Sim Cards

Can anybody provide me with information on purchasing SIM CARDS for mobile phones whilst in Vietnam.

Like best carriers, rates, coverability etc.

I will be in Vietnam for 3 weeks in March and travelling North to South including Sapa.

Do the loading instructions come in English.

Had some initial problems in Jakarta due to language problems.

Thanking You

mimasaloi

Sim Cards

In November 2008 I asked the receptionist at the Le Duy Hotel where to buy a SIM Card. She sent one of the employees out and he returned with a SIM Card in less than five minutes. Total cost was 150,000 VND (less than $10.00 US). Loading the card is easy, just take out the old one and put in the new one. They only go in one way. The card comes with a new phone number and my card lasted the entire 4+ weeks I was in Vietnam. Vinaphone is supposed to be a good company. If you go to a shop that sells SIM Cards (there are many as just about everyone in Vietnam has a cell phone) they will load it for you and ensure you know your new phone number. You may be told you need to have your phone ';unlocked'; so it works in Vietnam. I had mine ';unlocked'; in California before I left but I%26#39;m still not sure what ';unlocked'; means. The phone worked fine on my last two trips and it was really nice being able to make calls within Vietnam and not have to use the hotel phones. Hope this is helpful.

Sim Cards

Just answered a question for another Aussie going in March

Thanks

Make that 3! Very useful, thank you!

Would love to do a head count of Aussies going over in March.LOL

Make sure that your unlocked phone has the same frequency (900). You can check the frequency that is used in VN. Very easy to buy a sim card, have fun in VN

';but I%26#39;m still not sure what ';unlocked'; means.';

In most cases when you purchase a mobile phone it is setup so that you can only use one telephone company to be able to use it.

That company works their secrett hoodoo on your phone so that you cannot use any other telephone compant to make calls through....That is what LOCKED is all about.

Once you get that secret magic hoodooo ';unlocked'; from your phone then you are able to use any telephone company you like by insering their sim card into your phone.

Bit of advice......it is always handy to keep any sim cards you purchase in case you need to connect with that company again..then again they might be subject to a limited lifetime if not used.

mimasaloi

AUSSIES going in March...

Are you on a group tour we...seniors are taking our first group tour ever with MacCleay Tours..a 3week covering North -South and Sapa as well.

Departing Brisbane March 8

Jason1010

Thanks a lot for that handy info,,

Indonesia was cheap as well I couldn%26#39;t beleive how many calls I could make to Australia...sooooooo cheap though their system got overcrowded with millions upon millions of people using it..maybe not so many in Viet.

Hi mimasaloi

No just 2 50ish ladies doing their own thing, I have organised our own tours.

We fly out March 3 Melbourne 21 days and counting

Thanks Jason and mimasaloi, but how do I go about getting someone to do the unlocking of the hoodoo? Can I have it done in VN? In March of course - an outnumbered Pom.