Best eSIM for Vietnam in 2025 (Plus Which Ones to Avoid)

We're Liam and Sarah, a couple living in Vietnam since 2023. Between weekend trips, visa runs, and helping friends/family land smoothly, we've tried more eSIMs and local SIM cards than we care to admit. And yes, some were great, some were hot garbage.

If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, this guide will save you time, money, and connectivity headaches.

👉 No tech jargon. No 15-tab comparisons. Just real talk about what works best.

Quick Disclaimer

We actually use a local Viettel SIM (Vietnam's largest network) since we live here full-time. But if you're staying less than 2 weeks, we don't recommend this route:

• Buying just the SIM (or eSIM) costs ~$5 (For no data/credits)
• You must then buy a data plan on top
• Local SIMs are cheap per GB, but the hassle isn't worth it for short trips and you only save money on longer data plans (Over 2 weeks)

⚠️ Never buy SIMs from airport vendors or tourist kiosks. They're overpriced and often unreliable, usually sold by tourist scammers. Only get local SIMs at official carrier stores (e.g. Viettel, Vinaphone).

Our Top Recommendation

We've tried all the major esim providers. The one we recommend to every friend or family member visiting Vietnam?

👉 Our top eSIM provider activates automatically when you land, has fast speeds across Vietnam, and takes just 2 minutes to install. We've never had a single issue with it. No weird data caps, no network blackouts, no setup drama.

Perfect for ordering a Grab at the airport, checking maps, messaging your hotel, or uploading your first bánh mì photo to Instagram.

💡 Check the comparison table below, we marked it as our top pick.

eSIM Providers (Tested in Vietnam)

We tested each of these during our own travels and visits from friends. Here’s how they performed:

1) Saily

• 💲 Price for 3GB: $8.99
• ⚙️ Setup Time: Instant ✅
• 📶 Speed/Reliability: Excellent ✅
• 🚀 Works Instantly?: Yes
• ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Top Pick

👉 View Saily's prices and options

2) Airalo

• 💲 Price for 3GB: $9.50
• ⚙️ Setup Time: ~5 mins ✅
• 📶 Speed/Reliability: Excellent ✅
• 🚀 Works Instantly?: Yes
• ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

👉 View Airalo's prices and options

3) Yesim

• 💲 Price for 3GB: $12.00
• ⚙️ Setup Time: ~10 mins ⚠️
• 📶 Speed/Reliability: Good ✅
• 🚀 Works Instantly?: Yes
• ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐ Expensive for worse connectivity

👉 View Yesim's prices and options

4) Klook (1GB/day)

• 💲 Price for 3GB: $4.35
• ⚙️ Setup Time: ~10 mins ✅
• 📶 Speed/Reliability: Mixed in rural areas ❌
• 🚀 Works Instantly?: Yes
• ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great value

👉 View Klook's prices and options

5) Klook (Unlimited)

• 💲 Price for unlimited: $3.50
• ⚙️ Setup Time: ~10 mins ✅
• 📶 Speed/Reliability: Very Slow ❌
• 🚀 Works Instantly?: Yes
• ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐ Do Not Buy unless on a very tight budget

👉 View Klook's prices and options

🔍 Important Note on Klook: Their "unlimited" plan is throttled (slowed down) to the point of being unusable. Stick to their 1GB/day plan for far better speeds.

eSIM vs SIM: What Should You Choose?

Go with an eSIM if:

1. You have an eSIM-compatible phone (most phones made in the last 5 years do)
2. You're staying under 2 weeks
3. You want to land connected, not spend hours SIM-hunting in a local store

Go with a local SIM if:

1. You're staying over 2 weeks
2. You use tons of data (e.g. streaming, uploading daily vlogs)
3. You don't mind the hassle of buying and activating at a local store

💬 If you're not sure, eSIM is the easiest and safest choice. We use Viettel because we live here, but we don't recommend it for short-term trips.

Conclusion: Save Time, Stay Connected

You don't need to overthink this. Want to be connected from the moment you land? Choose a solid eSIM and skip the airport hassle.

🎯 If you're still unsure, go with our top-rated eSIM. It's the one we always recommend to our friends.