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The work of mobile operators in Vietnam. How to call Vietnam from Russia

Vietnam has a highly developed infrastructure mobile communications and the Internet and the prices for these telecom services are slightly higher than in the CIS countries.

Drimsim is a SIM card not tied to one operator, it works in 197 countries, provides stable connection, fast internet and prices, almost like those of local operators.

no need to set up roaming and buy a local SIM card
No subscription fee and hidden fees

In this article, you will learn about the three main Vietnamese mobile operators, their tariffs for calls and Internet, network settings and many other useful data that will be useful to any traveler who wants to always stay in touch with his family and friends.

Many travelers planning to fly to Nha Trang or visit its resorts are puzzled by the problem of cellular communication. Such perplexity arises from skepticism about the country's IT infrastructure, which many consider to be underdeveloped and of poor quality. But this is a common misconception.

In fact, with mobile networks and the Internet is in order here. Moreover, their quality is an order of magnitude higher than in most countries of the former USSR. Since Vietnam is a major manufacturer of microelectronics, local mobile operators have access to advanced cellular and network equipment, which allows you to provide high-quality and cheap telecom services.

Types of SIM cards

In this country, you can buy SIM-cards to equip any mobile phone:

Standard - A classic form factor that is now considered obsolete. Suitable for mobile devices with large card slot.

Reduced - Card for mobile phones and tablets with a Micro-SIM slot.

Miniature - The smallest Nano-SIM cards for devices with the appropriate slot. They are required for the latest mobile devices released in the last 1-3 years.

These cards are sold as a standard sized plastic pad with two smaller pads inside. In general, everything is like that of domestic mobile operators.

Prices

The cost of a SIM card is from $5. The specific amount depends on the tariff plan, the place of purchase and the impudence of the seller.

Note! As a rule, when buying a SIM card, the user account already has some funds in the amount of up to 50 thousand VND.

About how many minutes of conversation this money can be enough, will be discussed below.

Where can I buy?

You can buy a card in the following places:

In the airoport

Guests of the country can get a special card for tourists immediately upon arrival at the international airport. To do this, you need to contact the store, marked with a large sign "SIM-CARD".

The cost of such a card will be about $ 12, it includes a certain amount of Internet and fairly cheap calls abroad.

street vendors

Vietnam has a law that requires every buyer of a SIM card to tie it to their passport. This means that a person who does not have at least temporary citizenship does not actually have the right to purchase a card if it is not a tourist card.

Therefore, it makes no sense to apply for a purchase at the official representative offices of local OPS. But it can be purchased from hawkers on the street, sellers in local markets, tour operator guides, and even in pharmacies and small shops that are located within the main tourist area of Nha Trang.

ATTENTION! It makes no sense for a traveler to overpay for a tourist SIM card, especially if he plans to stay in the country for less than 30 days. It is best to give about $ 5 to resellers who register cards for nominees, often there are more favorable internet tariffs, but sometimes there may not be “starting” money in the account, so it needs to be replenished.

Choice of mobile operator

There are 3 major operators and several regional operators in Vietnam. In this article, we will focus on the main OPS: Viettel, MobiFone and Vinaphone. As in other countries of the world, their tariffs practically do not differ from each other. As for the quality of communication, it is exactly the same for all telecom brands.

REFERENCE! To select a specific OPS, you first need to decide what you plan to use the card for - for calls abroad or for the Internet. If for the Internet, then the seller will tell you which operator offers the most favorable Internet tariffs at the moment.

Rates

As already noted, the main players in the Vietnamese mobile communications market offer almost the same tariff plans:

a call from one Vietnamese operator to another will cost from 900 to 1200 VND per minute +/- separate connection fee;
a call to a number within the network of the same operator costs about 300-500 dong per minute +/- ten dong per connection. There are tariffs with free packages;
sending SMS within the network of the same operator will cost 200-300 VND. There are also tariffs offering a package with free SMS to numbers within the OPS. Messages to numbers of other operators or in roaming cost from 2500 to 3000 VND.

Based on the amounts shown in this list, it is quite easy to calculate how many minutes of conversation the standard VND 50,000, which is found on almost every new SIM card, will last.

Note! If the traveler's plans do not include calls to their country, which are much more logical to make for free using Skype, Viber, etc., then the money available on the card, even without replenishing it, will be enough for at least half a month of vacation (if they are not spent earlier on mobile Internet).

The specific cost of tariffs at the current time can always be found on the official website of the Vietnamese TSOs.

