TadiSim vs Airalo vs Holafly: Vietnam eSIM Honest Comparison 2026

The honest comparison we didn't want to write

Look, we'd rather not write a page trashing competitors. It's tacky. But we get the same three questions every day in our support inbox:
  • "Does Airalo give me a local number for Grab?"
  • "Can I hotspot with Holafly?"
  • "Why is your airport SIM card section so expensive?"
So here's the straight answer. We bought all three. We installed them. We tried to book a Grab from Noi Bai airport at 11 PM. We checked hotspot tethering. We read the fine print so you don't have to.

The one-minute summary

If you just want the verdict and not the essay:
What you actually need TadiSim Airalo (Moshi/Vietnam) Holafly (Vietnam) Airport SIM kiosk
Real +84 Vietnamese number Yes No No Sometimes
Grab / Be / Gojek OTP Works instantly Fails Fails Works if they set it up right
Hotspot / Tethering Yes Yes No (blocked) Yes
Free local calls & SMS 100 mins + 100 SMS No No Usually no
Delivery speed 60 seconds (email) 60 seconds (app) 60 seconds (app) 30–45 min queue + paperwork
Network Viettel / Vinaphone / Mobifone Vinaphone Vinaphone Viettel or Vinaphone
Customer support Email, Whatsapp,  Hanoi-based team Chatbot / ticket Chatbot / ticket None after you leave
Price (10 days) $19.99 ~$35–49 ~$36.90 $15–25 + passport copy

The thing most people miss: Airalo and Holafly are fine products if you only need Instagram and Google Maps. But Vietnam is not a "just need maps" country. You need a local number. Without it, half the apps that make Vietnam manageable simply don't work.

The real problem: Vietnam runs on local phone numbers

We know this sounds like a sales pitch, but it's genuinely a logistical issue. Vietnam's app ecosystem assumes you have a +84 number.
Grab (the Uber of Southeast Asia) requires an SMS verification to create an account. No local number = no account = you're negotiating with taxi drivers who "forgot" to turn on the meter.
Green SM (Vietnam's other ride-hailing app, often cheaper than Grab) also needs OTP verification.
Food delivery (ShopeeFood, GrabFood) needs a local number so the driver can call you when they can't find your alley.
Banking / e-wallet apps (MoMo, ZaloPay) require local number verification. You don't strictly need these as a tourist, but some homestays and tour operators prefer MoMo over cash.
Hotel check-ins — many budget and mid-range hotels in Vietnam use WhatsApp or local SMS to send door codes, WiFi passwords, or breakfast times.
Airalo and Holafly give you data. They do not give you a Vietnamese phone number. That distinction is the difference between "Vietnam was easy" and "Vietnam was a headache."

Side-by-side: what you actually get

Data allowance

  • TadiSim: 6GB/day high-speed (10-day plan), 5GB/day (20-day plan). Unlimited throttled data after that. Hotspot allowed.
  • Airalo: Usually 3GB or 5GB total for the whole trip, or 1GB/day. Depends on the plan you pick. Hotspot allowed.
  • Holafly: "Unlimited" data but throttled after 2GB/day in practice. Hotspot explicitly blocked in their T&Cs.
  • Airport SIM: 10-15GB total, usually valid 30 days. Hotspot allowed. But you stand in line.
Our take: If you're just posting Instagram stories and checking email, 3GB total is fine. If you're working remotely, navigating with Maps all day, and uploading photos, you'll burn through 3GB in four days.

Network quality

  • TadiSim: Viettel, Vinaphone, or Mobifone — you pick, or we auto-assign based on your travel route. Viettel has the best rural coverage (Ha Long Bay cruises, Sapa mountains, Mekong Delta). Vinaphone is excellent in cities.
  • Airalo: Vinaphone only. Fine in Hanoi and HCMC. In the mountains or on boats, signal drops faster.
  • Holafly: Vinaphone only. Same caveat.
  • Airport SIM: Usually Viettel or Vinaphone, but the kiosk staff pick for you. Sometimes they sell you a tourist SIM with throttled speeds.
Our take: We ran Speedtest in three locations on a Tuesday in April 2026:
  • Hanoi Old Quarter: TadiSim (Viettel) 78 Mbps down / 22 up. Airalo (Vinaphone) 61/18. Holafly 54/15.
  • Ha Long Bay cruise deck: TadiSim (Viettel) 34/8. Airalo 9/2. Holafly 7/1.
  • Sapa town center: TadiSim 45/12. Airalo 31/9. Holafly 28/7.

Not a scientific study. One test per location, one phone each. But the pattern is consistent: Viettel holds signal better outside cities.

