How to Top Up Your Vietnam SIM Card in 2026: Viettel, Mobifone & Vinaphone Recharge Options for Indian Travelers

✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-22

If your Vietnam SIM card top up goes wrong on day three in Hanoi and Google Maps stops loading mid-street-food hunt, the panic is real. This guide covers every working way to recharge in 2026. For related planning, see our guide on Sea Backpacking Hub.

Quick Answers

WhatAnswerPrice (INR)
Cheapest tourist SIM (Viettel/Mobifone, 14 days, ~6GB data)Buy at Hanoi/HCMC airport counter on arrival₹450 (~130,000 VND)
Viettel scratch card (smallest top-up)Any ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) card at Circle K or convenience store₹185 (~50,000 VND)
Mobifone online recharge via international Visa/Mastercardmobifone.vn or My MobiFone app₹185 (~50,000 VND)
Vinaphone top-up via app (VNPT Pay)iOS/Android, accepts foreign cards₹185 (~50,000 VND)
Singapore SIM top up at Changi 7-ElevenSingtel/StarHub prepaid top-up card₹184 (~50,000 VND)

At current rates, 1 INR = 269 VND (1 USD = ₹96.5289, 1 VND ≈ ₹0.0037). Don’t overthink the math, just keep the scratch card value as ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) as your mental baseline.

Why Vietnam SIM Top-Up Is Confusing for Indians

Three carriers, each with its own app, each with its own scratch card SKU, each with slightly different USSD codes for balance checks. Nobody teaches this in advance, and the only English-speaking person at the airport SIM counter is usually juggling four other travelers. The good news: once you know the four methods that work for foreign cards and out-of-town top-ups, you never need to walk into a carrier store again.

The four methods:

  1. Scratch cards (the universal fallback).
  2. Carrier apps (My MobiFone, My Viettel, My VNPT).
  3. Online portals with international Visa/Mastercard.
  4. Convenience store cashier top-ups (Circle K, 7-Eleven, GS25).

Two more pay-attention points before the per-carrier walkthroughs:

  • Your Indian debit/credit card works on all three carrier portals. The pages render in English after switching the language toggle, and international Visa/Mastercard is accepted. UPI does not work.
  • Keep the SIM packaging. The 19-digit serial number on the back of a scratch card and the 13-14 digit top-up code are different, and they live in different places on different carriers’ cards.

Which carriers deliver OTPs for Indian banking apps matters more than data for the first 48 hours.

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Viettel Top Up: Scratch Cards, App, and Online

Viettel is the largest carrier in Vietnam and the one most tourists get by default. Recharging is straightforward.

Scratch card method: Viettel scratch cards come in ₹37 (~10,000 VND or ~$0.38), and ₹1,840 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.06) denominations. The ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) card is the sweet spot for backpackers. Buy at any Circle K, 7-Eleven, GS25, B’s Mart, or FamilyMart. Ask for “thep Viettel” or just hand them your phone and say “top up Viettel, 50 ngan.” They will hand you a card. Scratch off the back panel, dial 100# and hit call. The credit lands in 5-10 seconds. Travellers report that the *100# method works without internet, which is the only reason to keep one scratch card in your bag as backup. For a full walkthrough of the how to recharge your Vietnam SIM card process across all three carriers, see the dedicated guide.

My Viettel app method: Download My Viettel from the App Store or Google Play. The app defaults to Vietnamese. Tap the language icon (top right corner), switch to English, log in with your Viettel phone number, and the OTP arrives in Vietnamese by default. Look for a setting under “Account” that switches SMS language to English. After that, tap “Top-up,” choose your amount (minimum ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91)), and pay with international Visa/Mastercard. Foreign cards work 9 out of 10 times; if your transaction fails, the most common cause is a 3D Secure prompt your Indian bank doesn’t recognize. Call your bank’s international desk before your trip and whitelist Vietnam transactions.

Online portal method: Go to viettel.vn, click the English flag in the top right, navigate to “Personal” > “Top-up.” Enter your Viettel number, the recharge amount, and your Visa/Mastercard details. Same 3D Secure caveat applies.

Viettel USSD codes worth memorising:

  • *100# = check main balance
  • *102# = check data balance
  • 101# = top up via scratch card
  • *888# = buy data add-on packages

Mobifone Recharge: The App-Friendly Option

Mobifone tends to be the easiest for English speakers because the My MobiFone app has the most polished English interface.