International calls

International calls cost from 5000 to 8000 VND, depending on the country you plan to call. Most of the CIS countries, especially those where the MTC operator is present, are included in the list of destinations with reduced call rates.

But sometimes foreign communication can cost more if the card was sold with a purely local tariff.

How to connect 3G internet?

Connecting a high-speed mobile Internet service to Vietnamese operators will not be any more difficult for a tourist than in his homeland, and in some cases, setting up is not required at all.

By default, each operator's card is almost always given from 600 MB to 1.5 GB. After the expiration of this package, you can order another one for a couple of tens of thousands of dongs. If there is no package, then it is recommended to order it immediately, otherwise the user runs the risk of quickly spending all the money on the Internet.

Settings on Viettel

To order the cheapest 600 Mb package for this operator, you need to create a new SMS message, write one single word there "Mimax" (without quotes) and send to 191. 70 thousand will be written off from you. In the same way, all other packages of this OPS are included.

Settings on MobiFone

To order the cheapest internet package for 600 Mb, you need to create text message with words "CAIDAT" (without quotes) and send it to 999. This service will cost the subscriber in the amount of 70 thousand VND. All other Internet packages from this OPS are ordered in the same way.

Disabling SMS spam from MobiFone

Settings on Vinaphone

To order a 600 MB internet package on this operator, you need to create a text message "DK" (without quotes) and send it to 888. From the subscriber they will write off from 70 thousand dongs. All other Internet services of this OPS are ordered in the same way.

REFERENCE! If all the traffic is used up, then the operator starts charging 200 dong for each megabyte of Internet over the limit.

Change message language from Vietnamese to English

Russian-speaking subscribers do not need to try to understand Vietnamese characters during SMS dialogues with the operator. After all, in just a minute you can change the language of interaction to international English:

Viettel

make a call to 900;
when the voice menu appears, press the number 4, and after it the number 2;
after selection in English the setting is stored as 1.

mobile phone

call the same number 900;
getting into the voice menu, you need to press the number 5, and after it the number 1;
the setting is saved with the number 1.

Vinaphone

the number 900, similar to the previous ones, is dialed;
in the voice menu, the number 3 is pressed, after which you need to press the number 1;
the resulting setting is stored as 1.

If you have any problems with the setup, you can find in phone book operator number (it is automatically generated when SIM activation cards on your cell phone), call the CALL center and ask them to translate all SMS into English. If you do not speak English, ask your guide to make such a call.

Balance check

The Vietnamese telecom market introduced a unified balance check code, which is performed using the characters *101# and the call button. The menu on the screen can display a large number of accounts, but the subscriber should be interested only in the very first one in the list. The remaining positions of the list are various bonuses.

To see the remaining amount of Internet traffic, you need to execute the code from the characters *102# and the call key. The invoice will be displayed if the package is ordered and connected.

Balance replenishment

You can replenish the account of local OPS, both through subscriber terminals that can be found on any street (not all of them have an English menu), or through cards. The last way is easier. You can buy a recharge card in the same place as a SIM card.

The cost of such a card in the amount, for example 70 thousand dong, will be from 70 to 73 thousand.

Important! Replenishment code: *100*(numbers under the erasable field on the card)# and a call key.

How to connect WiFi?

To find free Wi-Fi in the city, it is enough to include a search in the lobby of your hotel, catering establishments, shopping salon, bank branch and other organizations that are required to provide free connection to the internet. The connection speed is similar to that in the CIS countries.

Some routers provide Internet access immediately, and some require simple authentication. Usually it is expressed in the fact that when you connect to Wi-Fi, an authorization pop-up window appears on your device, it will contain some kind of picture and a simple site with 1-3 buttons. By clicking on one of these buttons, you can get authorization on the network.

cellular and Internet in Nha Trang: where to buy a SIM card, how to connect 3G and Wi-Fi?

Today, a person is connected to the phone like never before, and the first thing you think about when traveling is how to save on communication: connect roaming, buy a local or tourist sim card or even call only via the Internet.

Mobile communications in Vietnam good and cheap, so you should get a local sim card, even if you are here for a short time. The estimated cost of calls from Vietnamese SIM cards to Russia is up to 11 rubles. They are sold everywhere: from stands at the airport to newsstands in the city, but if there is a need to purchase a nano or micro card, it is better to go to stores specializing in the sale of mobile phones, where they will certainly be able to cut it. You can also buy a ready-made SIM card of the right size there. There are three main mobile operators in Vietnam: Viettel, Vinafone, Mobifone. The cost of a SIM card ranges from 70,000 to 130,000 VND, which is approximately 230-420 rubles. Part of this money will be transferred to the main account. At some points of sale, you must have a passport with you. You can replenish your account in the same places where SIM cards are sold: after buying a payment card, you need to erase the protective layer and dial *100*code from the card # call on your phone (instructions are on each card).

