Sim Card, 3G/4G have become more and more popular in the world. Coming to Ho Chi Minh, you can easily buy Sim Card and 3G/4G packages at reasonable prices. This Guide to Sim Card 3G/4G in Ho Chi Minh gives you updated information about mobile networks in Vietnam and Sim Card, packages, rates, and many things more.
Table of Contents
I. Why purchasing a Sim Card 3G/4G in Ho Chi Minh?
– Contact tour agencies.
– Keep in touch with your family, friend, partner, etc.
– Check maps, find places for eating, drinking, entertaining, information about tourist attractions.
– Find and book hotels, tours, transportation online.
– The price is reasonable.
II. Which is the best telecommunication provider in Ho Chi Minh?
Make sure to buy your Sim Card from 4 major mobile networks in Vietnam: Mobile, Viettel, Vinaphone, Vietnamobile. The first three brands cover more than 95% of the whole domestic telecommunication market in the country. Vietnamobile is the youngest and provides the cheapest packages at this moment. However, Vietnamobile network is only good in big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Danang. It is not a good choice if you also visit other regions in the country.
Website: https://vietteltelecom.vn
III. How much is Tourist Sim Card, rates, data packages?
Prepaid tourist Sim Cards in Vietnam cost from 50,000 VND, depending on the sellers and the phone number. Although each telecommunication provider provides different packages at different prices, 4 providers provide Tourist SIM which is suitable for tourists, including domestic and international calls, lots of data, and other useful utilities. The cons of Tourist Sim include no contract and non-require of any documents excepts for a passport (available at least 3 months). You should buy credit to add more money to the balance, then make calls or send SMS. You can surf the internet by activating Cellular Data to 4G or LTE. Registering a package for calling and SMS and 3G/4G packages are not very expensive. 4G is said to be faster than 3G. In small cities, the difference between 3G and 4G is not too much but you will notice a huge difference in big cities such as Ho Chi Minh. Please check with the seller if your Sim Card is 4G or 3G.
1. Viettel
You can choose one from Economy Sim Card , Tomato Sim Card , Tourist Sim Card which are suitable best for tourists. Tourist plans are prepaid plans designed for foreigners, who come to Vietnam for traveling or working in a short time. Validity is appropriate with tourists’ length of stay and no contract is required. There are two Tourist plans for your own demand: Tourist Voice plan offers Voice, SMS, and Data; Tourist Data plan offers Data only for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, USB 3G with many attractive offers and easy to use. The cost of the Tourist Sim Card is from 50,000 VND. Nothing is included with this Sim Card. You should top up the credit to make calls, send SMS, or surf Internet because the Sim Card and the Tourist package of Viettel do no include anything.
Tourist Voice:
| Domestic internal network call | Domestic cross-network call | Domestic internal network SMS | Domestic cross-network SMS | International network SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,190,000 VND/minute | 1,390,000 VND/minute | 300 VND/SMS | 350 VND/SMS | 2,500 VND/SMS |
Tourist Data:
| Vietnam inbound SMS | International network SMS | Data overage charge |
|---|---|---|
| 500 VND/SMS | 2,500 VND/SMS | 9.76 VND/50KB |
When you buy a new Sim Card with Tourist Voice package, it has been registered for international calls. You can send “QT OFF” to 133 if you would like to cancel for international calls. To register for international calls, send “QT ON” to 133. The rate for international call: 3,600 – 45,000 VND/minute, depending on the country to which call. Australia, France, United States, China, Singapore, Russia: 3,600,000 VND. Click HERE to learn more about the rates for calls to other countries. To call to other countries, dial “00 + Country code + Region code/Network code + Phone number”. You can replace “00” with “+”.
If you would like to register for a data package, you send <package name> to 191. For example, send Mimax70 to 191. To check the data balance, send KTTK to 191. Viettel offers lots of data packages, the followings are some suitable data packages four travelers who visit Vietnam for less than 1 month.
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Viettel Data Packages
D30; 2.5 GB high speed; 30,000 VND; 1 month; throttled when the data balance runs out.
D50; 3.5 GB high speed; 50,000 VND; 1 month; throttled when the data balance runs out.
Mimax70; 3 GB high speed; 70,000 VND; 1 month; throttled when the data balance runs out.
Mimax90; 3 GB high speed; 90,000 VND; 1 month; throttled when the data balance runs out.
Mimax200; 15 GB high speed; 200,000 VND; 1 month; throttled when the data balance runs out.
Umax300; 30 GB high speed; 300,000 VND; 1 month; speed 1 Mbps when the data balance runs out.
TOMD10; 200 MB; 10,000 VND; 60 days.
TOMD30; 1 GB; 30,000 VND; 60 days.
MI7D; 700 MB; 7,000 VND; 24 hours.
MI5D; 500 MB; 5,000 VND; 24 hours.
MI10D; 1 GB; 10,000 VND; 24 hours.
2. Mobifone
Happy Tourist is specially designed for international tourists, it helps the tourists call, send SMS, surf the Internet on their trip to Vietnam. There are 2 Happy Tourist packages: HP2 and HP3.
| Package code | Price | Validation | Domestic and international network call | Domestic and international SMS | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP2 | 109,000 VND | 30 days | 70 minutes | 30 SMS | 18 GB |
| HP3 | 100,000 VND | 30 days | 25 minutes | – | 2GB/day |
A Mobifone Sim Card costs from 50,000 VND. If you would like to buy a Happy Tourist package, you will pay more than 109,000 VND (or 100,000 VND). The HP2 package includes 70 minutes of domestic and international network call and 30 SMS, 18 GB of data. The HP3 package includes 25 minutes of domestic and international network call, 2 GB/day. After you buy the Sim Card and the Happy Tourist Package, the seller usually helps you to register for the Happy Tourist. It is simple to do, just send DK_[PACKAGE CODE] to 789. For example, send DK_HP2 to 789. Send HUY_HP2 to cancel the package.
