With any first conversation, a package of 20 minutes for 200 rubles is activated. These 200 minutes must be spoken before the end of the day, otherwise they “burn out”. The 21st and further minutes cost 10 rubles. SMS message - 20 rubles.
There is a service "Per-minute billing". In this case, the package is not activated, 200 rubles are not charged, but the call costs 30 rubles per minute.
Tele 2
Any incoming and outgoing at 15 rubles per minute. SMS message - 6 rubles.
An interesting fact is that Tele2's SMS message, even without options, is cheaper than with special options from MTS and Megafon.
If you turn on the “Conversations without borders” option, then for 5 rubles per day the cost of a conversation with incoming call reduced to 5 rubles per minute.
Perhaps Tele2 can be called the best operator connections for travel to Vietnam. Tele2 operates through Viettel's cellular network, the largest and most advanced in Vietnam. The price per minute is not the lowest, but the most profitable, because you do not need to buy minutes at once in a package, but you can say at least 1, at least 2 minutes a day.
SIM cards of local operators
The development of mobile communications in Vietnam began only in 1995, when the state opened the communications market to private companies. Despite the late start, the country cellular networks developed, and now there are 4 main operators: Viettel Mobile, MobiFone, VinaPhone and Vietnamobile.
There is also a Gmobile operator, formerly called Beeline. The name is not accidental, its co-owner was the Russian Beeline. We can say that now Gmobile (Beeline) does not actually exist. They could not get a license for 3G or 4G for a long time, but in 2016 they got it, but the network was not built. As a result, almost all customers were lost.
The S-Fone operator does not exist now - it went bankrupt.
Viettel Mobile, MobiFone, VinaPhone are the largest, they are also called the Big Three. See their logos in the picture below, click on the picture to enlarge.
Laws and regulations
By law, any SIM card must be registered to a valid passport. The Vietnamese are not very fond of following the laws, so until November 2016, no one paid attention to this law. In November 2016, the authorities blocked 12 million “left” SIM cards, and they began to comply with the law. Since then, "left" SIM-cards have been periodically blocked.
You can buy a SIM card either at the official office of one of the operators, or at small kiosks. According to all the rules, you can register a SIM card only at the official office. The kiosks sell either unregistered SIM-cards, or registered for "left" people.
Important point! When buying a SIM card outside the official office, be sure to make sure that it works. To do this, you can either make a call or send an SMS to the number '1414' with the text 'TTTB'. If the SIM card is registered, then a response SMS will come, the text will contain the name, date of birth and passport number of the owner.
Important point! If you bought a SIM card registered to the “left” person, then mentally prepare for the fact that it will be turned off without prior notice. Although it is unlikely that this will happen before the end of the holiday, it will most likely be turned off later, when you are already at home.
Let not all, but very many of us without cell phone feel helpless. Modern man grasps mobile phone as often as a Western cowboy grabs a gun. The feeling of loneliness, isolation from the virtual team arises even in the absence of the ability to connect to the Internet. Whether this is good or bad is not the point, because it is already a given. Therefore, when planning a vacation, travelers are interested in how things are going with communications in the country they are going to visit. Let's talk about mobile communications and the Internet in Vietnam.
general information
Travelers usually do not complain about communication problems in Vietnam. well developed Mobile Internet, most local hotels have free Wi-Fi. You can also catch Wi-Fi in many restaurants and cafes, and even on the busy streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Enough in large cities and Internet cafes, where 30-35 rubles(or even for half that amount) you can surf the Web for an hour. As you can see, there are more than enough opportunities to connect to the Internet in Vietnam, but the connection speed often leaves much to be desired.
It is more profitable to use Vietnamese SIM cards than Russian ones, simply because it will be cheaper. They are sold almost everywhere.
No roaming within the country - all local phone calls are paid according to the existing tariffs.
Vietnam phone code: +84 . You can call the police at 113 , telephone fire service – 114 . If you need an urgent health care, call the number 115 . Phone number for inquiries - 116 .
You can buy a Vietnamese SIM card in shopping malls, communication stores and even in private stores. Of course, SIM cards are also sold at the airport, but such a purchase will cost more. They will activate your card on the spot - just ask.
Among the mobile operators, such large providers stand out as Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone, which together account for more than 70% of the local market (41% for Viettel and 30% for VinaPhone). The third and fourth positions are respectively mobile phone and Vietnamobile. The difference in tariffs between the listed operators is so insignificant that it can be neglected. There is no provider whose services guarantee a special quality of communication. Short-term failures are possible, first of all, this concerns sending and receiving SMS messages (we are talking about messaging with Russian subscribers).
