Vietnam SIM Card for Tourists (2026): Prepaid Plans, Prices & Registration

Tourists can buy local mobile service in Vietnam, and some operators now publish dedicated visitor products rather than expecting foreigners to choose from ordinary resident plans.

MobiFone TR109 and Vietnamobile GO10 are the clearest physical tourist-SIM benchmarks currently published by the operators themselves. Viettel also maintains a dedicated foreign-visitor purchase flow, while VinaPhone is harder to compare safely because a similarly clear tourist-specific physical SIM price is not publicly disclosed.

Prices and terms checked on August 28, 2026. Operator packages, registration procedures and point-of-sale charges can change.

Physical SIMs offer strong value when local calling or high daily data matters. Roafly removes the shop visit and SIM swap, which can be more useful when convenience matters more than getting a Vietnamese mobile line.

See Vietnam eSIM plans before deciding which setup suits your trip.

Can Tourists Buy a SIM Card in Vietnam?

Yes. Several Vietnamese operators provide a clear route for international visitors to register local mobile service.

MobiFone explicitly describes TR109 as a prepaid activation kit for international tourists visiting Vietnam. Vietnamobile markets GO10 specifically to international visitors and says a passport is required for registration.

Viettel takes a different approach. Its official tourist SIM purchase portal starts by requesting a passport image and portrait photograph before the customer proceeds to the SIM and plan selection stages.

That distinction matters. A cheap prepaid package seen on an operator's domestic website should not automatically be treated as a tourist offer, since eligibility and registration requirements can differ.

Subscriber identity rules have also become stricter in 2026. Vietnam introduced facial biometric checks for new mobile subscriptions and additional re-verification rules when a SIM is moved to another device.

The Ministry's mobile biometric verification guidance explains the current framework. Keeping your passport available during purchase and activation is therefore important.

Best Local SIM Options for Tourists in Vietnam

Published tourist products are not directly comparable on data alone. Validity, calling benefits, registration and whether the headline amount actually includes the tourist starter kit all affect the decision.

MobiFone TR109: the clearest all-round tourist package

MobiFone publishes unusually complete terms for TR109, making it one of the easiest Vietnam tourist SIMs to evaluate before arrival.

The current MobiFone TR109 package includes:

• 109,000 VND

• 20 days of validity

• 4GB of data per day

• Free on-network calls under 10 minutes, capped at 500 minutes

• 20 international calling minutes to specified destinations

• No automatic renewal when the package period ends

MobiFone states that TR109 is tied to its MTR prepaid activation kit for tourists. That makes the 109,000 VND figure more meaningful than a standalone data-package price because the operator presents it as the tourist activation package itself.

Daily data is important here. TR109 gives 4GB each day rather than one 80GB pool that can necessarily be consumed at any pace.

Calling benefits also distinguish it from data-only travel products. Visitors who expect to contact Vietnamese accommodation, drivers or other local numbers may find that useful.

Vietnamobile GO10: a low-cost option for a short stay

Vietnamobile introduced GO10 specifically for international visitors in April 2026.

Its official GO10 Tourist SIM offer publishes:

• 40,000 VND

• 10 days of use

• 5GB of high-speed data per day

• Passport registration

• Free calls between Vietnamobile Tourist SIM users

• Sales through official stores and authorized partner outlets

Ten days of validity fits shorter holidays particularly well. Someone staying two or three weeks would need to consider what happens after that initial period rather than comparing the 40,000 VND headline with a longer package as though they were equivalent.

Vietnamobile also mentions renewal options in its current tourist-SIM material. Exact renewal terms should be confirmed when buying rather than assumed to match the original starter offer.

GO10 has the lowest clearly published tourist-SIM headline price among the dedicated products compared here, but price should not be the only criterion for a multi-region itinerary.

Viettel: a clear tourist registration route, but check the final total

Viettel operates a dedicated web flow for visitors rather than publishing one universal physical tourist-SIM total that can safely be quoted here.

The current purchase sequence requests:

• A passport photograph

• A portrait photograph

• An email address

• SIM/card selection

• Plan selection

That is enough to confirm a foreign-visitor purchase route, but not enough to invent one standard upfront price.

