eSIM Vietnam Phone Number (2025 Guide): How a Local Number Makes Travel Easier
Many travelers discover that mobile data alone isn’t enough in Vietnam. Everyday apps such as Grab, ShopeeFood, and Zalo often require SMS verification before you can use them.
An eSIM Vietnam phone number gives you both data and a local number, making it much easier to register and stay connected while moving around the country.
📱 What does an eSIM Vietnam phone number include?
Most travel eSIMs provide data only, which means you cannot receive SMS or basic calls.
A Vietnam phone number adds the missing piece: the ability to receive verification codes from local apps.
- Receive OTP codes by SMS or call
- Register Grab, ShopeeFood, and similar apps
- Create a Zalo account (required by many landlords, drivers, and tour operators)
- Verify services that need a +84 number
Note about banking: Vietnamese banks require a SIM card registered under your ID. Tourist eSIMs cannot receive banking OTP codes. If you need banking features, you must register a physical SIM at a mobile carrier store.
🔑 When a Vietnam phone number becomes essential
- Grab sign-ins: OTP SMS is required the first time you log in or when switching devices.
- Food delivery: ShopeeFood still uses SMS verification for most new registrations.
- Zalo: With nearly 75 million users, it is Vietnam’s most widely used messaging app and always requires a Vietnamese number.
- Accommodation: Many hosts, property managers, and drivers communicate only through Zalo.
A report by We Are Social (2024) found that 94% of Vietnam’s internet users depend on SMS OTP for daily logins.
Without a local number, many essential services simply won’t activate.
⚙️ How to install and activate your Vietnam eSIM with phone number
iPhone
- Go to Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
- Scan your QR code.
- Name the line “Vietnam Number”.
- Enable SMS for this line.
Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM.
- Scan the QR code.
- Set the Vietnam line as the default for SMS.
Google Pixel
- Go to Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add SIM.
- Select Download a SIM instead and scan the QR code.
- Activate SMS and calling.
Tip: You can keep WhatsApp tied to your home number while using your Vietnam number for OTPs and local apps.
👤 A moment that shows why a local number helps
Lucas, a digital nomad from Canada, stayed in Ho Chi Minh City for two months. His landlord handled everything through Zalo — rent reminders, building notices, and check-in details.
Grab also required SMS OTP each time he logged in on a new device.
Once Lucas switched to an eSIM that included a Vietnam phone number, Zalo registered instantly and Grab logins became effortless.
It improved not just transportation, but day-to-day communication during his stay.
🧩 Common issues and how to solve them
SMS OTP not arriving?
- Confirm the Vietnam line is active and set as your SMS default.
- Enter your number in the correct format: +84 followed by the number without the leading zero.
- Try the “Call me instead” option if available.
Bank OTP still going to your old number?
You must update your phone number directly at the bank branch. OTP messages always follow the number on file.
Grab verification not coming through?
- Turn off Wi-Fi and use mobile data so the app recognizes a local IP.
- Restart the app after installing the eSIM.
🚀 Choosing the right Vietnam eSIM with phone number
If you need OTP verification for Grab, Zalo, or delivery apps, a Vietnam eSIM with phone number is the simplest solution. Your QR code is delivered instantly and can be activated on your preferred start date.
For travelers heading into remote or mountainous regions and only needing strong data coverage(not a phone number), the Viettel eSIM for Tourists is often preferred. It offers wide coverage outside cities but does not include a Vietnam phone number.
📣 Stay Connected from the Moment You Land
Planning your trip? You can explore updated Vietnam-wide plans here: Vietnam eSIM – 30 Days Plans.
Need help coordinating airport pickup? Drivers can reach you easily via your Vietnam number — book an airport pickup for a smooth arrival.
Support: WhatsApp +84 98 307 49 15 · LINE: anyaxiaoying · Email: info@govnsim.com
Part of Heera Travel Group – Explore more Vietnam tours at HeeraTravel.com.