work?

One thing good about this is that the carrier offers a 100% refund, no questions asked within 14 days of purchase so you really have nothing to lose or worry about.

Which network does Sim Local use in Vietnam?

My plan ran on Mobifone which is one of the strongest network used across Vietnam cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Danang.

Final Verdict: Is Sim Local Worth It?

Travelling around Vietnam is super stressful and chaotic and if you are anxious about getting connectivity especially if you want to text friends and family home, you should get a Vietnam eSIM sorted before you land.

I found myself wandering through Hoi An’s valleys, cycling in Da Nang and using multiple buses to get to Dalat through Vietnam’s mountains and Sim Local worked well often using its strongest network Mobifone.

It does costs a little more than the cheaper options, but you’re paying for a connection that doesn’t quit on you halfway through your trip and a support team made up of actual people, a 100% no-quesions-asked refund policy within 14 days and free hotspot sharing with no data cap of its own.

If you're planning a longer stay in Vietnam, grab the 30-day plan and stop thinking about data for the rest of your trip.