Viettel separately publishes tourist-oriented packages in some channels, yet package price and SIM cost may be distinct. Confirm both before paying and ask the seller for the final amount required to leave with an activated line.

Viettel becomes particularly relevant when you already prefer the operator and do not mind choosing the exact package during purchase instead of relying on one fixed tourist starter bundle.

VinaPhone: check the current tourist offer directly

VinaPhone belongs on the shortlist of major Vietnamese networks, but a current physical tourist starter package with sufficiently clear eligibility and total-price terms was not reliably published in a form suitable for this comparison.

That does not mean tourists cannot use VinaPhone. It means a normal domestic prepaid package should not be presented here as a verified tourist deal without the necessary eligibility and purchase evidence.

Ask an official VNPT/VinaPhone transaction point for:

• The current prepaid option available to a foreign passport holder

• SIM or starter-card cost

• Package price

• Total amount payable before activation

• Data validity

• Included calling benefits, if any

Keeping the row transparent is more useful than filling a price table with a number that may apply only to another customer type.

What Does a Tourist SIM in Vietnam Really Cost?

Headline prices can hide differences in what is actually being sold.

Before comparing two offers, separate these components:

• SIM or starter kit: whether the physical card is included

• Package fee: the charge for data, calls or other allowances

• Activation or service charge: only where the seller or operator actually applies one

• Mandatory first payment or top-up: if required

• Retail seller charge: where a third party sells its own bundle

• Final amount payable: what you must spend before the service can actually be used

MobiFone is relatively straightforward because TR109 is described as a tourist package tied to the MTR prepaid activation kit.

Vietnamobile publishes GO10 as a dedicated 40,000 VND tourist SIM offer rather than merely advertising an unrelated monthly data plan.

Viettel needs more attention at the buying stage. Its visitor flow lets the customer select the SIM and plan, so a single complete tourist total should not be assumed before those choices are made.

VinaPhone also requires a current quote if you want a defensible total.

Airport sellers may package SIMs differently from operator stores or authorized outlets. No blanket claim that an airport is always more expensive is justified without checking the exact seller and bundle.

Where to Buy a SIM Card in Vietnam

Official or clearly authorized sales channels reduce the risk of ending up with a line registered incorrectly or a package whose terms are unclear.

Useful buying options include:

• Official operator stores

• Authorized partner outlets

• Tourist-focused operator sales points

• Airport-area outlets where the operator confirms availability

• Official online tourist purchase flows where offered

Vietnamobile says GO10 can be bought and activated through its stores and authorized partner outlets nationwide, with sales points particularly around airports and tourist centers.

Viettel lets foreign visitors begin the process through its tourist portal by submitting passport and portrait information before selecting the SIM and plan.

MobiFone's TR109 is an operator-defined international-tourist product, so ask specifically for TR109 rather than accepting a similarly priced generic package from an independent seller.

Airport convenience can be valuable when you want service immediately after landing. Still, confirm the exact operator, package name, validity and final amount before handing over payment.

Registration and Activation Rules Tourists Should Know

Anonymous plug-and-play SIM use should not be expected in Vietnam.

Prepare for the purchase with this process in mind:

1. Bring the passport you are traveling with.

2. Choose the exact tourist or foreigner-eligible prepaid product.

3. Confirm the final purchase amount.

4. Complete the operator's identity-registration procedure.

5. Provide a portrait or facial verification when required.

6. Check the active package and expiry date before leaving the seller.

7. Avoid moving the physical SIM between phones unnecessarily.

The last point has become especially relevant in 2026. Current rules require facial biometric re-verification after certain device changes, and operators can restrict service when the required verification is not completed.

New subscriptions are also subject to biometric identity checks under the updated rules.

No universal activation time should be promised across operators. Vietnamobile says GO10 registration can be completed quickly at the point of sale, while other channels may follow a different process.

Payment methods should likewise be confirmed where you actually buy the SIM. Availability of cash, international cards or local digital wallets at one seller does not establish a nationwide rule.

Local SIM vs Roafly eSIM in Vietnam

Convenience and service type create a bigger distinction than raw gigabytes.

Local tourist SIMs are attractive when you want calling features or a very large daily data allowance. Roafly is data-only in Vietnam, so it does not replace a Vietnamese mobile number when traditional calls are an essential part of the trip.