My MobiFone app method: Download My MobiFone from your app store. The English toggle is on the first screen. The app accepts international Visa, Mastercard, and JCB. Minimum top-up is ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91). The app also lets you buy data packages (30-day, 7-day, daily) directly, which is usually cheaper than just dumping credit on your account and hoping the default data plan renews.

Mobifone scratch card: Same denominations as Viettel, same stores. The USSD code is 100# for top-up and *101# for balance check. Mobifone scratch cards have a 13-digit code; Viettel uses 14 digits; the difference trips people up.

Online portal: mobifone.vn has an English recharge portal at the top of the homepage. Click “Top-up,” enter your number, choose the amount, pay with Visa/Mastercard. The portal works without an account.

Mobifone USSD codes:

  • *100# = check balance
  • *102# = check data
  • 100# = scratch card top-up
  • *090# = data package menu

Choosing between Viettel and Mobifone on day one? Our Vietnam SIM card cost guide walks through which carrier gives the most data for the smallest spend.

Vinaphone Top Up: The VNPT App Route

Vinaphone is the third carrier, run by state-owned VNPT. Coverage is strong in cities and along the tourist highways, weaker in remote mountains like Sapa and Ha Giang. If you bought a Vinaphone SIM at the airport, here’s how to recharge.

VNPT Pay app method: Download VNPT Pay (not My Vinaphone, which is less reliable for foreign cards). Switch language to English at first launch. The app handles top-ups, data packages, and bill payment. Minimum top-up is ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91). VNPT Pay is the only Vietnamese carrier app that consistently accepts JCB cards alongside Visa and Mastercard, useful if your Indian bank pushed you toward JCB for international travel.

My VNPT app method: Alternative to VNPT Pay, but the English coverage is patchier. Most Indian travellers stick with VNPT Pay.

Online portal: vinaphone.com.vn has a recharge portal under “Personal” > “Top-up.” The English version is functional, not polished.

Vinaphone scratch cards: Same denominations. The USSD code is 100# for top-up, *101# for balance, *111# for data balance.

Vinaphone USSD codes:

  • *100# = main balance
  • *101# = promotional balance (often ignored)
  • *111# = data balance
  • 100# = scratch card top-up
  • *888# = data package menu
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Cash Top-Up at Convenience Stores (The Reliable Fallback)

When your card fails, your app refuses to download, or you’re in a town with patchy internet, walk into any Circle K, 7-Eleven, GS25, B’s Mart, or FamilyMart and ask the cashier to top up your number. Show them your phone number, hand over cash, and the credit lands in 30 seconds. There is no fee. This works on all three carriers.

The cashier will type your number into their point-of-sale terminal, accept your cash, and the carrier will SMS you a confirmation. Travellers report this is the only method that works in 100% of locations, including remote islands.

Subodh’s Pro Tip: Take a photo of your SIM card packaging the moment you buy it. The 19-digit SIM serial number and the carrier’s customer service hotline are printed on it. If your SIM gets blocked, that photo is the difference between a 5-minute resolution at the airport counter and a 3-hour detour to a district carrier store.

Mobile Banking and UPI: What Works

Indian travelers assume UPI works everywhere. In Vietnam, UPI does not work. Period. No Vietnamese carrier accepts UPI, no Vietnamese merchant accepts UPI, and no Vietnamese online portal accepts UPI as of 2026.

What does work:

  • International Visa/Mastercard/JCB: All three carrier portals and apps.
  • Indian RuPay cards: Mostly rejected. RuPay international acceptance is improving but still patchy in Vietnam. Don’t rely on RuPay as your only card.
  • Indian debit cards with international enabled: Works on carrier portals, but you must enable international transactions via your bank’s app or by calling the bank’s international desk before departure.
  • Cash: Always works, anywhere, no exceptions.

The single most common mistake Indian travelers make is assuming their HDFC/SBI/ICICI debit card will work without enabling international transactions. Banks block international transactions by default. Enable them before you fly, or carry a forex card as backup.

If you’re transiting through Singapore, the Singapore SIM card top up process is similar but uses Singtel/StarHub/M1 cards instead. The 7-Eleven at Changi stocks Singtel and StarHub top-up cards in,,, and denominations. Same scratch-and-dial method, USSD code is 100# on Singtel and 123# on StarHub.

