Best eSIM for Vietnam: What I Used in Saigon and on the Mekong
I tested Airalo in Ho Chi Minh City (500+ Mb/s on 5G) and along the Mekong. Which plan to buy, how much data you need, and what to sort before you fly.
I’ve been to Vietnam a number of times, first for work and more recently for pleasure: a five-day tour of the north, Hanoi’s Metropole, Da Nang and, this year, a Mekong cruise from Saigon. On my first trips I paid $5 a day for data roaming with Vodafone. Thankfully those days are over. Once you know how they work, an eSIM saves you money and time.
The short answer: buy an Airalo eSIM before you fly, install it at home, and switch it on when you land. In Ho Chi Minh City it averaged over 500 Mb/s on 5G, and it kept working on the river through the Mekong Delta, often faster than the ship’s wifi.
Quick answer
| My pick | Airalo Vietnam plan (or the Asia plan if you’re also visiting Cambodia, Thailand or Singapore) |
| Network | Vinaphone, one of Vietnam’s big three |
| Typical trip | 10 GB for 1–2 weeks covers maps, WhatsApp, social and photos |
| Code | New to Airalo: 15% off (DREWDEALNEW). Already a customer: 10% off (DREWDEAL), top-ups included. Applied automatically through our links |
Get 15% off your first Airalo eSIM →
What it was actually like
I ran Airalo’s Asia plan on my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and tested with nPerf, wifi off. These are the averages for each test, not the best second.
| Where | Connection | Download | Upload | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City (Ben Thanh), 30 Sep | Airalo on Vinaphone 5G | 503 Mb/s (883 peak) | 3 Mb/s | 68 ms |
| Mekong, Vinh Long province, 2 Oct | Airalo on Vinaphone 4G | 45–62 Mb/s | 1–2 Mb/s | 78–86 ms |
| Mekong, Dong Thap near the border, 4 Oct | Airalo on Vinaphone 4G+ | 27–30 Mb/s | 1–2 Mb/s | 76–80 ms |
| Weak patch, Vinh Long, 2 Oct | Airalo on Vinaphone 3G | 5 Mb/s | under 1 Mb/s | 82 ms |
| For comparison: the ship’s wifi, Dong Thap, 4 Oct | Boat wifi | 13 Mb/s | 17 Mb/s | 50 ms |
Downloads were far more than you’ll ever need, and on the river the eSIM was usually two to four times faster than the ship’s wifi. Uploads were the weak spot: fine for messages and photos, slower for sending video home. There was one short patch in Vinh Long where it dropped to 3G and video wouldn’t load, then it came straight back. I hotspotted it to my partner’s phone when the boat wifi dropped out. At the Cambodian border it switched networks on its own, with nothing to reinstall.
One thing the speed numbers don’t show: latency, the delay before anything starts loading. Airalo stayed at 68–86 ms because it routes through Singapore. Another eSIM I tested side by side in Saigon downloaded fast but sat around 500 ms, and pages felt noticeably slower. The full results across Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore are in my Airalo Asia review.
eSIM or a local SIM at the airport?
A local SIM can be cheaper for a long stay, but you’ll queue on arrival and hand over your passport to register it. An eSIM is installed at home, works the moment you land, and keeps your Australian SIM free for bank texts. For a holiday of two or three weeks, I’d take the eSIM every time.
Vietnam plan or Asia plan?
- Vietnam only: the Vietnam plan is cheapest.
- Vietnam plus Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore or elsewhere in Asia: the Asia regional plan covers the lot on one eSIM, as it did for me on the Mekong.
- Several trips a year: a long global plan saves buying one each time. It’s what I do.
Airalo’s Vietnam plans run from a few days to 30 days, plus unlimited options with a daily high-speed cap. Check current prices in AUD on Airalo’s site.
How much data you’ll need
| Trip | Light (maps, messages) | Normal (plus social, photos) | Heavy (video, hotspot) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 3 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB+ |
| 14 days | 5 GB | 10 GB | 20 GB+ |
| 30 days | 10 GB | 20 GB | Unlimited |
On the Mekong trip I was a heavy user, because I left my phone’s photo and video backup running. I could have used less data, but only with a lot more faffing around switching things on and off. My advice: buy a bigger plan than you think you need, or a global plan if you travel a lot. It works out cheaper than topping up halfway through your trip.
Want a number for your trip? Try my how much eSIM data do I need calculator.
Before you fly to Vietnam
- Set up Airalo at home on wifi. First time? The app installs one Airalo eSIM on your phone, once. After that, each trip is just adding a package, and it only starts when you land.
- Sort your e-visa. Australians need one, applied for online before you go. More in my Vietnam visa story.
- Download offline maps while you’re still on home wifi.
- When you land: switch the eSIM on, turn roaming on for it, and set mobile data to it. If it won’t connect, check these 8 things.
eSIM says “not connected” at home? That’s normal: Airalo packages only connect once you’re in a country they cover. Not connecting when you land? It’s almost never the eSIM. It’s usually when it was installed, or one of three settings. My eSIM troubleshooting guide has the 8 fixes in the order that matters.
Watch: how to set up Airalo before you fly (90 seconds)
Get 15% off your first Airalo eSIM →
Which eSIM I’d buy
I’ve used Airalo for years and it’s still my default. The app makes installing and topping up easy, and I’ve got a reader discount for new and existing customers.
Airalo: my everyday pick
Biggest range of countries and regional plans. Discount applied automatically through these links.
New to Airalo: 15% off → Already use Airalo: 10% off, top-ups too →
Not sure how much to buy? My eSIM data calculator works it out, and if it won’t connect when you land, my eSIM troubleshooting guide has the fixes. (Small referral our way if you use our link — doesn’t change your price.)
More on Vietnam
- La Marguerite Mekong cruise review
- My Airalo Asia eSIM review
- 5-day tour of northern Vietnam
- Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi review
- Hanoi Priority Pass lounge review
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best eSIM for Vietnam?
I use Airalo. It runs on Vinaphone and averaged over 500 Mb/s on 5G in Ho Chi Minh City, with usable 4G along the Mekong.
Does an eSIM work in Vietnam?
Yes. Set it up at home on wifi (with Airalo you only do this once), then turn the eSIM on and turn roaming on for it when you land.
Should I buy a SIM card at the airport in Vietnam?
You can, but you’ll queue and register it with your passport. An eSIM is ready the moment you land and leaves your Australian SIM free for bank texts.
How much data do I need for two weeks in Vietnam?
About 10 GB for maps, messaging, social and photos. Go bigger if you’ll hotspot or stream video.
Does one eSIM work in Vietnam and Cambodia?
Yes, with a regional Asia plan. Mine switched to a Cambodian network on its own at the river border.
Will my Australian bank texts still work in Vietnam?
Yes, as long as your Australian SIM stays switched on. Use the eSIM for data. Here’s how to set it up.
Last checked: November 2026. Speeds are my own tests on a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL; yours will vary with location, time of day and network load. Plans and prices change, so check the Airalo app in AUD before you buy.
