Keeping in Touch in Vietnam

Keeping in touch in Vietnam is straightforward and easy. Vietnam’s internet speeds, mobile networks, and digital services have grown impressively in the last years, and you can keep in touch with family and friends back home without breaking the bank. International calls don’t cost an arm and a leg, the postal service works like clockwork in most areas, and high-speed internet access spans most of the country.

Internet in Vietnam

Internet in Vietnam comes through service providers, WiFi hotspots, or internet cafés – take your pick. The digital backbone now stretches toward every corner, with plans for nationwide fibre-optic coverage by 2030. Vietnam is in the global top 20 for mobile connectivity.

Government filters block certain websites and topics, with stricter rules since December 2024. This law also forces social media platforms to pull illegal content within 24 hours, requires your phone number or ID for verification, and makes foreign companies store Vietnamese user data for authorities. 

Chat and video apps like Skype, WhatsApp and FaceTime run without a hitch, letting you stay in the loop with folks abroad. As an expat, these restrictions won’t really affect you, although you might notice some international news sites and social platforms go dark occasionally. Many expats use VPNs to sidestep content blocks.

Mobile phones in Vietnam

Mobile phones in Vietnam come with quick setup and wallet-friendly data plans, and there’s fierce competition between providers. Coverage keeps expanding, with 5G networks live across central zones in all 63 provinces. The government aims to cover 99 percent of the population by late 2025.

Your choice of provider matters for your specific needs. Market leader Viettel gives the best rural coverage, while Vinaphone and Mobifone excel in cities. Check whether your provider allows sending and receiving international calls before signing up. You’ll spot prepaid SIM vendors at airports, shopping centres, and mobile shops throughout major cities.

You might need a Vietnamese-speaking friend to help with translation when setting up a contract phone. Expect to provide copies of your passport, visa, proof of residence, workplace details, and employment contract. These checks got tougher in 2024, as phone numbers now link directly to your personal ID.

Postal services in Vietnam

Postal services in Vietnam are now quite high-tech while maintaining reliability for everyday mail. Your home address works fine for receiving mail in cities, as does your workplace. Stick to tracked delivery for anything important – regular mail sometimes gets lost.

Tech upgrades have transformed how parcels move around the country. Viettel Post uses robot vehicles in their Hanoi hub, cutting delivery times by 8 to 10 hours and processing up to 4 million parcels daily, half of Vietnam’s e-commerce volume. They’ve rolled out delivery drones for hard-to-reach spots and installed 1,000 smart collection boxes across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Write addresses clearly on your packages, especially for buildings tucked down Vietnam’s maze-like city alleyways. When sending items, you can choose between old-school postal services, specialised courier firms, or app-based delivery startups. DHL and FedEx operate nationwide for international shipping, offering rock-solid reliability at premium rates.

English-language media in Vietnam

English-language media in Vietnam starts with widely available cable and satellite TV channels from back home. Streaming platforms have taken off, although expats use a VPN workaround to unlock their full libraries.

News junkies can turn to several top-notch English publications. VnExpress International, Vietnam News, Tuoi Tre News, The Saigon Times, and Nhan Dan Online cover Vietnamese affairs from different angles – some more state-aligned than others.