How to make international calls with Mobifone?
When you buy a new Sim Card and Happy Tourist package, it has been registered for international calls. The rates for international calls range between 4,114 – 17,820 VND/minute. Mobifone provides a new way to call international at a lower cost. Just add 131 at the beginning when you dial. Click HERE to learn more about the rates for calls to other countries. The rate for international SMS is 2,500 VND/SMS. To call to other countries:
Direct IDD: Dial “00 + Country code + Region code/Network code + Phone number”. You can replace “00” with “+”.
VoIP 131 (rate is 5 – 10% off): Dial “131 + 00 + Country code + Region code/Network code + Phone number”. You can replace “00” with “+”.
3. Vinaphone
With only 199,000 VND, you will have a Vinaphone Tourist Sim Card and enjoy, the whole preferential set of the International/local call, SMS and high speed 3G Data within 15 days.
| Local call | Local SMS | Internatinal call | 3G High Speed Data | Main account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 minutes | 100 SMS | 50 minutes * | 15 GB ** | 20,000 VND |
Text VOL TR2 to 900 to check account balance
Package exceeding rate:
| Local call | Local SMS | Data |
|---|---|---|
| 1,580 VND/Min | 250 VND/SMS | 55 VND/50 KB |
When you buy a new Tourist Sim Card, it has been registered for international calls to:
Mobile/Fixed: United States, China, HongKong, Singapore. Fixed: Japan, Taiwan, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Swiss, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, Russia.
To call overseas, dial 1714<Country code><Area code><Phone number>.
IV. How to add money to the balance?
After the available call minutes and data in the Sim Card and tourist package runs out, you should buy a card to add money to the balance in order to be able to call or send SMS, register for other packages.
Top up the credit
To top up the credit, follow the instructions:
– Buy a phone card with an amount, then scratch the silver things out, look at the magic numbers. You can also buy the phone card without the silver things at some convenience stores such as Circle K.
– Press *100* then followed by the magic number, then press # and send.
– You should receive a message about the money was added successfully to the balance.
Check the balance
Top-ups from 5,000 to 500,000 VND extends the Sim life from 1 to 215 days. To check the balance and the Sim life, dial “*101#” for Mobiphone, Vinaphone, Vietnamobile. Call “*101#” to check the official balance of Viettel Sim Card. To check the promotion balance of Viettel Sim Card, call “*102#”. Note that the promotion balance is used for calling and sending SMS but not surfing the internet, signing up for data package like the official balance. 10 days after the Sim expire date, your phone number is blocked (one-way), you can not call or send SMS but still receive calls and SMS until you top up your credit again.
Tourists just pose for photos, Tracy’s team will ride guests on motorbikes around the city to see great sights and enjoy great foods.
V. Where to buy a Sim Card in Ho Chi Minh?
Sim Cards and credits are sold everywhere in Ho Chi Minh. You can see “SIM CARD 3G, 4G” on boards around the city. You can buy a Sim Card at convenience stores, kiosks, tour agencies, cell phone shops. However, it is recommended to buy a Sim Card in an official mobile internet provider shops where the staffs give you lots of useful information and advice. You can buy at Tan Son Nhat Airport if you would like to use the services right away. Certainly, the prices are usually higher than in the city. If you must buy the Sim card and 3G/4G at the airport, you can shop around for the best price. However, you can buy phone cards at any place in the city.
List of some Viettel Stores:
166C-D-E Tran Hung Dao Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
174 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
156 Tran Nao Street, Binh An Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.
216 Hong Bang Street, Ward 12, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
273A Nguyen Thi Thap Street, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.
20 3 Thang 2 Street, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 8:00 – 20:00 (some stores work until 19:00, 22:00).
List of some Mobifone Stores:
80 Nguyen Du Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Floor B11, Block 11A1, Vincom A Building, 71 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
191 Tran Nao Street, Binh An Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.
123 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
215 Nguyen Thi Thap Street, Tan Phu Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours:
Weekdays: 7:30 – 18:00 (some stores works until 22:00)
Weekends: 8:30 – 16:00 (some stores works until 17:00)
List of some Vinaphone Stores:
80 Nguyen Du Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
5 Nguyen Van Binh Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
139 Tran Nao Street, Binh An Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.
535 – 537 Dien Bien Phur Street, Ward 3, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.
5 Nguyen Thi Thap Street, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.
Opening hours: 8:00 – 11:30; 13:30 – 17:00
I hope this Guide to Sim Card 3G/4G in Ho Chi Minh helps you as much as possible on your trip to the city. It is really difficult to be in a new place without contacting your family and surfing Internet. Read more about A Guide to Wifi in Ho Chi Minh City
On Mekong Delta Tours, Tracy’s team will show you a peaceful and beautiful region with a rich culture and indigenous people. Cruising rivers and channels by boats and sampans is one of the must-do activities in Mekong Delta. Lush orchards, rice paddy fields, quiet villages and many others will make your trip unforgettable.
