Being online as soon as you arrive in Vietnam makes everything easier: booking rides, using maps, messaging your hotel, changing plans. The first question is whether to use a physical SIM or an eSIM. This guide helps you decide in a minute.
Physical SIM vs eSIM
| eSIM | Physical SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is installed | Scan a QR code — no SIM slot needed | Insert the SIM card in the slot |
| Your home SIM | Stays in your phone, so bank texts still arrive | Has to come out (unless your phone has two slots) — keep it safe |
| Your phone | Must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked | Any unlocked phone with a SIM slot |
| Best for | Most recent phones | Older phones, phones without eSIM |
In short: if your phone supports eSIM, choose eSIM; if it does not, or you are not sure, choose a physical SIM.
Does my phone support eSIM?
iPhone XS, XR and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer and most recent Samsung Galaxy models support eSIM. iPhone 14 and newer bought in the US have no SIM tray at all, so they take eSIM only. To check:
- iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data (Cellular) → if you see "Add eSIM", you are good to go.
- Android: Settings → Connections (or Network & internet) → SIM manager → look for "Add eSIM".
- Quick check: dial *#06# — if an EID number appears, your phone has eSIM.
Phones bought on a carrier contract may be locked. Ask your carrier to unlock yours before you travel.
Data only, or a plan with a phone number?
- Data only: enough for maps, WhatsApp, Zalo, social media and app calls.
- Calls + data: adds a Vietnamese phone number for calls and SMS. You need it to sign up for ride-hailing or food delivery apps (one-time codes), or when a driver, hotel or restaurant needs to call you.
Data plans run for a set number of days, for example 15 or 30 — pick the one that covers your trip.
Where to buy so you are online the moment you land
Carrier shops in the city sell SIMs too, but then you have no data between the airport and the shop — exactly when you need to book a ride. The easier way: pre-book a SIM or eSIM with Newway SAS and collect it at our counter right by baggage carousel 8 in Tan Son Nhat International Terminal 2. Our staff fit your SIM or set up your eSIM while you wait for your bags, so it works by the time you walk out.
Before you fly: turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid surprise charges. Once installed, set the Vietnamese line for mobile data and keep your home SIM for texts.
Read next: your first hour at International Terminal 2 and getting from the airport to District 1.