Vietnam

[Steyr69]

There is only 1 telco or a few? Do you need passport to buy the sim card?

Sent from Asus ME173X using GAGT

 

[grapewall]

There is only 1 telco or a few? Do you need passport to buy the sim card?

Sent from Asus ME173X using GAGT

There are a few telco. Mobifone, vettiel, vinaphone are the major ones. I used vinaphone.

You don't need to provide any documents to purchase the sim cards. However, i heard that of late, the airport stalls require passports. Please check with others on this.

 

[koala2004]

New cards credits only can use for calls and sms. To use data, you need to top up and activate the data plan, something like our local prepaid main wallet like that.
Why I didn't use the 5k one is because I didn't know it still exist. recently the sim cards under go some revamp. Like, instead of able to last for 6 months, now only valid for 2 months if no transactions. So they changed the data plan activation codes too. I only managed to find the 7k code from the hotline guy. The 5k one i found the activation code when i surfed the website after i came back.

Yup, now only 2 months for voice call. Also, even if they claimed to be unlimited for 1 month, we suspected after some data consumed, the speed actually dropped until damn slow, almost cut off. For us, after few days, we ended relying solely on free wifi by hotel and outlets.

 

[kitkat2]

New cards credits only can use for calls and sms. To use data, you need to top up and activate the data plan, something like our local prepaid main wallet like that.
Why I didn't use the 5k one is because I didn't know it still exist. recently the sim cards under go some revamp. Like, instead of able to last for 6 months, now only valid for 2 months if no transactions. So they changed the data plan activation codes too. I only managed to find the 7k code from the hotline guy. The 5k one i found the activation code when i surfed the website after i came back.

there are 2 types of balance: main and bonus. main balance can be used for anything including data. bonus can only be used for local voice and sms. from your report, it seems that now new cards come with zero main balance, very different from when i last bought my card 3 years ago.

there have always been 2 main types of prepaid products carried by each telco. the first type's credit validity depends on your topup amount. the more you topup, the longer the validity. the credit validity on the 2nd type is dependent on usage. validity will be extended by 60 days from the last usage or last topup regardless of amount. you can switch between the 2 types if you bought an incorrect type. however, if you visit viet nam infrequently and wish to keep your number alive, it is recommended to get the one that extends 60 days from last use or topup.

 

[kitkat2]

Yup, now only 2 months for voice call. Also, even if they claimed to be unlimited for 1 month, we suspected after some data consumed, the speed actually dropped until damn slow, almost cut off. For us, after few days, we ended relying solely on free wifi by hotel and outlets.

unlimited always means unlimited throttled data. in viet nam, i remember the fair usage speed is 32kbs. if you get a sim card from a street vendor and subscribe to the 5k dong daily plan, one month's of data costs you 150k.

 

[takuyazzz]

just to share, we (2 pax + 2 luggages) took uber from my hotel beside ben thanh market to airport last week. only vnd80k nett despite jammy conditions. way cheaper than even vinasun/mailinh cabs. Paid him 100k and told him to keep the change, everyone came out happy

 

[XiaoZen]

just to share, we (2 pax + 2 luggages) took uber from my hotel beside ben thanh market to airport last week. only vnd80k nett despite jammy conditions. way cheaper than even vinasun/mailinh cabs. Paid him 100k and told him to keep the change, everyone came out happy

80K +10k for ticket... uber is good in vn..

 

[XiaoZen]

New cards credits only can use for calls and sms. To use data, you need to top up and activate the data plan, something like our local prepaid main wallet like that.
Why I didn't use the 5k one is because I didn't know it still exist. recently the sim cards under go some revamp. Like, instead of able to last for 6 months, now only valid for 2 months if no transactions. So they changed the data plan activation codes too. I only managed to find the 7k code from the hotline guy. The 5k one i found the activation code when i surfed the website after i came back.

