I Tried Holafly eSIM in Vietnam for 2 Weeks: Here’s My Honest Review
By Hisan Kidwai
February 17, 2026
Updated February 20, 2026
If you’ve traveled internationally lately, you already know: the to-do list never ends. Tickets? Check. Transit visa? Hopefully. Immigration hours? Better double-check. Somewhere in all that chaos, I usually end up sprinting through an airport after forgetting something obvious.
And then there’s connectivity—the thing that always sneaks up on me. You land, you need a taxi, you need data. But at most airports, that means standing in a painfully long queue for a SIM card, only to pay way more than you should. After dealing with that one too many times, I finally decided to try something different for my recent Vietnam trip: an eSIM.
I went with Holafly, a company that offers unlimited data plans in over 200 destinations. No physical SIM, no hidden fees, just a straightforward setup before I even left home. Here’s how it went over two weeks.
What Holafly Offers
Holafly covers a lot of ground—North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, even the Caribbean. The main draw is unlimited data across most of their plans. You don’t get a phone number with it, but honestly, I didn’t miss it. Between WhatsApp and Telegram, I could call, text, and browse without a hitch.
If you’re hopping between countries, they also offer regional eSIMs and a global option that covers 110+ countries, starting at $9.90 per day (the price drops the longer you go). And if you’re a frequent traveler, their new subscription plans—Holafly Plans—give you 25GB for $49.90 a month or unlimited data for $64.90, with coverage in over 160 destinations. You can cancel anytime.
Use my code FOSSBYTES to save 5% on a standard eSIM, or 10% off for 12 months on a subscription.
One important thing: your phone needs to be unlocked for an eSIM to work. Older phones might not support the tech either, so it’s worth checking compatibility before buying. If something goes wrong or your plans change, Holafly offers a generous six-month refund policy. And their customer support is available 24/7 with actual humans, which is reassuring when you’re in a different country.
Setting It Up
I wanted everything ready before my flight—because messing with airport Wi-Fi while jet-lagged is not my idea of fun. The setup turned out to be refreshingly simple.
I went to the Holafly website, searched for Vietnam, and grabbed a 15-day plan for $50.90. (You can choose anywhere from 1 to 90 days depending on your trip.) Installation was straightforward: I used the QR code method, but you can also set it up manually or use the Holafly app if you’re on iOS 17.4 or later. Took me just a few minutes.
The Real Test: Two Weeks in Vietnam
I installed everything the day before flying, using my daily driver—a vivo X300 Pro. The moment my plane touched down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, I was connected. No scrambling for Wi-Fi, no waiting in line.
First thing I did: text my parents. It was my first solo international trip, and they were, predictably, worried. The message went through instantly.
Next up was immigration. If you’ve been to Vietnam, you know the line can stretch for hours. I used the fast-track service to skip it, but here’s where the eSIM really came in handy: I don’t speak Vietnamese, so I leaned on ChatGPT as a translator. With a steady data connection, it worked perfectly.
Once I settled in, I decided to push the connection to see what it could handle. I started by downloading a few episodes of Squid Game Season 3—finished in minutes. I tracked my data usage through the Holafly app (though the app did crash on me a couple of times).
Speed-wise, I ran a few tests and averaged download speeds between 45.6 Mbps and 56 Mbps, with uploads around 39 Mbps. That was more than enough for streaming, video calls, and even gaming. I played PUBG with friends back home without any lag.
One minor annoyance: some streaming services, like Netflix, occasionally gave me a “content not available in your location” error. It’s not a Holafly issue, but something to be aware of if you rely heavily on certain platforms while traveling.
Off the Beaten Path
After a few days in Ho Chi Minh City, I headed to Tuy Hoa—a quieter, less touristy spot. I took the train from Saigon, and Vietnamese trains don’t have Wi-Fi. For about 90 percent of the journey, Holafly held strong. There were a few stretches through dense forest where the signal dipped, but nothing major.
Even in Tuy Hoa—a small, quiet town—speeds were just as reliable as in the big city. I took a few excursions outside the urban areas, and the connection held up fine.
Final Thoughts
Holafly made this trip genuinely easier. The biggest win for me was the peace of mind that comes with unlimited data. I never once had to think about hitting a daily cap or hunting for Wi-Fi. The setup was simple, coverage was solid across both cities and remote areas, and the six-month refund policy takes the risk out of trying it.
The app could be more stable, and the occasional streaming hiccup was a minor annoyance, but neither was a dealbreaker. For anyone tired of airport SIM queues or juggling local SIM cards in every new country, Holafly is a solid, no-fuss solution.
If you’ve got a trip coming up, it’s worth a try. And don’t forget—you can save a bit using my code FOSSBYTES.