Roafly's owner-verified Vietnam options are:

• 5GB for 30 days — $12.90

• 10GB for 30 days — $19.90

• 20GB for 30 days — $34.90

Hotspot and tethering are supported across the purchased data allowance.

Roafly also lists Viettel Mobile, MobiFone and Vinaphone for its Vietnam product. That network list should not be interpreted as a promise of automatic switching, guaranteed coverage, a particular radio technology or identical performance everywhere.

A local SIM usually makes more sense when:

• You need local calling features

• Daily mobile-data consumption will be high

• Your phone does not support eSIM

• Visiting a shop and completing registration is not a problem

• A verified local offer gives you better overall value

Roafly is more practical when:

• You want to arrange mobile data without swapping physical SIMs

• Keeping your primary SIM installed matters

• You prefer not to depend on local SIM stock or store opening hours

• A fixed data allowance is enough for the trip

• Hotspot use is important

Broader comparisons between travel-eSIM choices belong in eSIM options for Vietnam. Readers weighing roaming, WiFi and other connection methods can instead see ways to get internet in Vietnam.

Which Option Fits Your Vietnam Trip?

Around one week

Vietnamobile GO10 closely matches short trips because its standard tourist period is 10 days. The 5GB daily allowance is much larger than many visitors will need for maps, transport apps and ordinary browsing.

Roafly becomes more attractive when buying and registering a physical SIM is something you would rather skip altogether.

About two to three weeks

MobiFone TR109 fits this window well with 20 days of validity. Its daily data allowance and included calling benefits also make it a more complete local-phone package than a data-only option.

Viettel is worth checking when you are comfortable choosing the plan during its tourist purchase process.

Close to one month

Roafly's selected Vietnam packages remain valid for 30 days, creating a simple fixed-duration option for data-only use.

Local service may provide much larger allowances for the money, but the comparison should use the complete cost of the SIM and package rather than only the advertised data fee.

Local calls are important

MobiFone TR109 has the clearest verified advantage here because the package includes domestic on-network calling benefits and a limited international-call allowance.

Vietnamobile GO10 also includes free calling between Vietnamobile Tourist SIM users.

Roafly should not be chosen for this requirement because its Vietnam plans are data-only.

FAQ

Do tourists need a passport to buy a SIM in Vietnam?

Dedicated visitor products from MobiFone, Vietnamobile and Viettel use foreign-tourist registration processes. Vietnamobile explicitly requires a passport for GO10, while Viettel's tourist portal asks for a passport image and portrait photograph.

Is biometric verification required?

Vietnam tightened mobile subscriber verification rules in 2026. New subscriptions are subject to facial biometric verification, and moving a SIM to another device can trigger re-authentication requirements.

Can I buy a SIM at a Vietnam airport?

SIMs are sold through tourist-focused channels around major travel hubs, but exact seller availability and package pricing should be checked at the specific location. Vietnamobile explicitly states that its authorized tourist-SIM outlets include locations around airports and tourist centers.

Is a local Vietnam SIM always cheaper than an eSIM?

No. MobiFone and Vietnamobile publish inexpensive tourist products, but cost is only one part of the decision. Registration, validity, calling needs, total purchase price and the convenience of arriving with data arranged can change which option is better.

Can I move a Vietnamese SIM to another phone?

Current 2026 rules can require facial biometric re-verification when a mobile subscription is moved to another device. Keeping the SIM in the device used after activation avoids creating an unnecessary device-change verification event.

Final Recommendation

MobiFone TR109 is the strongest all-round physical tourist-SIM benchmark in this comparison because its price, tourist eligibility, 20-day validity, daily data and calling benefits are clearly published together.

Vietnamobile GO10 is particularly compelling for shorter stays thanks to its 40,000 VND tourist price and 10-day validity. Viettel provides a dedicated foreign-visitor buying route but requires the SIM and package choices to be checked before a complete total can be stated. VinaPhone is better treated as an official-store quote until an equally clear current tourist offer can be verified.

Roafly suits visitors who prefer to arrange data without replacing a physical SIM or depending on a local sales point. Local service remains the stronger choice when calling features, very high data use or a lower verified total cost matter more than the extra registration step.

Roafly publishes this guide and offers the travel-eSIM alternative discussed above.