Compare Top Vietnam eSIM Providers – Which To Choose?

July 15, 2024 Tips & Guides

eSIM is now available in Vietnam and is becoming more and more popular among both locals and tourists. With several providers offering a variety of plans, choosing the right provider with the right plan can be daunting.

This guide will analyze and compare top Vietnam eSIM providers, compare their offerings, strengths, and best-suited tourist types, aiming to help you make an informed decision on which to choose for your Vietnam trip.

1. Gigago eSIM

Gigago is the leading Vietnam eSIM provider in the world. Part of the reason is that Gigago is the provider with the most data plan options catering to different needs of tourists compared to its competitors. The provider stands out with its diverse and budget-friendly options, especially for shorter trips.

Pros:

In particular, Gigago partners with both Vietnam’s biggest mobile networks (Vinaphone/Viettel) and affordable mobile virtual network operators (Wintel/Itel), to ensure great coverage, stable/fast speed, affordable prices and flexible plans. On their product page for Vietnam eSIM packages, you can find a wide range of data packages ranging from 7GB to unlimited data, with validity periods from 8 to 30 days.

Especially, their GIGA120 plan, offering 4GB / day for 30 days, is a favorite among most travelers, offering a great deal for data-hungry users.

What is great about Gigago eSIM Vietnam is that its customer service is 24/7/365 in multiple languages via WhatsApp and email. You can get help from Gigago almost anytime.

Cons: While local phone numbers are not included in their eSIM plans, you can still make calls and texts through apps like WhatsApp, Telegram,…

Best for: On-budget travelers who need different amounts of data for browsing, navigation, social media, and do not require a local number.

2. Holafly

Holafly is a popular eSIM provider specializing in offering unlimited data plans for various destinations around the world, including Vietnam.

Pros:

Holafly focuses on ease of use and simplicity. They offer only unlimited data with varying durations, making it convenient for tourists who do not want to be concerned about data limits.

Their eSIM setup is through app and straightforward. They also provide customer support in multiple languages.

Cons: While Holafly offers unlimited data, note that unlimited data has a specific restricted threshold. It means that the high speed will be reduced after a specific amount of data. Besides, their plans tend to be pricier than Gigago, especially for shorter trips.

Best for: Tourists who love unlimited data and quick experience, and do not mind paying a higher cost for it.

3. Airalo

Airalo is the first and biggest international eSIM provider in the world which allows users to easily access mobile data in more than 190 countries worldwide through its large network of local carrier partners. Vietnam is one of them.

Pros:

Airalo has a user-friendly platform and a wide selection of plans, catering to various budgets and data needs.

For Vietnam, Airalo’s data plans are competitive, especially for smaller data packages.

This provider uses network services of MobiFone and Viettel – two major mobile network operators in Vietnam.

Cons:

The plans of Airalo typically come with shorter validity periods compared with some other providers. So, it is not suitable for travelers on longer trips. If so, you need to buy multiple eSIMs.

Best for: Travelers who need flexibility in choosing data packages and prefer shorter-term plans.

4. KKday

KKday is another eSIM provider focusing on offering travel-focused mobile internet for travelers visiting various destinations globally.

Pros:

KKday Vietnam eSIM has a unique selling point: an eSIM with both unlimited data and calls. This makes it a comprehensive solution for travelers who need both the Internet and calls within Vietnam.

Cons: Detailed information about specific call allowances as well as potential limitations is not clearly stated on their website. Thus, you should contact their customer support for clarification before buying.

Best for: Travelers who need both unlimited data and the ability to make local calls within Vietnam.

5. Nomad

Nomad is a global eSIM provider that offers high-speed mobile data for 200+ countries and regions all over the world.

Pros:

Nomad provides a good balance between data volume and validity periods. You can see that plan options of Nomad range from 1GB for 7 days to 20GB for 45 days.

The special thing about Nomad’s eSIM is its loyalty program where customers can earn points for discount if they buy eSIMs in the future.

Cons:

However, the price of Nomad’s eSIM is somehow in the middle range, not the cheapest but not the most expensive.

For Vietnam, its validity periods are also limited to other competitors. In detail, they just offer 7, 30, and 45 days. There seems to be a lack of medium validity periods.

Best for: Travelers seeking a balance between affordability and data allowance, with the added benefit of a loyalty program.

Note: Remember to always check the coverage map of the underlying network provider (e.g., Vinaphone, Mobifone, Viettel) to ensure you’ll have a strong signal in the areas you’ll be visiting.

So which Vietnam eSIM providers to choose?

Based on the comparison above, we can give some advice for you when choosing an eSIM provider for Vietnam travel:

For most tourists to Vietnam, Gigago eSIM is likely the best choice thanks to its reliable coverage and fast speed across the country. The ability to access 24/7 multilingual customer support is also a significant advantage of this provider.
For tourists who love the simplicity of unlimited data, Holafly can be a suitable alternative, though the plans tend to be more expensive compared to Gigago’s offerings.

After all, the choice will depend on the specific Internet habits, budget, and preferences of each traveler. However, for the majority of tourists visiting Vietnam, Gigaog eSIM is likely to offer the best value.