When buying a SIM card or a recharge card, it is recommended to check the cost on the label. Often, locals try to cash in on tourists, voicing a completely different amount than what is indicated on the map. There is no commission for replenishment: if you bought a card with a face value of 50 thousand dong, then this amount will be credited to your account.

It is better to activate the SIM card immediately at the point of sale, since the menu will be in Vietnamese. Or you can call 900, after which activation details will be sent to your phone. If you plan to live in Vietnam for a long time, then you should know that the SIM card is active for 2-3 months from the last call or top-up.

After activating VinaPhone, standard 3g internet is automatically connected, but with a high tariff, so it is recommended to connect an unlimited internet package. For Viettel and Mobifone 3g, the Internet is connected via SMS to short numbers 161 (3G ON) and 999 (DK MIU). The text in brackets is the text to be specified in the SMS.

List of emergency and other necessary numbers:

When calling the help desk, it is not necessary to know the Vietnamese language; operators with knowledge of English and French work on the line.

Outside the country, calls are made in the international format: + country code - area code (only for landline phones) - phone number. To call Russia on a mobile phone, dial +79120000000.

If you need to call Vietnam from another country or make a call within the country, then the number will start with +84 (this is the code for Vietnam). Two zeros (00 + 84) are used to enter the international line, and one zero (0 + 84) to the long-distance line.

Another option is to use IP telephony. To do this, you need to dial 171 + 00 + country code + city code or immediately the phone number if it is mobile.

There is no internal roaming in Vietnam, so you can safely travel throughout the country with one SIM card.

Mobile internet in Vietnam is in great demand, besides, 4g coverage appeared at the end of 2015. At the points of sale of SIM cards, you can buy a modem and set up access.

Payment for mobile Internet in this case occurs using unlimited traffic packages. This connection guarantees good internet with good speed, but only until you reach the traffic limit. Then the speed drops.

Almost all hotels and cafes have the ability to connect to free Wi-Fi, and in some cities (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh) Wi-Fi catches even on crowded streets. You can easily find an Internet cafe or use a computer with Internet access in post offices. The fee in such establishments varies up to 20 thousand dong per hour (about 65 rubles at the current exchange rate).

The main provider of fixed Internet is Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, which also includes mobile operators Vinafone, Mobifone. The quality of the Internet is generally very low, although access is available almost everywhere. The best connection in Ho Chi Minh City where you can watch videos online. Connection month unlimited internet through an ADSL modem will cost about 450 rubles.

Despite the fact that cellular communication and Internet services are inferior to those in Russia, using local SIM cards is beneficial, and Internet access can be found in every home.

Happy travels!

Friends, in Vietnam, a SIM card costs $5 (VND 100,000) and you can buy it at any mobile phone office. There is absolutely no difference which company: Viettel, Mobifone, Vinafone.
Previously, SIM cards were freely sold in any supermarket and at the airport and travel agencies (Perhaps they are still being sold). Now, in order for the SIM card to work, you need to come to the cellular office with a passport and sign an agreement.

I'll tell you my experience of connecting to the Internet. If you are not satisfied internet wi-fi which is present almost everywhere in Nha Trang: in hotels, restaurants in shopping malls.

I do not have enough external third-party Internet via wi-fi - since I always have to be in touch, even if the electricity is cut off abruptly! Although power outages are not frequent in Nha Trang a couple of times a year.

So, how to connect mobile Internet for an iPad or iPhone or for a laptop (then via a 3G modem)

1. We buy a sim card and cut it to the desired size (if for an iPad or iPhone). I will help you cut it correctly where you bought the SIM card.

I bought a SIM from a mobile operator: "Mobifon" for 95,000 vnd

2. We replenish the balance for the required amount.

I topped up 200,000 vnd

How to replenish the balance? In shops or travel agencies in Nha Trang, paper cards are sold for each operator, different in denomination: 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 dong. Such cards used to be in Russia: you need to erase the silver paint under which the secret code.

Then on the phone dial: *100* secret number# call. After that, an SMS comes stating that the money has been credited to the account.

