Vietnam is a country that is not only growing as a popular tourist destination but is also growing as a popular place for digital nomads. As well as that it is a country with a lot of history, magnificent sights, and great food. But does Vietnam have good WiFi?
Vietnam has good internet but it starts to become less reliable as you leave the main cities for remote areas. There is WiFi available in cafes, bars, hotels, and even roadside stalls in Vietnam. Most of them have good wifi. It is free in most coffee shops, hotels, bars, and train stations.
In this post, we will go through does Vietnam has good WiFi. Let’s get started!
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- Can You Drink Tap Water in Vietnam?
- Is Da Nang Worth Visiting?
- Flights Within Vietnam
- Where To See Rice Fields In Vietnam?
Does Vietnam Have Good WiFi?
Generally speaking, Vietnam has good internet, especially in the main cities of Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City but it becomes less reliable as you leave the main cities to more remote areas. You can easily find WiFi in cafes, bars, hotels, and even roadside stalls. Most of them have decent wifi and it is free in most of the coffee shops, hotels, bars, and train stations.
Another thing about the internet in Vietnam is that it is censorship. Anything that the Vietnamese government does not like gets blocked. Sites that get blocked are generally those that are critical of the Vietnamese government, expatriate political parties, and international human rights organizations.
SIM Card Or Pocket Wi-Fi in Vietnam?
For security reasons, I would not advise using any of the open public WiFi at cafes, bars, and so on when paying for things online because cybercriminals can target these networks with snooping and sniffing or Man-in-the-Middle attacks. Especially if no password is required to access the WiFi network.
It is safer to stick to as few public WiFi networks as possible as these are naturally less secure than your personal or private WiFi.
Online safety is important and visitors to Vietnam can have the option of either getting a SIM card or portable WiFi. There are pros and cons to each. These are as follows.
SIM Card Pros And Cons
We can look at the advantages and disadvantages of SIM cards.
Advantages
- Provides internet to use apps like Google Maps or hotel apps as well as check your emails, and more.
- Can be used on a wide range of smartphones and tablets.
- Can be obtained either online or on arrival in Vietnam.
- No contracts with a simple and quick activation process.
- Great for solo travelers.
Disadvantages
- Your device must be unlocked.
- Unless you have dual SIM you will need to remove your own SIM card from your unlocked device’s SIM slot.
- At times there can be limits on the internet speed.
Pocket WiFI Pros And Cons
We can look at the advantages and disadvantages of pocket WiFI.
Advantages
- Works with any WiFi-supported devices.
- Can support up to 10 devices.
- Can be obtained either online or on arrival in Vietnam.
- No contracts and ready to be used as soon as you have them.
- It can work out cheaper than a prepaid SIM card and allows for more traffic. Perfect if you traveling with a group.
Disadvantages
- The device can add extra weight and baggage. Especially if using it on the go.
- It needs to be charged regularly.
- If someone in the group decides to leave the group. Only the person who has the device and those near the device can have access to the internet.
Is Pocket WiFi Worth It In Vietnam?
If you are traveling with a group and the WiFi is needed constantly within the group then Pocket WiFi is worth it. It is a better option than SIM Cards. Also, it can be used with any phone or tablet and you don’t need to install any SIM cards or have to change any of your phone or tablet settings.
Are SIM Cards Worth It In Vietnam?
If you are a solo traveler or your internet demands are just the basics then a SIM card is worth it. A prepaid SIM card is more convenient than a pocket WiFi because, for one thing, you will not need to turn it on and off each time to save battery life.
Who Are The Network Operators In Vietnam?
There are four main operators in Vietnam. These are as follows.
- Viettel – The biggest.
- Vinaphone.
- MobiFone.
- S-Fone.
- Vietnamobile.
Where To Buy A Local Vietnamese SIM?
There are several places in Vietnam where you can get a Vietnamese SIM card. They are cheap compared to Europe or the United States. You can get a SIM card in the following places.
- Airport.
- Local grocery stores like FamilyMart.
- Telecom stores
To get a SIM card you will need your passport and cash to pay for the SIM.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, Vietnam does have good WiFi but as you leave the main cities the WiFi tends to become less reliable, and the more remote areas you go it can get quite poor. There is WiFi available in cafes, bars, hotels, and even roadside stalls. It is free in most coffee shops, hotels, bars, and train stations.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on does Vietnam have good WiFi has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.