The cost of a SIM card is about 60 thousand Vietnamese dong (slightly more 100 rub.). The maximum price is 100 thousand dong ( 170 rub.). When buying a card, you should have a passport with you, valid for at least the next six months.
A minute of conversation with Russia will cost the owner of a Vietnamese SIM card 9-11 rubles(outgoing call). It should be noted that a call from the Russian Federation will cost your interlocutor a pretty penny - 100 rubles in a minute. Cheapest way to call Russia from branches postal service: near 7 rub. in a minute. True, the post office still needs to be found, but the difference of 2 rubles is still ridiculous.
Local mobile operators quite often arrange various promotions - in this case, you will receive an SMS in Vietnamese with the number 50% and the date until which the indicated discount is valid. If there is not much money left on your balance, it makes sense to hurry up and buy a payment card before the promotion expires, because this will allow you to save half the amount.
Internet
Main providers 3 G- connections in Vietnam are already familiar to us giants of the Vietnamese market Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone. Feel good in this company mobile phone. Modems are sold in the same places as SIM cards, that is, in specialized stores, shopping centers and private shops. When buying, you need to show your passport. If necessary, the seller will help you connect to the Internet.
Rates are surprisingly low. yes, sim card mobile phone costs 65 thousand dong ( 111 rub.), and the monthly price for traffic is 300 Mb at a speed of 1 Mbps. is only 50 thousand dong ( 85 rub.). The maximum tariff for this operator is 225,000 VND ( 384 rub.) in 30 days at 3.6 megabits per second. Prices from other providers do not differ too much from those indicated.
Most high speed internet in the country - in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Here you can easily download large files, upload and watch videos.
Those who are going to stay in Vietnam for a long time should think about fixed Internet. In large cities, you have to try very hard to find a house or apartment without the Internet, but in extreme cases you will be connected to the Web through ADSL. Average monthly price for using fixed Internet - 450-600 rub. This is somewhat more expensive 3 G-connections, but more reliable.
As can be seen from what has been said, everything is fine with mobile communications and the Internet in Vietnam. Easy to catch in big cities free wifi, a lot of Internet cafes, rates are attractive, and SIM cards are sold almost on every corner. The disadvantages include the low connection speed in remote areas and periodic problems with SMS messages. In addition, access to social networks(for example, to Facebook).
Vietnamese cuisine
The geographical location and colonial past had a huge impact on the cuisine of Vietnam, as a result of which the cuisine of this country absorbed the culinary traditions of French, Thai, Chinese, and Indian cuisine. At the same time, Vietnamese cuisine has retained its originality: it is not customary for the Vietnamese to succumb to dishes with significant heat treatment, and food, mainly with a small amount of fat (which makes it quite nutritious and healthy).main companies cellular communication there are three in this country, and none of them is multinational, that is, it came to the market from abroad. It:
- Mobifone;
- Vinaphone;
- Viettel (Vietnam Military Telecommunications).
The quality of mobile communication in the country is at a surprisingly good level, especially considering that the country is going through a permanent financial crisis. Coverage problems arise, and regularly, but for those who use cellular communications in Russia, this will not cause any particular inconvenience. Everything is tolerable, and even more than that - almost comfortable. The only chronic problem is the delay and non-delivery of SMS messages.
Where is the best place to buy a SIM card
Cards are sold in large cities absolutely everywhere - from large stores and official salons to small shops and individual dealers. But pay attention to the fact that only a local resident can freely buy a local SIM card by law.
Fortunately, the law is observed only in official mobile phone shops. There, according to all the rules, a tourist will be given a special card - it costs $ 12 and the tourist tariff is immediately “sewn up” in it. In all other places, buying a regular SIM card is not a problem. Cook 70-100 thousand dong and use it to your health.
Mobile tariffs for tourists
Local Cellular from Vietnamese operators unequivocally convenient, if only by the fact that in all tariffs the price of calls to Russia (and other countries of the post-Soviet space) does not exceed 8 thousand dongs (20 rubles).
Approximate sameness of tariffs is another plus in the treasury of holidays spent in this country. No matter what operator you buy, you will definitely not be able to overpay for calls to your homeland, unlike domestic roaming (from 120 rubles per minute).
You can recharge your new SIM card by buying a regular card with an erasable stripe at any press stall or store.
How to call Vietnam from Russia
The dialing code for Vietnam for international calls is 84. Please note that when calling a landline, you will need the area code of the area you are calling.
To mobile phone
- Elementary: we dial before the phone number +84 - the country code. Then the mobile number without the "eight".
To a landline phone
According to Russian standards, dial 8 first, then wait for a beep. After - 10 and 84 (Vietnam code), then the area code and the number itself.
Here are some codes for the main tourist centers in Vietnam:
- Hanoi - 4;
- Ho Chi Minh - 8;
- Dalat - 63;
- Vung Tau - 64.
How to call Russia from Vietnam
The call algorithm is completely similar to a call from Russia, with the only difference being that the prefix numbers change.
To mobile phone
The call occurs without changes - direct dialing through +7, then the cell number.
To a landline phone
By the way, one of the most profitable options for calling Russian landlines- from a payphone. A payment card can be bought in any store for 100,000 VND, it has several hours of conversations.
We dial the number: 00 (to access the international line), 7 (Russian code), city prefix and landline (landline) phone number. Example: 00-7-495-1234567.
Few people in our time go on vacation, renounce the whole world and throw away the phone and laptop. Although Vietnam is considered a third world country, mobile communications and the Internet are quite up to par there. Today I'll tell you about
- where and how much to buy a SIM card for a phone in Vietnam,
- about the Internet and wi-fi in Vietnamese hotels and cafes
- is it worth it to activate roaming in your favorite Russian mobile network or use the services of the Vietnamese.
Vietnamese SIM card or Russian with roaming
I do not advise you to connect roaming when going to Vietnam. It is better to buy a Vietnamese SIM card on the spot and quickly inform everyone interested of your new phone number for the holiday period. Why? Because it is much cheaper and more reliable. Coverage in Vietnam Russian companies frankly bad, but they charge dearly for their services.
Where to buy a SIM card for a phone in Vietnam
In any travel agency in a Vietnamese city, you can buy a SIM card on your phone. You can ask at the reception at the hotel, they also have such services. You can also buy a SIM card at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang. But I would advise you to take it from a travel agency - usually everything is always more expensive at the airport.
Some people say that you need a passport or a photo to buy a sim card in Vietnam. Actually nothing like that. When we bought a SIM card, no one even asked about our passport data and did not demand a photo. They sold it quickly, immediately connected it, put money on the balance sheet and that's it. Literally 3 minutes.
My advice: When you buy a SIM card, ask the seller to write down the balance check codes and the code by which you can call to Russia and the country you need on the sheet.
Which mobile phone companies to use in Vietnam
There are several major cellular companies in Vietnam:
- viettel,
- Vinaphone,
- Mobifone.
As far as I know, these are companies operating in many countries of Southeast Asia, and not only in Vietnam. Prices and quality are almost the same, you can choose any. We used Mobifone, no complaints. We bought a SIM card from this particular company, because it was immediately offered at that small travel agency on Pham Ngu Lao Street, where we went upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City.
How much does a cell phone cost in Vietnam
We took unlimited Mobifone for a month, paid 190,000 VND, which is about 360 rubles. Received for this unlimited mobile Internet throughout Vietnam. We used Google maps, navigator, went to social networks. They called several times to Russia (the tariff includes half an hour of international calls), they also called Vietnam (there you can already talk as much as you want for a month).
If half an hour of talking with Russia is not enough, you can report the money to the account. Wherever you see a Mobifone sign (or the name of your carrier), go there. In any tourist place there are a lot of such offices, literally at every step. Show your phone and the girl (or boy) will do everything herself and activate the required amount on your account. One minute of conversation with Russia costs about 5,000 VND. Proceed from this calculation when you put money.
Mobile communication in Vietnam has always been normal, even in Phu Quoc. By the way, there is no domestic roaming in Vietnam, which is very pleasing. We bought a SIM card in Ho Chi Minh City and then went to Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and Mui Ne - everywhere the connection worked perfectly and extra money didn't eat.
Internet in Vietnam
Wi-fi in Vietnam is everywhere - in any hotel, even the cheapest one, in cafes, even coastal ones, at the airport and train stations. WiFi quality may vary. In normal, not the cheapest hotels, there is usually enough Internet to go to FB, chat on Skype, and check your mail. We even watched movies online a couple of times. Wi-Fi is free everywhere. Usually in a hotel room on the door there is a leaflet with Internet access data - login and password.
But for work, the speed and power of the local Internet was often not enough.
What is the connection in Vietnam, what are the operators, where you can buy a SIM card in Vietnam, what are the offers for Internet packages in Vietnam and how can you do without a cellular SIM card in Vietnam. Coming to rest in Vietnam in Nha Trang, we want and we just need to constantly be in touch with relatives in Russia, in this case we advise you to purchase a local cellular SIM card in Vietnam.
This article is a continuation of a series of articles about Nha Trang. I also advise you to read other useful articles:,.
Compared to neighboring countries such as China and Thailand, mobile telephony and mobile internet in Vietnam are very cheap. Just buy a prepaid card on the street and you can make a phone call to Russia for cheap - 4000 VND per minute. Internal calls to landlines and mobile numbers with a prepaid SIM card - about 1300 VND per minute. Mobile operators promotions are often held in Vietnam, for example, when you buy a scratch card to replenish your account, you get 50% more calls. Follow the promotions on the operator's website. Operators also notify about promotions by sending SMS.
What is the connection in Vietnam? What are the cell phone operators in Vietnam?
There are not so many large mobile operators in Vietnam. There are only three of them - Mobifone, Vinaphone and Viettel. They are the main GSM operators in Vietnam and offer quality service as well as reliable mobile internet services. Almost like ours... Megafon, Beeline and MTS. Using mobile Internet in Vietnam is very convenient. The above three operators offer 3G networks (HSDPA) with a low cost of mobile Internet - about VND 60,000 per 1 GB.
If you want to call Russia from a mobile phone, then there are enough favorable rates local sim cards. For example, 1 minute of conversation is 4000 VND. Although recently more and more tourists prefer to contact their relatives and friends via the Internet. There are many programs and instant messengers that practically replace calls to a mobile phone, and holders of such SIM cards in Vietnam save money.
There are three options:
- tourist sim card;
- SIM card for calls to Russia to mobile phones and calls within Vietnam;
- sim card only for the Internet, communication via Skype, Viber, WhatsApp.
Dreamsim travel sim card
Drimsim is a universal SIM card for any country in the world. They are not tied to any operator, which means that if you landed in another country, it catches the local network and is ready to go. This SIM card does not have roaming, it works directly with networks, so the prices for calls and the Internet are cheaper (like local tour operators, only all controls can be carried out in Russian). There is mobile app to keep track of your expenses. subscription fee no, incoming free. You can buy online through the website. The advantage is that with the same SIM card you can then go to another country, and the money will remain on your balance (for example, calls in Europe cost 0.01 €).
- Internet 0.030€/mb
- Incoming call 0.00€/min
- SMS to Drimsim 0.40€/SMS
Where to buy a SIM card in Vietnam
Usually SIM cards in Vietnam are bought in supermarkets. They are always at the checkout. However, in addition to large supermarkets, a SIM card in Vietnam can be purchased even in small street shops. Unlike our SIM cards, in Vietnam you do not need to present documents to purchase mobile communication cards. The average cost of a SIM card in Vietnam is 70,000-130,000 VND. At the same time, some part of this amount will already be in your account, and you will be able to immediately use the communication services. No activations are required.
In fact, registration is required in order to use Internet package offers, etc. But stores often sell SIM cards that are already activated. These sim cards are new, but the stores have already registered the sim cards under someone else's name, so you don't have to take any action to activate them. In general, in any tourist area in Vietnam, as well as from street vendors, you can buy a SIM card without documents and activations.
The only negative is that the SIM card data is not cut off for micro and nano slots. Therefore, if you are the owner of the latest generation smartphone, you will have to cut the SIM card in Vietnam yourself, or contact the mobile operator's office. I already cut the SIM card myself 2 times on the video on YouTube. Nothing complicated. In the official store, a SIM card is issued according to a passport.
What types of SIM cards are there in Vietnam
Consider an example. Buying a SIM card for calls (no documents required) costs 80,000 dong, Vinaphone operator. The balance is distributed as follows: 30,000 for calls abroad (Russia) and 50,000 for calls within Vietnam.
If you buy a SIM card for the Internet in Vietnam, you can only make calls from it within the network if you put extra money. Cost - 60,000 VND, operator Vinaphone. Internet traffic - 10 gigabytes. For tariff changes, see the official website of Mobifone.
Communication in Vietnam: how to top up the balance
To top up your mobile phone balance in Vietnam, you need to buy a scratch card at any store or communication office and enter the code into your mobile phone. Cards come in different payment amounts. You probably remember how it was in the early 2000s. Well, Vietnam hasn't gone far since then.
- To replenish the balance, dial *100*code number# Call. For example, if your code is "123456789", then you must enter *100*123456789# and press the send key.
- To check balance for Vinaphone and Mobifone dial *101# Call.
After calling this command, you will receive an SMS containing a lot of numbers. Your balance is listed on the first line. The rest of the lines are promo accounts.
How to connect mobile internet in Vietnam
How to connect internet in Vietnam on Mobifone?
If you bought a Mobifone SIM card in Vietnam, then the Internet is credited to your account by sending an SMS. Depending on what SMS you send, how many MB you will receive. All SMS are sent to number 999.
- "Dk miu" - the cost of the service is 70,000 VND - 600 MB of mobile Internet.
- "Dk M120" - the cost of the service is 120,000 VND - 1.5 GB of mobile Internet.
- "D5" - the cost of the service is 5000 VND / day - 1 GB of mobile Internet.
- "KT DATA" - check how many MB of Internet are left.
Travel SIM card Mobifone
Mobifone sell travel sim cards called "Happy Tourist". They cost 250,000 VND and come in 2 types:
- "Happy Tourist" internet only: 3 GB for 30 days, then 9.77 VND for every 50 KB.
- "Happy Tourist" Internet and calls: 1.5 GB and 80,000 VND for 30 days, then 25 VND for every 50 KB.
How to connect internet in Vietnam on Vinaphone?
Vinaphone suitable for those who are going to visit major cities in Vietnam. If you bought a Vinaphone SIM card in Vietnam, then all service SMS are sent to number 888 in the format “XXX”, where XXX is the package you need. For example, if you want to buy a U30 package (3.5 GB per month), you need to send “U30” to 888. Then you will receive a confirmation code by SMS, on which you will need to send a response in the following format “DK U30 XXX”, where XXX is the confirmation code.
- M10: VND 5,000, 50 MB
- M25: VND 25,000, 150 MB
- M50: VND 50,000, 500 MB
- M120: VND 120,000, 1.5 GB
- MAX: VND 70,000, 600 MB
- MAX100: VND 100,000 1.2 GB
- MAX200: VND 200,000 3 GB
How to connect the Internet in Vietnam on Viettel?
Cellular operator in Vietnam Viettel at the present time - the largest and only cellular communication, which is also developed in neighboring countries - Cambodia, Laos, Haiti, Peru. It has very good coverage in the countryside. And also this is the only connection that catches on remote islands or in mountainous areas. In cities, all operators work quite well.
If you have Viettel sim card in Vietnam, messages are sent to 191.
- "mimax" - the cost of the service is 70,000 VND - 600 MB of mobile Internet.
- "mimax90" - the cost of the service is 90,000 VND - 1.2 GB of mobile Internet.
You can buy a Viettel SIM card in Vietnam only for mobile access on the 3G network. There are also monthly, daily and other packages for them, which are also sent by commands to number 191:
- DC5: 5,000 VND, 1 GB, 24 hours
- D10: VND 10,000 3 GB 24 hours
- D15: VND 15,000 5 GB 24 hours
- DC10: VND 10,000 50 MB
- DC30: VND 30,000, 200 MB
- DC50: VND 50,000 400 MB
- DC70: VND 70,000 600 MB
- DC120: VND 120,000, 1.5 GB
- DC200: VND 200,000 3 GB
- KM50: VND 50,000, 3.5 GB
- DC300: VND 300,000 4 GB 6 months
- DC500: VND 500,000 5 GB 12 months
Please note that all packages are auto-renewing. Therefore, if you no longer want to use packages, they must be disabled.
Viettel travel sim card
Viettel introduced a tourist sim card for tourists. They are sold mainly at airports and large stores. The convenience of a tourist SIM card is that certain packages are already activated on it, you just need to buy the right one.
For example:
Price 100.000 dong - 1 GB of internet - 20 minutes in Vietnam - 10 minutes in the world - validity period 5 days
Price 200.000 dong - 2 GB of internet - 40 minutes in Vietnam - 20 minutes in the world - validity period 10 days
Price 300.000 dong - 3 GB of internet - 60 minutes in Vietnam - 30 minutes in the world - validity period 15 days
Price 500.000 dong - 5 GB of internet - 100 minutes in Vietnam - 50 minutes worldwide - validity period 25 days
Please note that the Viettel travel SIM card does not include text SMS messages. If you need them, you need to buy a scratch card.
How to call Russia from Vietnam
To call in Vietnam to Russia, you need to use the international code +7. That is, just dial the usual number through +7. No additional codes need to be dialed, which is very convenient.
Internet in Vietnam without a local SIM card
In principle, if you come to rest in Vietnam and spend time in a hotel and local restaurants for tourists, then there is no particular need to purchase a Vietnamese SIM card. You can use Wi-Fi, which is available in all hotels, cafes and restaurants, and even on Dream Beach near Gorky Park. By the way, that's where there is free Wi-Fi in Nha Trang.
Now you know everything about cellular communication in Vietnam, what kind of communication is in Vietnam, what operators are there, where you can buy a SIM card in Vietnam, what are the offers for Internet packages in Vietnam, and how you can do without a cellular SIM card in Vietnam. More articles about Vietnam and Nha Trang.