URL: https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/vietnam/
Buy: https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-vietnam/
Source: eSIM World (esimworld.co.uk)
Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimworld.co.uk/author/
Updated: 26 October 2026
Prices: in pounds (GBP) at the rate of 31 Oct; the site shows the rate of the day.

# Vietnam SIM card or eSIM from the UK: what roaming costs and what to choose

The best eSIM for Vietnam depends on what your UK network charges there, from nothing on Sky VIP Diamond to £5 a MB on giffgaff. Vodafone charges £8 a day of use, EE £26.50 for 7 days, Sky £2 a day (checked on 24 October 2026, [EE price guide](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf)). Our Vietnam eSIM from the UK is £7.99 for 5 GB over 30 days, data only. You have four ways to stay connected: your UK network, a travel eSIM, a local SIM or pocket Wi-Fi.

This site is not affiliated with any of the networks mentioned here; we sell eSIMs. [How we compare](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-we-compare/)

You may not need an eSIM. Sky VIP Diamond and Three Complete plans include Vietnam, and Three pay as you go has no daily charge there: you use your Data Pack (checked on 24 October 2026). Check your network's row below first.

[See the Vietnam eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-vietnam/)

## What do UK networks charge in Vietnam?

Roaming in Vietnam on UK networks runs from £2 a day on Sky to £5 per MB on giffgaff (all rows checked on 24 October 2026). Five networks price Vietnam differently from Thailand: O2, Three, Lebara, giffgaff and Lyca.

| Network | Vietnam charge | Condition | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| [EE](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf) | £5.50 for 24 hours, £26.50 for 7 days | Rest of World Zone 1; no data without a pass | 24 October 2026 |
| [Vodafone](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/smart-living/everything-you-need-to-know-about/roaming-with-vodafone-in-2022-everything-you-need-to-know/) | £8 a day of use | Zone D, pay monthly from 11 August 2021 (£6 before) | 24 October 2026 |
| [O2](https://www.o2.co.uk/international/data-roaming-bolt-ons) | Bolt Ons: 100MB £26, 500MB £45, 1GB £65 | Zone 3, Pay Monthly; not on Ultimate; no data without a bolt-on | 24 October 2026 |
| [Three](https://www.three.co.uk/content/dam/threedigital/terms-and-conditions/price-guides/latest-price-guides/threeyourwayplans-priceguide-post19apr2026-12102026.pdf) | £8 a day; passes £30 for 7 days, £60 for 14 | Around the World; Lite and Lite+ joined or upgraded from 18 December 2025; included on Complete; no daily charge on PAYG | 24 October 2026 |
| [iD Mobile](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming) | Roam Beyond: 2GB £5 for 1 day, 10GB £20 for 5 days, 20GB £35 for 10 days; otherwise £1.50 per MB | £45 roaming data limit by default | 24 October 2026 |
| [Lebara](https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/roaming-add-on/p/44000073.html) | 1GB £4 for 8 days, 3GB £12 for 15 days | Zone 5 add-on | 24 October 2026 |
| [giffgaff](https://www.giffgaff.com/roaming) | £5 per MB | Rest of world; no travel add-on for Vietnam | 24 October 2026 |
| [Tesco Mobile](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming) | see Tesco's page | Vietnam is not named in Tesco's region lists | 24 October 2026 |
| [Sky Mobile](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming) | £2 a day | Roaming Passport Plus; a call or text you send, or over 10MB, starts 24 hours; free on VIP Diamond | 24 October 2026 |
| [VOXI](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/articles/what-are-global-roaming-extras-and-how-do-they-work----2cc71973-bb4a-436f-a6cd-1497441ed34d) | 2GB £16 for 8 days, 4GB £26.60 for 15 days | Global Roaming Extra, with minutes and texts | 24 October 2026 |
| [SMARTY](https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf) | 10p per MB | Roaming 1, from out-of-plan add-ons | 24 October 2026 |
| [Talkmobile](https://talkmobile.co.uk/booster-details) | 500MB £5 for 1 day, 5GB £20 for 8 days, 8GB £30 for 15 days | World Holiday Booster, Zone B; no data without one | 24 October 2026 |
| [Lyca Mobile](https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/roaming/) | 1GB £10 for 7 days, 2.5GB £20 for 14 days | PAYG country pass from top-up credit; up to 5 in 30 days | 24 October 2026 |
| [BT Mobile](https://www.bt.com/help/mobile/going-abroad/buying-mobile-data-add-ons-to-use-abroad/bt-mobile-travel-data-pass-add-on) | see BT's page | Roaming Zone 7; not one of the 12 Travel Data Pass countries | 24 October 2026 |
| [Asda Mobile](https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad) | £1 per MB | World Group 1 | 24 October 2026 |

At giffgaff's £5 a MB, 100MB costs £500 (our arithmetic). Vodafone, Three and Sky charge for each day you use the phone, not each day you are away. Our pages on [EE](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/ee/), [Vodafone](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/vodafone/), [O2](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/o2/) and [Three](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/three/) give the full rates.

## Is a travel eSIM worth it for Vietnam?

A travel eSIM is worth it when your network charges by the day: 14 days of use in Vietnam come to £28 on Sky, £53 on EE and £112 on Vodafone (our arithmetic, checked on 24 October 2026). Our 5 GB plan covers 30 days for £7.99, data only.

| Network or plan | 14 days | 28 days | How we added it up |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE, Zone 1 | £53 | £106 | weekly passes at £26.50 |
| Vodafone, plans from 11 August 2021 | £112 | £224 | £8 a day of use |
| Three, Lite and Lite+ | £60 | £120 | 14-day passes at £60 |
| Sky, not VIP Diamond | £28 | £56 | £2 a day of use |
| Lyca, pay as you go | £20 | £40 | 14-day passes, 2.5GB each |
| Lebara | £12 | £20 | 15-day add-on (3GB), then two 8-day (1GB each) |
| Our Vietnam plan, data only | 5 GB, £7.99 | 5 GB, £7.99 | one 30-day plan |

Source: each network's own price page, checked on 24 October 2026. The prices are the networks'; the totals are ours.

