Communications

Internet

Free Wi-Fi is provided at most hotels in Vietnam and most hotels also have a business center or common computer that guests can use; newer boutique hotels in popular tourist destinations may offer laptops for in-room use. There are plenty of Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the country. There are government restrictions on social networking sites.

Contacts

Cybercafes. www.cybercafes.com.

Phones

Due to cheap mobile networks and excellent countrywide coverage, cell phones have taken Vietnam by storm, so phone booths are rare. Landline phones hardly exist outside of hotels and businesses. Generally, if you need to make a call within the country, all you need to do is ask and a cell phone will be thrust upon you with no expectation of payment.

Area and Country Codes

The country code for Vietnam is 84. When dialing a Vietnamese number from abroad, drop the initial "0" from the local area code. Some city codes follow:

Dalat, 0263; Danang, 0236; Haiphong, 0225; Halong Bay, 0203; Hanoi, 024; Ho Chi Minh City, 028; Hoi An, 0235; Hue, 0234; Nha Trang, 0258; Phan Thiet, 0252; Phong Nha, 0232; Vung Tau, 0254.

International Calls

To call overseas from Vietnam, dial 00 + the country code (1 for the United States and Canada, 61 for Australia, 64 for New Zealand, and 44 for the United Kingdom) + the area code + the number. Remember when calling that Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and 15 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.

Most hotels have international direct-dial (IDD), which they advertise as a selling point and which you need in order to call overseas. The connection can be surprisingly clear, but calls cost a small fortune; it’s better to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and use services such as Skype, FaceTime, or Viber. International calls made using a local mobile network are also cheap.

Calling Within Vietnam

Most public phones, which accept only phone cards and no coins, are found in post offices. Look for a blue sign that reads "Dien Thoai Cong Cong." Local calls cost 5–10 cents and international calls start from as little as 10 cents a minute. You can make local calls for free from most hotels. Even if your hotel room doesn't have a phone, you can usually make calls from the reception desk. Once in a while you will be charged around 25–50 cents to make a call. When making a local call, the area code is not necessary.

Long-Distance Calls

To make an intercity or interregional telephone call, dial 0, then the city's area code + the number. For instance, to call Danang from Hanoi, dial 0236 + the number.

Cell Phones

Cell phones in Vietnam operate on the GSM 900 system. Cell phones from Europe, Australia, and Asia can receive and place roaming calls in Vietnam, but this can make local calls expensive—charges are made for duration of call, exchange-rate variation, and roaming charges at both ends. It's far cheaper to buy a local prepaid SIM card to fit your cell phone, and these can be purchased at phone stores and shops displaying Viettel Telecom signs. It's easy to buy a SIM card at the airport when you arrive. Data is cheap in Vietnam and you can usually buy a SIM card, local phone number, and a month's worth of data for about $10. In the unlikely event that it does not fit your phone, a basic Samsung or Nokia handset will cost no more than $15. Top-up cards come in various denominations from $7 to $23.50 and can be purchased from any street vendor. The standard rate for an international call is approximately 20 cents per minute, for in-country calls and texts the price is negligible, and dependent on speed. You'll mostly get 3G service but sometimes 4G/LTE.

Cell-Phone Rental and Services

Viettel. www.viettel.com.vn/en.