3. Choose a tariff plan and send SMS.

If your mobile operator is Vinaphone

0.6 GB price 70,000 VND - send SMS "DK MAX" to 888;

1.2 GB price 100,000 VND - send SMS "DK MAX100" to 888;

3 GB price 200,000 VND - send SMS "DK MAX200" to 888.

If your mobile operator: Viettel

0.6 GB price 70,000 VND - send SMS "MiMax" to 191;

1.2 GB price 90,000 VND - send SMS "MiMax90" to 191;

1.5 GB price 120,000 VND - send SMS "Dmax" to 191;

3 GB price 200,000 VND - send SMS "Dmax200" to 191.

If your mobile operator: Mobifone

0.6 GB price 70,000 VND - send SMS "DK MIU" to 999;

1.5 GB price 120,000 VND - send SMS "DK M120" to 999;

3 GB price 200,000 VND - send SMS "DK BMIU" to 999.

I chose the third option for Mobifon for 200,000 and I can say that all sites open well - quickly, but the video is viewed poorly. This is still not an option for working on the Internet, but in order to always be in touch or look for information.

I have an iPad - SMS is not sent from it, so at first I did all the manipulations with replenishing the account and choosing a tariff on the phone, and then I moved the SIM card to the iPad.

When a month passes and the mobile Internet turns off, I again follow the steps described above with the SIM card through the phone, and then rearrange it again into the iPad

and finally

How to call Russia from Vietnam?

dial: +7 and a phone number without the first eight, for example: +7 495 3456789

The cost of 1 minute of a call to Russia is almost the same for all mobile operators: Vietel, Mobifon, Vinafon = 5,000 VND.

How to check the account balance on the phone in Vietnam?

Dial: *101# call

After that, an SMS will come with information about the state of the balance on the SIM card.

One of key issues, which is given by tourists going on vacation abroad, is mobile phone and internet at the resort. In Vietnam, travelers will not have communication problems, and it's even cheaper to talk on the phone here than at home.

mobile connection

Communicating with relatives and friends who have remained in Russia using a domestic SIM card is an extremely pleasure expensive and useless . In Vietnam, literally on every corner - in supermarkets, shops and private shops local SIM cards for sale major mobile operators.

For iPhone owners, these cards can cut to required size right at the point of purchase. The most popular telecom operators here are Vinafone, Mobifone and Viettel. The card itself costs a maximum of 100,000 VND ( about 150 rubles) and this price already includes 30 minutes of calls within the country.

Usually on maps there are two separate accounts: one for off-network and international calls, and the second for domestic calls. Several times a month, mobile operators hold a three-day promotion, during which, when replenishing the balance of a mobile phone, all subscribers receive a gift in the amount of 50% of the card value. How to recognize such an action among incomprehensible SMS in Vietnamese that you will receive every day? There should be an effective date (usually the next two days), and the numbers 100% and 50%. If you see this, and the balance (balance check *101# call) is low, buy and activate a payment card these days.

Concerning call rates to Russia, then they depend on the specific operator, but on average one minute costs about 6-7 rubles per minute compared to exorbitant rates for calls from "native" sims. SMS messages to your homeland will cost even less, and calls to tourist friends in Vietnam will cost from about 40 kopecks to three rubles. By the way, there is no roaming inside Vietnam, so when traveling different cities this country no need to buy a new SIM card in each of them.

To call from Vietnam to Russia from a mobile phone to a mobile, you should dial the number according to the usual scheme: +7 and then the necessary numbers. For calls to landlines, first dial +7 - area code - phone number. A similar scheme applies when calling landlines in Russia from landlines in Vietnam.

When the money on the mobile account runs out, then to replenish the balance, you should contact the same places where the cards are sold. Here you should purchase a special card with a protective layer - similar to a lottery ticket - and dial certain commands on your phone (*100*code from the payment card#). The instruction is always written on the card, but you can do it easier and ask the seller to help pay for the phone. By the way, the cost of the card always coincides with its face value, that is, a card for 100,000 dong will cost exactly 100,000 dong.

Internet

As well as with mobile communications, no problems with internet in vietnam. More precisely, with its presence. But the connection speed may not please you. But Skype still "pulls". Internet cafes are also found everywhere, where Vietnamese youth have fun playing “shooters” and “rpg games”. The cost of one hour of Internet here costs an average of 3,000 - 20,000 VND. In addition to specialized cafes, wi-fi is available in almost all hotels and guesthouses Vietnam, as well as in restaurants and cafes. Most often, Internet access is free. In major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, wireless Internet access points are even located on the streets.