Mobi - D5 aka 5k 1gb per day is promotion.. and had ended.. now is only left D7 aka 7k 1.2gb per day.

don't forget to "huy D7" to 999 and reply Y. this is to turn off the package so that you wun be charge 7k while you are back in SG.

 

[takuyazzz]

80K +10k for ticket... uber is good in vn..

yep uber is good and just to clarify, it was 70k fare + 10k for ticket = 80k nett.

 

[koala2004]

unlimited always means unlimited throttled data. in viet nam, i remember the fair usage speed is 32kbs. if you get a sim card from a street vendor and subscribe to the 5k dong daily plan, one month's of data costs you 150k.

Ya, but not throttled from day 1, it happened only after about 4-5 days. So is it better to get the 5K dong/day one?

 

[koala2004]

just to share, we (2 pax + 2 luggages) took uber from my hotel beside ben thanh market to airport last week. only vnd80k nett despite jammy conditions. way cheaper than even vinasun/mailinh cabs. Paid him 100k and told him to keep the change, everyone came out happy

Ya Uber is really cheap, even cheaper than Grab there. BT to TSN cost around 160K, 80K is really cheap. I find Uber generally 50% off normal cabs.

 

[grapewall]

Mobi - D5 aka 5k 1gb per day is promotion.. and had ended.. now is only left D7 aka 7k 1.2gb per day.

don't forget to "huy D7" to 999 and reply Y. this is to turn off the package so that you wun be charge 7k while you are back in SG.

I don't use mobifone already cause vinaphone gave 6 months. But then now also changed to 2 months. So now i top up via the app to extend it. From the website, they have the 5k plan.

 

[invisible999]

just to share, we (2 pax + 2 luggages) took uber from my hotel beside ben thanh market to airport last week. only vnd80k nett despite jammy conditions. way cheaper than even vinasun/mailinh cabs. Paid him 100k and told him to keep the change, everyone came out happy

Did you pay cash or via card? I have card setup in the profile and would like to keep this way.

 

[koala2004]

Did you pay cash or via card? I have card setup in the profile and would like to keep this way.

I kaypo. You can choose cash or credit. Generally we get Uber, but when there is surge, we'll go for Grab, which will then be cheaper. If no surge, Uber is cheaper than Grab in HCMC. Most rides to me is at least 50% off, so cheap until I felt a bit guilty.

 

[Desmond_]

do the uber driver also call you up to verify your location? better english? Grab driver always call you to confirm your location but they always speak in tieng viet

 

[XiaoZen]

I kaypo. You can choose cash or credit. Generally we get Uber, but when there is surge, we'll go for Grab, which will then be cheaper. If no surge, Uber is cheaper than Grab in HCMC. Most rides to me is at least 50% off, so cheap until I felt a bit guilty.

guilty then give tips lo...

 

[koala2004]

do the uber driver also call you up to verify your location? better english? Grab driver always call you to confirm your location but they always speak in tieng viet

Ya most can't speak English...even one driving a damn new car and dressed formerly! Luckily got my viet wife to settle on details. This is a good question, language could potentially be an issue, esp. for uber and grab, confirming of location is almost certainly needed. Even here, we have to do that for most rides since the GPS location is not really pin-point.

 

[Desmond_]

Ya most can't speak English...even one driving a damn new car and dressed formerly! Luckily got my viet wife to settle on details. This is a good question, language could potentially be an issue, esp. for uber and grab, confirming of location is almost certainly needed. Even here, we have to do that for most rides since the GPS location is not really pin-point.

The GPS location not pin-point but i always put comment where to pick up. They still call to confirm...

 

[koala2004]

The GPS location not pin-point but i always put comment where to pick up. They still call to confirm...

Bcos they dun understand English? LOL. Ya quite a headache in viet.

 

[Desmond_]

Bcos they dun understand English? LOL. Ya quite a headache in viet.

no... i write it in tieng viet but they still call to confirm...