You have booked your Vietnam trip out of Delhi or Bengaluru, and now you are wondering how you will get online the moment you land at Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat airport. Standing in a SIM queue after a long flight is not how you want to start a holiday, and Airtel or Jio roaming packs for Vietnam can add up fast.
Quick answer: the best eSIM for a Vietnam trip from India is one you install before you fly, so it is ready the moment you land, without needing to remove your Indian SIM. You can keep your Indian number active for bank OTPs while your eSIM handles all your data in Vietnam.
Why an eSIM makes more sense than a Vietnam SIM card
An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone, so there is no small plastic card to buy or swap. You install it using a QR code before you leave home, which means you skip the airport SIM counter entirely.
Vietnam SIM counters at the airport are usually fine, but they mean queueing after a long flight, sometimes with limited English support, and paying in cash. An eSIM avoids all of that. You land, turn on your phone, and you already have signal for Grab rides, Google Maps and hotel check-ins.
Keeping your Indian number active for OTPs in Vietnam
Most phones that support eSIM can also keep your regular Jio, Airtel or Vi SIM inside at the same time. This is called dual SIM mode, and it means your Indian number can keep receiving calls and SMS while your eSIM handles data in Vietnam.
This matters if you need a GPay or PhonePe OTP for a payment while travelling. Just make sure you do not switch off your Indian SIM completely, and check with your operator whether incoming SMS abroad needs roaming turned on for your number. You can read more in our guide on receiving OTPs while using a travel eSIM abroad.
eSIM vs an Airtel, Jio or Vi roaming pack for Vietnam
| Question | Airtel/Jio/Vi roaming pack | Travel eSIM for Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| When can you set it up | A day or two before departure, through the operator app | Anytime before you fly, once you buy the plan |
| Network used in Vietnam | Whichever local partner network the operator has a deal with | A local Vietnamese network chosen for coverage there |
| Can you keep your Indian number for OTPs | Yes, since it is the same SIM | Yes, if you keep your Indian SIM in the phone too |
| Topping up more data mid-trip | Usually means buying another roaming pack | A few taps from the plans page |
Setting up your Vietnam eSIM before you fly
Here is the simple order to follow, ideally the night before your flight while you still have home wifi:
- Check your phone supports eSIM on the eSIM compatible device list.
- Buy a Vietnam eSIM plan while you still have wifi or Indian data.
- Scan the QR code to install it, following our eSIM installation guide.
- Set the eSIM as your line for data, and leave your Indian SIM active for calls and SMS.
- Turn on airplane mode as you board, and switch it off once you land in Vietnam.
What if your phone does not support eSIM?
If your phone is a few years old and only takes a physical card, a travel SIM is still an option for Vietnam. You can fit it into a second SIM slot alongside your Indian SIM, keeping the same OTP setup described above.
Check our full comparison in SIM vs eSIM if you are unsure which option suits your phone.
Does an eSIM work across all of Vietnam, including Ha Long Bay and Sapa
Coverage in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang is strong and reliable. In more remote areas such as Sapa's mountain trails or boat trips around Ha Long Bay, signal can be patchy, which is true for every SIM type, not just eSIMs.
If your itinerary includes these quieter stretches, download offline Google Maps and save key addresses in Vietnamese before you leave network coverage.
A Vietnam eSIM installed before you fly means no airport queue, no cash counter, and your Indian number still working for OTPs. Browse Vietnam eSIM plans starting from a low daily cost on Olysim's plans page.
