eSIM for Hanoi
For Hanoi, a Vietnam eSIM covers the city and every day trip inside the country. Most visits run about four days, so pick a plan valid for at least that long, with a day to spare. Install it at home on Wi-Fi before flying, then switch it on when you land at Noi Bai International Airport.
Plans for Vietnam cover the whole country, including Hanoi.
For a 4-day visit
How much data for 4 days in Hanoi
- Light (maps and messages): about 1 GB
- Normal (plus social media and browsing): about 2.5 GB
- Heavy (video and video calls): about 6 GB
An estimate from typical use, not a measurement.
Arriving in Hanoi
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) lies north of the city, a road trip away from the centre. Public bus routes, airport minibuses, metered taxis and ride-hailing cars all run into town, and the buses usually end near Hanoi Railway Station or the Old Quarter. Hanoi Railway Station is also where night trains leave for Lao Cai and Sapa, and for Ninh Binh and Hue.
A connection from the moment you land lets you pull up the hotel address, check which pickup point the car app uses and tell a driver where you are. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code, and keep it switched off until you arrive. At the airport, switch the eSIM line on and turn on data roaming for it. Leave your home line's mobile data off.
Getting around
Hanoi's Old Quarter is easiest to cover on foot, and for longer distances visitors use ride apps. Grab is widely used for cars and motorbike taxis, and Be and Xanh SM are local apps that also operate in the city. The apps show the fare before you confirm and give you an exact pickup pin, which helps in streets where the same name appears several times.
The city is building a metro. Line 2A, the elevated Cat Linh to Ha Dong line, opened in 2021, and an elevated section of Line 3, from Nhon towards the centre, followed in 2024, with more under construction. Check the operator's official site for the current route and how to buy a ticket. City buses cover much more of Hanoi than the metro does, and routes are mapped in the mapping apps. Crossing the street takes practice; walk steadily and let the motorbikes flow round you.
Where you'll use data
Most visitors stay near the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, with the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the Hoa Lo Prison museum and the Vietnamese Women's Museum within reach. West Lake and the Tay Ho district are quieter for cafes and long walks. Street food is a draw, and many travellers use their phone for reviews, translation and a saved list of addresses.
Day trips and short stays from Hanoi include Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh with its river caves and pagodas, the Perfume Pagoda and the ceramics village of Bat Trang. Sapa, in the northern hills, is usually a night or two by train or bus. All of these are inside Vietnam, so the plan keeps working. If you cross into China or Laos, the Vietnam plan does not cover the other country, so plan to use a plan for that country there.
For a longer stay
Common questions
- Will the eSIM work as soon as I land at Noi Bai?
- Yes, if you installed it before the flight. Switch the eSIM line on, turn on data roaming for it and wait a minute for it to connect. If it does not, toggle airplane mode off and on once.
- How much data do I need for four days in Hanoi?
- About 2.5 GB for normal use: maps, ride apps, messages and some social media. Video calls home or heavy streaming take it to roughly 6 GB. The plan list on this page shows the estimate next to each plan.
- Can I use Grab in Hanoi with the eSIM?
- Yes. Grab needs a data connection to show fares, find a driver and track the pickup. You may also need a payment method saved in the app, which is separate from the data plan.
- Does the plan give me a Vietnamese phone number?
- No. These plans are data only. Use apps such as WhatsApp or Zalo for calls and messages, and keep your home line on for texts with its data switched off if your bank sends codes by SMS.
- Does the plan work on a trip to Ha Long Bay or Sapa?
- Yes. Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa are all inside Vietnam, so the plan covers them. Crossing into China or Laos is not covered, because the Vietnam plan does not cover the other country there.