With mobile internet Vietnam is also doing well.- the rates are staggering low prices, and the quality for the most part raises no objections. There are several tariff plans, for example, 300 MB at 1 Mbps. for a month for 50,000 dong. There are also 3.6 Mbps and 7.2 Mbps options. As for modems, they can also be purchased at mobile communication points, shopping centers and ordinary stores where SIM cards are sold. As a rule, employees of retail outlets always help with setting up a modem and connecting to the Internet.

Very often we are asked questions in terms of cellular communications in Vietnam. We will try to briefly and clearly answer all questions regarding mobile communications in Vietnam.

Is it better to use a native SIM card from a Russian operator or buy a local SIM card in Vietnam?

To begin with, we’ll immediately say that it’s best to buy a SIM card from local mobile operators in Vietnam, and not to suffer and overpay for communication with relatives, while roaming in a foreign country.

Moreover, some Russian operators generally do not have a normal coverage area of the territory of Vietnam, which ensures proper operation.

Things are a little better with services from the MTS mobile operator, but the payment for such services will be high, however, like with other mobile operators.

Therefore, we answer: “It is better to buy a SIM card from a local mobile operator”

What mobile operators are there in Vietnam?

There are several mobile operators in Vietnam - these are:

Viettel
beeline
vinaphone
mobifone

Which Vietnamese operators are the best to use?

If we consider the issue of cost for a mobile communication service, then all the above-mentioned operators charge the same fee for their services. There is no difference.

If we consider the issue of stable and uninterrupted communication, then failures can begin for everyone. Not at the same time, of course, but it happens. The most common problem is SMS messages. It happens that SMS messages simply do not reach a Russian subscriber, or vice versa, SMS messages from a Russian subscriber do not reach a subscriber located in Vietnam. At the same time, cellular communication in talk mode will be normal, that is, normal without any, saying plain language, jambs.

Where to buy and how much does a SIM card of Vietnamese mobile operators cost?

Answering this question, let's say this, firstly, do not buy SIM cards at the airport and in the surrounding area. For this dubious “convenience”, when you get off the plane and everything is at hand, the tourist usually overpays a substantial amount. One and a half, or even more times.

Secondly, you can buy a SIM card and immediately activate it upon arrival in the city. Shops and departments of cellular communication are full literally at every step. Usually they "hide" under signs with cell phones, where they not only sell mobile phones, but also connect and activate SIM cards.

As for the cost. For a SIM card of a mobile operator, you will give no more than 60,000 VND or $ 2.84. In terms of rubles, a SIM card costs within 100 rubles (91 rubles). The internal balance of the SIM card will be about 160,000 VND or $7.58 (242 rubles)

How much will a minute of conversation with a Vietnamese SIM card cost?

Let's make a reservation right away that it is best to call Russia from Vietnam than vice versa, because a call to Vietnam will cost a Russian subscriber within 100 rubles per minute. It is cheaper to write SMS, but they are not worth it.

A minute of conversation with Russia from a Vietnamese SIM card costs around 5.000VND ($0.24) or within 10 rubles (8 rubles)

The cheapest way to talk is not through mobile communications, but using additional service in branches postal service. A minute of talking on the phone will cost 4,000 VND ($0.19), which is 6 rubles. But then again, it's creepy as inconvenient. I'll have to look for mail.

Is domestic roaming available in Vietnam?

For example, you bought a SIM card in Ho Chi Minh City and set off to travel from the south of the country to the north of Vietnam to Hanoi. And then the thought arises, what if there is internal roaming in Vietnam, and upon arrival in another city, the cost of a conversation within the network with my friends traveling in Vietnam will cost much more?

So, there is no internal roaming in the country! With a SIM card purchased in any city in Vietnam, you can travel around the sultry country far and wide without any problems and burdens on the mobile communications budget.

What does a tourist need when buying a SIM card in Vietnam?

The procedure is simple. It is enough to have a valid passport and cash with you to pay for a SIM card. Moreover, it is specified that the passport at the time of the provision and registration of the SIM card must be valid, and its period must exceed 6 months before the expiration date of the passport.

One more moment. In order not to lose a foreigner, many prudent tourists carry a photocopy of it with them. So, when registering a SIM card, some mobile operators require an original document, while for others this is not important.

Can you tell me more about tariff plans?Viettel,Beeline", "Vinaphone", "Mobifone?

The easiest way is to go to the official websites of Vietnamese mobile operators and clarify this information yourself, since the conditions for the provision of certain services may change from year to year.