The local number thing (yes, we're repeating it)

  • TadiSim: Real +84 number. You can receive calls from hotels, drivers, tour guides. You can call them back. You get 100 free local minutes and 100 free SMS to other TadiSim users (great for couples or groups).
  • Airalo: No number. Data only. If an app needs SMS verification, you're stuck.
  • Holafly: No number. Data only. Same problem.
  • Airport SIM: Usually gives you a number, but the setup process is a mess. They often install it for you, set the APN wrong, and you don't realize until you're in a taxi.

Customer support when things break

  • TadiSim: Email support. Hanoi-based team. Average response time 3-4 hours during business hours (GMT+7). We know the APN settings by heart because we test them weekly.
  • Airalo: In-app chat. Usually helpful for basic questions. If your issue is "I can't get Grab to work," they can't help — they don't control Grab's verification system.
  • Holafly: Ticket-based. Generally fine for "my data stopped working." Less helpful for app-specific Vietnam issues.
  • Airport SIM: You get a pamphlet. If it doesn't work, you go back to the airport. Which is fun if you're already in Da Nang.

The airport SIM trap

We need to talk about this because people think it's the "safe" option.
You land at Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat. You see the SIM kiosk. You queue. You hand over your passport (legally required in Vietnam, but still feels weird). You pay $20. They install a physical SIM, keep your home SIM safe somewhere, and send you on your way.
What they don't tell you:
  • The queue at SGN can be 40 minutes at peak times.
  • The staff speak limited English. If the APN is wrong and your data doesn't work, communication is painful.
  • They often sell you a "tourist SIM" with 10GB valid for 30 days. Sounds generous, but if you're only in Vietnam for 10 days, you're overpaying for data you won't use.
  • You lose your home number for the duration. If your bank sends a 2FA SMS to your home number while you're in Vietnam, you won't get it unless you swap SIMs back.

An eSIM keeps your home SIM active. You get calls and texts from home. You get local data and a local number. It's genuinely better.

When Airalo or Holafly makes sense

We're not saying they're scams. They're not. They're just built for a different use case.
Pick Airalo if: You're doing a multi-country trip (Vietnam + Thailand + Singapore) and you want one app for all of them. You don't need Grab because you're on an organized tour. You just need maps and Instagram.
Pick Holafly if: You want "unlimited" data and you don't care about speed throttling or hotspot. You're a light user who mostly uses hotel WiFi.
Pick TadiSim if: You're actually traveling independently in Vietnam. You need Grab. You might book tours last-minute. You want a safety net of a real local number. You're traveling with someone else and want free calls between you.
Pick airport SIM if: Your phone doesn't support eSIM. That's literally the only reason.

Pricing reality check

Prices change. These were accurate when we checked in May 2026. Check the current prices before you buy — we'll update this table monthly.

Plan   Price Data Local number hostpot
TadiSim 10 Days $19.99 6GB/day + unlimited slow Yes Yes
TadiSim 20 Days $29.99 5GB/day + unlimited slow Yes Yes
Airalo 10 Days $18 3-5GB total No Yes
Holafly 10 Days $34 "Unlimited" (2GB/day fast) No No
Airport SIM 10 Days $15-25 10-15GB total Yes Yes
The $3-5 difference between TadiSim and Airalo is the cost of a real local number. For us, that's worth it. For you? Your call.

FAQ

Can I use Airalo and still get Grab? Technically yes, but it's annoying. You can sign up for Grab using your home number and roaming SMS. But roaming SMS often arrives late or not at all. And if your home carrier charges for international SMS, you're paying extra. A local number is just easier.
Does Holafly really block hotspot? Yes. It's in their terms. Some people get it working for a few minutes before the carrier detects it and throttles. Don't rely on it.
Is the airport SIM cheaper? Sometimes, but factor in the time cost. If you value your first hour in Vietnam at zero dollars, sure. If you'd rather walk out of the airport and into a Grab, the eSIM pays for itself.
Can I switch from Airalo to TadiSim mid-trip? Yes. You can store multiple eSIMs on most phones. Just turn off the Airalo line and activate TadiSim. Your Airalo plan will expire on its own.
Which network does TadiSim use? You get Viettel, Vinaphone, or Mobifone depending on your plan and travel route. We default to Viettel for rural trips and Vinaphone for city-heavy itineraries. You can request a specific network in your order notes.

Last updated: May 2026. Prices checked against official sites. Speed tests run in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Sapa. If you spot an outdated price or a change in competitor features, email us and we'll update within 48 hours.

 

Featured collection