Mobifone SIM Card for Travelers: Plans, Coverage & Activation

Getting a local SIM card used to be a five-minute job in Vietnam. In 2026, it still is — but only if you know what to expect. Since 2023, Vietnam’s government has required biometric registration for every new SIM activation, and that surprises a lot of first-time arrivals who assumed they could just hand over cash and walk out with a working number. Mobifone is one of the most popular choices for travelers, and this guide walks you through everything: which plans to buy, how the registration actually works, where the network holds up, and what it will cost you.

Why Mobifone Is Worth Considering

Vietnam has three major carriers: Viettel, Mobifone, and Vinaphone. Viettel is the dominant player with the widest rural reach. Vinaphone is the state-linked option bundled with VNPT services. Mobifone sits comfortably in the middle — it has been operating since the early 1990s, it is strong in urban centers and southern Vietnam, and its prepaid pricing is genuinely competitive.

For most travelers sticking to the main tourist corridor — Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Coast, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, and Hanoi — Mobifone’s 4G network is more than reliable. The monthly data plans are affordable, the My Mobifone app is usable in English, and customer service (dial 9090, free from a Mobifone number) has reasonably accessible English support with wait times of roughly one to five minutes.

Where to Buy a Mobifone SIM Card in 2026

Your three realistic options are official Mobifone stores, authorized resellers, and airport kiosks.

• Official Mobifone stores: The safest choice. Staff are trained to handle the biometric registration process, speak some English, and can walk you through plan options. Stores are located in city centers, shopping malls, and near major bus and train stations.
• Airport kiosks: Available at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi), and Da Nang International Airport. They are open during arrival hours and are the most convenient option if you land needing data immediately. Expect to pay a small premium — typically 20,000–30,000 VND more than in-store for the base SIM.
• Authorized resellers: Small phone shops and convenience stores in tourist areas often sell Mobifone SIMs. These are generally fine, but confirm the shop is an authorized reseller before handing over your passport. Unauthorized sellers sometimes skip proper registration, which can leave your SIM inactive or flagged.

Regardless of where you buy, bring your passport. No passport, no SIM — this is non-negotiable under current regulations.

Biometric Registration: What to Expect at the Counter

Since early 2023, and strictly enforced from 2024 onward, all new SIM activations in Vietnam require biometric registration. This is the single biggest change from the pre-2024 experience, and travelers who read outdated guides get caught off guard.

Here is exactly what happens when you activate a Mobifone SIM in 2026:

1. You hand your passport to the staff member at the counter.
2. They scan the photo page of your passport using a document reader.
3. A photograph of your face is taken on the spot — either via a camera at the counter or a handheld device.
4. A facial scan or fingerprint scan is performed to link your biometric data to the registered SIM.
5. The staff enter your details into the system and process the activation.
6. You receive an SMS confirming registration and package activation.

The whole process takes five to ten minutes. There is nothing to prepare in advance other than having your passport physically with you. Digital copies are not accepted.

Mobifone Prepaid Data Plans: Prices and What They Include

Mobifone structures its plans into daily packages and monthly (30-day) packages. Monthly plans offer far better value for trips longer than a few days.

Daily Plans

• D15: 3GB of data for 24 hours. Cost: 15,000 VND (approx. $0.60 USD). Activate by sending SMS: DK D15 to 999.
• D30: 7GB of data for 24 hours. Cost: 30,000 VND (approx. $1.20 USD). Activate by sending SMS: DK D30 to 999.

Daily plans suit travelers who only need data for a short city stopover. For anything longer, go monthly.

Monthly Plans (30-Day Validity)

• HD70: 8GB total data for the month. Cost: 70,000 VND (approx. $2.80 USD). Good for light users. Activate: SMS DK HD70 to 999.
• KC90: 1GB high-speed data per day (30GB total), unlimited on-net calls under 10 minutes, plus 30 minutes of off-net calls. Cost: 90,000 VND (approx. $3.60 USD). Activate: SMS DK KC90 to 999.
• KC120: 1.5GB per day (45GB total), unlimited on-net calls under 10 minutes, 50 minutes off-net. Cost: 120,000 VND (approx. $4.80 USD). Activate: SMS DK KC120 to 999.



