How to get a Vietnamese SIM card and phone number

To shop on Shopee you need a Vietnamese phone number. Shopee sends sign-up and login codes by SMS, and couriers call or text this number before they deliver. A foreign number usually won't work for either. The good news: getting a local SIM is quick and cheap.

1. Choose a carrier

Vietnam has three big mobile carriers. All three work well in the cities.

• Viettel: generally the widest coverage, including small towns, mountains and islands. A safe default.
• Vinaphone: good coverage in cities and most provinces.
• MobiFone: also good in cities, often popular for data packages.

If you travel a lot outside big cities, Viettel is usually the easiest choice. If you live in a city, any of the three is fine. Ask neighbours or colleagues which one works best in your building.

2. Where to buy

• Official carrier stores (cửa hàng giao dịch). The safest option. Staff register the SIM to your passport on the spot, and you can come back if something goes wrong.
• Airport kiosks. Convenient when you land, and staff often speak English. Prices are often higher than in town, and these are usually tourist SIMs.
• Small phone shops and street sellers. Cheap, but you can't always be sure who the SIM is registered to. Avoid them for a number you plan to keep.

3. Bring your passport

You need your passport to buy a SIM. Registration with ID is mandatory in Vietnam. Since 2024 the rules have become stricter: the subscriber information must match the ID of the person who uses the number. SIMs that are not registered properly, or registered to someone else, can be blocked or cut off.

4. Data and calls

Mobile data in Vietnam is usually inexpensive. Carriers sell monthly packages (gói cước) with a set amount of data per day or per month, often with some calls included. 4G works almost everywhere in cities, and 5G is available in more and more areas. Packages and prices change often, so check the current list in the store or in the carrier's app.

5. eSIM

All three big carriers offer eSIM for many recent phones. You still need to register with your passport, usually at a store. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to a foreign carrier before you go.

6. Topping up

Most local SIMs are prepaid. You add money (nạp tiền) and then buy a package from your balance. Ways to top up:

• the carrier's own app (each carrier has one);
• your Vietnamese bank app or e-wallet, usually under "top up phone" (nạp tiền điện thoại);
• convenience stores and phone shops, which sell scratch cards (thẻ cào) or top up for you.

7. Tourist SIM or long-term SIM?

• Tourist SIM: sold at airports, data-heavy, valid for a fixed period. Fine for a short trip, but it can expire, and some don't receive SMS reliably.
• Long-term SIM: a normal prepaid number from a carrier store. This is what you want if you live here, because you'll use it for Shopee, banks, Grab and deliveries.

Useful Vietnamese words

Once you have a number, see how to buy on Shopee and how to enter your address.