Talk:Vietnam/@comment-31449479-20170305041417

Arrived 24th February and purchased two SIMs from the Vinaphone kiosk after exiting baggage claim.

Vinaphone Tourist SIM - 300.000 VND 8GB Data 3G 80 Minutes Vietnam numbers 80 Minutes Internal numbers Some local/international SMS

Card was 3-in-1 SIM but lady at desk fitted it.

No passport required and I did question it. She asked how long we were staying in Vietnam. Said 10 days and she said no problem, they will check the registration each 3-4 days. She also gave their contact numbers in case of any issues they can fix it. English guide for short codes to check balance etc. and guide for failing international numbers (requires extra prefixes to normal). I don't know if it was just sales patter, but I can confirm that today - day 10 - both SIMs are still working.

WhatsApp worked fine (WhatsApp gives you the choice of using your original number or changing to the SIM number when you first open it after changing SIM. kept my UK number - very helpful)

iMessage didn't work (didn't receive any msgs sent either to my email or iMessage number). Strange as this has always worked with European SIM cards. Couldn't even send iMessages (which should have appaeared from Vietnamese SIM number). Didnt pursue as not vital for us, probably fixable with some effort.

Only website that wouldn't load was BBC, unsure why. BBC app worked fine, and Apple News aggregator which loaded BBC. Same on both SIMs...

Tethering also worked without any problems.

As for reception:

3-5 bar 3G Hanoi city centre 2-4 bar 3G Halong Bay (coastal areas) 1-2 bar 3G / 2-3 bar EDGE Butong Bay (non-coastal areas - some pockets of no service between the larger islands) 4-5 bar 3G countryside areas around Hanoi / Halong 4-5 bar 3G between Hanoi to Hoi An ... few patches 2-3 bar 5 bar 3G Hoi An except inside some older buildings