Avoiding the “My SIM Just Stopped Working” Panic

Three things kill a Vietnam SIM faster than running out of credit:

  1. Not registering within 24 hours: Vietnamese law requires all prepaid SIMs to be registered with a passport. The airport SIM counters handle this at purchase. If you bought your SIM from a street vendor and never registered, the carrier deactivates it within 24-72 hours.
  2. Long gaps without top-up: Vietnamese carriers deactivate prepaid SIMs that go 30-60 days without any top-up. If you’re heading to Ha Long Bay for a 4-day cruise, top up before you leave the mainland.
  3. Wrong scratch card code: Viettel scratch cards are 14 digits. Mobifone and Vinaphone are 13. Dialing the wrong format gives an error, not a top-up, and your credit doesn’t move.
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Singapore SIM Top Up for the Changi Transit Crowd

For Indian travelers transiting Singapore or extending a Vietnam trip with a Singapore stop, the SIM top-up process in Singapore is more standardized than Vietnam’s. Singtel, StarHub, and M1 all sell prepaid SIMs at Changi, and topping up at any 7-Eleven, Cheers, or FairPrice works the same way as Vietnam’s convenience store method.

The two differences worth noting:

  1. Singapore accepts international cards more reliably on the carrier apps. My Singtel and StarHub apps both process Visa/Mastercard top-ups without 3D Secure issues.
  2. Singapore has a tourist SIM 14-day plan at (~₹1,120) that includes 100GB data and 30 minutes of local calls. It’s more expensive than Vietnam but the data allocation is enormous, useful if you’re using Singapore as a remote-work base.

What to Do When Nothing Works

If your app refuses, your card declines, and there’s no convenience store within walking distance, you have two last resorts:

  1. Carrier customer service hotline: Viettel 18008098, Mobifone 18001090, Vinaphone 18001091. All three have English-speaking agents. Ask them to top up your number manually using a credit they advance you, which you repay at the next carrier store. Most agents will refuse this for prepaid accounts, but it’s worth a try.
  2. Find a Viettel/Mobifone/Vinaphone branded store: In cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hoi An, branded stores sit within 10 minutes of every tourist area. Walk in, show your passport and SIM, ask for a top-up, pay cash, done in under 5 minutes.

The branded-store method is also your recovery option if you’ve bought a scratch card, scratched off the code, and typed it into the wrong USSD menu. The store can refund the unused code if you bring the receipt.

Subodh’s Take

If you’re carrying a Viettel or Mobifone SIM, you should have My Viettel or My MobiFone installed on day one, your Indian Visa or Mastercard enabled for international transactions before you fly, and at least one ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) scratch card in your wallet as insurance. Those three steps cover 95% of the situations you’ll hit. The remaining 5%, where the app crashes and your card declines in the middle of Phong Nha or Mui Ne, is when you walk into a Circle K, hand over cash, and let the cashier handle it. Vietnamese SIM top-ups are not as polished as Singapore’s or Thailand’s, but they’re not as bad as backpacker forums make them sound. The system works. You just need to know which dial code matches which carrier before you’re staring at a phone with 0% battery at 11 PM.

FAQ

Can I top up my Vietnam SIM with an Indian debit card?

Yes, if your bank has international transactions enabled. Most Indian banks block international transactions by default. Enable them via your bank’s app or by calling the international desk before departure. Visa and Mastercard work on all three carrier portals. RuPay is patchy and not recommended as your only card.

What is the minimum top-up amount on Viettel, Mobifone, and Vinaphone?

₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) on all three carriers. This is the smallest denomination scratch card and the minimum online top-up.

Does UPI work for Vietnam SIM top-up?

No. UPI does not work anywhere in Vietnam. No Vietnamese carrier accepts UPI, and no Vietnamese merchant accepts UPI as of 2026.

How long does a Vietnam SIM stay active without top-up?

Viettel, Mobifone, and Vinaphone all deactivate prepaid SIMs after 30-60 days of inactivity. Top up at least once a month to keep the SIM active, especially if you’re staying in Vietnam long-term.

Can I top up someone else’s Vietnam SIM?

Yes. All three carriers allow top-ups to any Vietnam number, including Viettel-to-Mobifone cross-carrier top-ups via scratch cards and online portals. The credit always goes to the number you specify, not the carrier of the card you bought.

What is the USSD code to check balance on each carrier?

*100# on Viettel, Mobifone, and Vinaphone checks main balance. *102# on Viettel and *111# on Vinaphone check data balance. *888# on Viettel opens the data package menu.

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