• KC150: 2GB per day (60GB total), unlimited on-net calls under 10 minutes, 80 minutes off-net. Cost: 150,000 VND (approx. $6.00 USD). Activate: SMS DK KC150 to 999.

Most travelers find the KC90 or KC120 plans more than sufficient. One gigabyte per day covers Google Maps, messaging apps, social media, and streaming at moderate quality without any stress.

Tourist Bundle Packages

Mobifone has historically marketed “Happy Tourist SIM” bundles, but by 2026 these are effectively just standard monthly plans (typically KC90 or KC120) packaged with the initial SIM card and sold at a combined price of 200,000–300,000 VND (approx. $8.00–$12.00 USD). There are no fundamentally different tourist-only features — the value is in convenience rather than exclusive pricing.

Mobifone eSIM: How It Works for Travelers

Mobifone launched prepaid eSIM support in late 2023 and early 2024. By 2026, it is widely available for travelers and genuinely worth considering if you want to avoid swapping physical SIM cards.

The purchase and activation process mirrors the physical SIM exactly — you must visit an official Mobifone store or airport kiosk, present your passport, and complete biometric registration in person. After registration, you receive a QR code (printed on paper or shown on a screen) that you scan from your phone’s eSIM settings menu.

Compatible devices include iPhone XS, XR, and all newer iPhone models; Samsung Galaxy S20 series and newer; and Google Pixel 3 and newer. Check your specific model before traveling if you are unsure.

The data plans available on eSIM are the same as physical SIM plans — KC90, KC120, KC150, and others. The main practical advantage of eSIM is that your home-country physical SIM stays in your phone, so you can receive calls and SMS from your regular number while using Mobifone data on the same device.

One important note: if you want to activate a Mobifone eSIM remotely before landing, that is not currently possible. Registration requires your physical presence with a passport. For remote pre-arrival connectivity, international eSIM providers like Airalo, Holafly, or GigSky remain an option — though they cost more per gigabyte and do not give you a Vietnamese phone number.

Coverage: Where Mobifone Performs Well — and Where It Doesn’t

Mobifone’s 4G/LTE network covers all major cities reliably — Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, and Nha Trang included. Along major national highways and in provincial capitals, signal is consistent. Popular tourist routes like the coastal road between Da Nang and Hoi An, or the stretch between Hue and Hoi An through the Hai Van Pass, present no issues.

5G is active in the central districts of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is expanding to other large cities throughout 2026. For most traveler use cases, 4G is fast enough — you are unlikely to notice the difference unless you are downloading large files.

Where Mobifone trails behind: very remote areas. The northern highlands around Ha Giang, deep rural parts of the Central Highlands, and some smaller offshore islands see spottier coverage compared to Viettel. If your itinerary is heavily focused on off-the-beaten-path trekking or remote homestay experiences, Viettel is the more appropriate choice. For everyone else on a standard Vietnam trip, Mobifone holds up well.

Managing Your Account: App, USSD Codes, and Top-Ups

The My Mobifone app is the cleanest way to manage your SIM. It is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store — search “My Mobifone” to find it. From the app you can check your main account balance, see your remaining daily data, subscribe to or cancel packages, top up credit, and view a usage history. It is not fully translated into English in every section, but the core functions are navigable.

For those who prefer not to use the app, USSD codes handle the essentials:

• Check account balance and expiry: dial *101#
• Check data package details: dial *090# and follow the prompts
• Check all active packages: send SMS KT ALL to 999
• Cancel a package: send SMS HUY [package name] (e.g., HUY KC90) to 999

Topping up is straightforward. Scratch cards are sold at convenience stores and phone shops in denominations from 20,000 VND to 500,000 VND — dial *100*CARD_NUMBER# to apply the credit. You can also top up online at naptien.mobifone.vn using an international credit or debit card, or directly through the My Mobifone app.