These are different products. The passes use your UK allowance and number; our plans are a data-only eSIM on a second line, and WhatsApp stays on your UK number. [Keeping your UK number](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/keep-your-uk-number/) covers the set-up; [roaming or eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming-or-esim/) runs the same decision for any country.

Our Vietnam plans are GB and days plans, from £3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days to 20 GB over 30 days; 10 GB over 30 days is £12.99. They run on VNPT, which the listing marks 5G; for 4G/5G coverage in a given town we give no map. Hotspot and tethering depend on the plan card.

## Vietnamese tourist SIM or eSIM?

Our 24 October 2026 check covered no local SIM prices, so we give none. A tourist SIM at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City airports, or in a shop in town, is bought in person: take your passport, and expect prices and rules to vary by shop.

Vietnam SIM card vs eSIM comes down to practicalities. A local SIM gives you a Vietnamese number but takes a SIM slot, and you buy it after landing. An eSIM goes on at home. Pocket Wi-Fi is one more device to charge.

An eSIM needs an eSIM-compatible phone: dial *#06#, and if an EID shows, it takes one. Install before you travel, at home on Wi-Fi; the plan starts on first connection in Vietnam, and you have 365 days from purchase to install it. [How to install an eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-to-install-esim/) has the steps.

Read the [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for Vietnam](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam) before you book.

## Vietnam and Cambodia on one trip

For Vietnam and Cambodia, the best eSIM for Vietnam may not be a Vietnam plan: one Asia plan covers both. Our 10 GB, 30-day Asia plan is £10.99; 5 GB over 30 days is £7.99 for Vietnam and £8.99 for Cambodia, all data only.

| Option | Data and days | Networks listed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam plan | 5 GB, 30 days | VNPT (5G) | £7.99 |
| Cambodia plan | 5 GB, 30 days | Smart (4G) | £8.99 |
| Asia plan | 10 GB, 30 days | VNPT International in Vietnam; Viettel (Metfone) and Cellcard in Cambodia | £10.99 |

Add the first two prices and set the sum against the third. The Asia plan covers 18 countries, Thailand and Laos among them; its 50 GB plan runs 90 days for £50.99. It starts on first connection in any of them: fly in through Bangkok and the clock starts there, not in Hanoi.

For Cambodia, the FCDO says: "FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 20km from the land border with Thailand." Read the [FCDO travel advice for Cambodia](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia) before you cross overland.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is it worth getting an eSIM for Vietnam?

Yes, if your UK network charges by the day or the MB there. Fourteen days of use cost £28 on Sky, £53 on EE and £112 on Vodafone (our arithmetic, checked on 24 October 2026). A data-only eSIM covers 30 days for one price; your UK SIM stays on for calls.

### Do you need a SIM in Vietnam?

No, but without one you depend on Wi-Fi or roaming. EE and Talkmobile give no data in Vietnam without a pass; O2 sells only Bolt Ons, from £26 for 100MB. Vodafone, Sky and Three's Lite plans charge by the day; iD, giffgaff, SMARTY and Asda charge by the MB (checked on 24 October 2026).

### What is the best eSIM for Vietnam on a long backpacking trip in Asia?

A regional eSIM installed at home, for data across several countries. Our Asia plan covers 18 countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and its 50 GB plan runs 90 days. A local number needs a local SIM in each country; we have not checked their prices.

*Sources are linked in the text; reviewed by Nadezhda Semenova. For the terms of your own contract, check with your network.*

## Sources

- [EE price guide, 31 March 2026 (PDF)](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf)
- [Vodafone roaming guide](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/smart-living/everything-you-need-to-know-about/roaming-with-vodafone-in-2022-everything-you-need-to-know/)
- [O2 data roaming Bolt Ons](https://www.o2.co.uk/international/data-roaming-bolt-ons)
- [Three Your Way price guide, post 19 April 2026 (PDF)](https://www.three.co.uk/content/dam/threedigital/terms-and-conditions/price-guides/latest-price-guides/threeyourwayplans-priceguide-post19apr2026-12102026.pdf)
- [iD Mobile roaming](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming)
- [Lebara Zone 5 roaming add-on](https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/roaming-add-on/p/44000073.html)
- [giffgaff roaming](https://www.giffgaff.com/roaming)
- [Tesco Mobile roaming](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming)
- [Sky Mobile roaming](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming)
- [VOXI Global Roaming Extras](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/articles/what-are-global-roaming-extras-and-how-do-they-work----2cc71973-bb4a-436f-a6cd-1497441ed34d)
- [SMARTY price guide (PDF)](https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf)
- [Talkmobile Booster details](https://talkmobile.co.uk/booster-details)
- [Lyca Mobile roaming](https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/roaming/)
- [BT Travel Data Pass](https://www.bt.com/help/mobile/going-abroad/buying-mobile-data-add-ons-to-use-abroad/bt-mobile-travel-data-pass-add-on)
- [Asda Mobile roaming](https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad)
- [FCDO: Vietnam travel advice](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam)
- [FCDO: Cambodia travel advice](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia)