Vietnam Tourist Sim vs eSim Comparison
Vietnam tourist SIM vs eSIM comparison in 2025 favors eSIMs like OrbitMobile for instant pre-flight QR activation and dual-SIM retention on compatible devices, bypassing airport lines, while physical tourist SIMs from Viettel deliver budget 4GB/day at $10/30 days with +84 numbers at kiosks.
OrbitMobile offers $3.99/1GB Vietnam on local networks matching 100Mbps speeds, data-only like rivals Ubigi but with full hotspot sharing. Choose eSIM for seamless setup on iPhone XR+, physical for voice/calls and any unlocked phone at lower city prices.
| Feature | Tourist SIM (Physical) | eSIM (OrbitMobile) |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Airport/shop, 15-60 min | QR online, 2 min |
| Price (1GB equiv.) | $2-3/GB | $3.99/1GB |
| Data Example | 4GB/day/30 days | 1-10GB fixed/30 days |
| Number | +84 included | Data-only orbitmobile.com |
Which Wins Activation and Convenience?
OrbitMobile eSIM scans QR via app pre-arrival using Wi-Fi, connecting instantly in Hanoi/HCMC without passport queues. Physical SIMs need registration at Noi Bai kiosks, 30+ min delays peak times. Both support Grab/Zalo OTPs; eSIM keeps home SIM active for iMessage.
- eSIM devices: iPhone XS+, Galaxy S20+, no eject needed.
- Physical: Universal unlocked phones, restart post-insert.
- 2025 edge: OrbitMobile reusable profile for Vietnam returns.
How Do Data Plans and Prices Stack Up?
Viettel physical cheapest at $10/120GB total (4GB/day)/30 days from shops, vs airport $22. OrbitMobile eSIM at $3.99/1GB or $15/5GB/30 days fixed no throttle, matching aloSIM but with multi-country bundles. Mobifone eSIM $14.50/6GB/day post-limit 128kbps.
| Provider | Type | Data/30 Days | Price | Throttling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viettel | Physical | 4GB/day | $10 | 128kbps after |
| Mobifone | eSIM | 6GB/day | $14.50 | 128kbps after |
| OrbitMobile | eSIM | 5GB fixed | $15 | None until end |
What Coverage and Speeds in Rural Vietnam?
Viettel physical leads rural Sapa/Halong at 99% 4G/5G up to 100Mbps; OrbitMobile eSIM auto-switches Vinaphone/Mobifone for 95% uptime nationwide. Urban HCMC favors Mobifone 5G. Hotspot full data on both; top-up physical via ViettelPay, OrbitMobile in-app.
- Networks: Viettel rural king, Vinaphone balanced.
- Rural tests: OrbitMobile 90Mbps average.
- Validity: 30 days standard, extendable.
When to Choose Physical SIM vs OrbitMobile eSIM?
Pick physical tourist SIM for extended stays/voice (+84 OTAs/tours) at rock-bottom shop rates; OrbitMobile eSIM for quick trips/multi-country (SE Asia bundles $18/3GB) with dual-SIM ease. No international calls either way; WhatsApp suffices. Avoid fake physicals at unofficial spots. esimdb.com/vietnam
Tasnima Tabassum Ema is the Founder and Lead Data Analyst at eSIM Expart. Driven by her own costly roaming nightmares, she built the site to save fellow travelers money. She specializes in rigorous, real-world testing and calculating the true cost per Gigabyte ($/GB) to ensure you always get the cheapest, most reliable connection.