The official website is mobifone.vn — primarily in Vietnamese, but Google Translate handles it adequately for package browsing and account queries.

2026 Budget Reality: What a Mobifone SIM Actually Costs

All prices below use the estimated 2026 exchange rate of 25,000 VND = 1 USD. Actual rates fluctuate with the market.

• Budget tier: Physical SIM card (50,000–100,000 VND / $2.00–$4.00) + HD70 monthly plan (70,000 VND / $2.80) = total outlay of roughly 120,000–170,000 VND ($4.80–$6.80) for a month of light data use.
• Mid-range tier: Tourist bundle SIM + KC90 plan = 200,000–250,000 VND ($8.00–$10.00). This is the most common choice for two-to-four-week trips. You get 30GB spread across the month with bundled call minutes.



• Comfortable tier: SIM + KC150 plan = approximately 200,000–250,000 VND ($8.00–$10.00) bought separately, or up to 300,000 VND ($12.00) as an airport tourist bundle. This gives 2GB per day, plenty for heavy navigation, video calls, and streaming.

Daily top-up plans (D15 and D30) are economical for very short stays: a single day of solid data use runs between 15,000 and 30,000 VND ($0.60–$1.20). Over a full week they add up quickly compared to a monthly plan, so switch to monthly if your stay exceeds five days.

Common Mistakes Travelers Make — and How to Avoid Them

Buying from an unauthorized street vendor is the most common error. The SIM may appear to work initially but fail registration checks within 24–48 hours, leaving you without service. Always buy from an official store or verified airport kiosk.

Forgetting to physically carry your passport is the second most frequent problem. Photocopies and phone photos of your passport are not accepted for biometric registration — you need the original document. If you left your passport in the hotel safe, you will need to go back and get it.

Assuming your phone is unlocked before you travel is a gamble. Carrier-locked phones, particularly those purchased on a contract in the US, UK, or Australia, will not accept a Mobifone SIM regardless of how correctly you register it. Check your phone’s unlock status before departure.

Neglecting to download the My Mobifone app before you run out of data is a small but annoying oversight. Download it immediately after activating your SIM while you have signal, so you can manage your account and top up without relying on WiFi later.

Finally, some travelers let their SIM expire without realizing it. If the main account balance drops to zero and no active package is running, the number can be deactivated. Keep a small balance of 20,000–50,000 VND ($0.80–$2.00) on the account as a buffer, and check your package expiry via *101# every week or so on longer trips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a Mobifone SIM card at the airport when I arrive in Vietnam?

Yes. Mobifone kiosks operate at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai (Hanoi), and Da Nang International Airports. They handle full biometric registration on-site. Prices may be slightly higher than in-city stores, but the convenience is hard to beat for most arriving travelers.

Do I need a Vietnamese phone number to use Grab or book trains in Vietnam?

A local number is not strictly required for Grab — the app works with your existing account and a data connection. For Vietnam Railways bookings, a local number is helpful for SMS verification but not always mandatory. Having a Mobifone SIM with a Vietnamese number makes both services significantly more seamless.

Can I activate a Mobifone eSIM before arriving in Vietnam?

No. Mobifone eSIM activation requires in-person biometric registration with your passport at an official store or airport kiosk. If you need data the moment you land before reaching a kiosk, purchase an international eSIM from providers like Airalo or Holafly before departure as a temporary bridge.

What happens if my Mobifone SIM stops working mid-trip?

Call Mobifone customer service at 9090 (free from your Mobifone number, English support available). Common issues include an expired data package, zero account balance, or a registration flag. Staff can often resolve basic issues over the phone. For hardware or serious account problems, visit the nearest official Mobifone store with your passport.

📷 Featured image by Paul Macdonald on Unsplash.