Job Discussion Forums

[Vand5111]

What is the cellphone/landline situation in Vietnam? Is it easy and cheap to hook either or up? Will all apartments and houses come with land lines?

[kparsons]

I believe all houses will come w/landlines. Unlike the US, you don't have to hook up your own phone, and you don't take the number w/you when you move. The same number stays w/whoever next rents the house.

As for cell phones, they're cheap to use, but not to buy. I'd recommend buying one before you get to VN.

[RedRoof]

I know nothing about land lines - only lived in hotels over the last two summers, so my comments are confined to cell phones.

Points to consider:
1. Bring your own cell phone but make sure it is tri-band - ie that it will work outside your country - with a new SIM card, of course.

2. BEFORE you swap your home SIM card, make sure the numbers you will continue to need at home / anywhere in the universe are stored on the PHONE not the SIM card you are putting into storage.

3. The most seamless "swap" will occur when you take your usual SIM card out and buy one from a Vietnam company. Sellers will usually activate the new sim and show you how to check remaining credit. eg for my phone using a MobiPhone card it's *101# and press dial button. Text message will come up giving balance.

4. When you buy a SIM card, top up to a reasonable balance straight away eg 300,000 VND should hold all but the homesick / lovesick / incredibly rich and verbose - for a few weeks.

5. WARNING; If you let you balance run out to zero dong, you lose the number and have to start all over again! (I only have this info second hand from people who told me it happened to them.)

6. If you bought your cell phone from home on a "locked to provider" deal / special you may be unable to use it here. (Example: In Oz it's possible to get phones with pre-paid cards very cheaply because they are "locked" to service provider - Optus / VodaFone etc.Provider locks the phone to their service for a period 6 - 12 months usually to ensure their "gift" to you is not converted to earn money for another service provider!)

7. However, you may be able to get you "locked" phone unlocked for quite a small fee- about 50,000 VND in one case I watched.

8. When buying subsequent "top up cards" make sure you're buying the SAME BRAND. If you don't get the same brand you (a) have to take a new number from the new company and/or lose the remaining credit from the first company PLUS you've got to notify ALL & SUNDRY re new mobile number.

Hope that helps.

byeeeeee
RedRoof

[UpScope]

RedRoof, that is the most comprehensive reply i have ever witnessed. You really know phones...... good for you.

Vand511, you need to buy this man a beer on arrival............ or some mobiphone credit.

[tarheelbaby]

what about credits- I know in for cell phones in most African countries the caller is the one that loses the credits, i.e if I call/text I lose credits or minutes but if someone calls me I can talk unlimited at no cost. Is this the same for Vietnam?

[RedRoof]

Yet again on this forum, can I point out the inherent sexism in assuming I'm a male. This "man" is a woman .. . . . . but still happy to accept the beer!

Re charges for received calls, as far as I am aware, there is no charge to the recipient of the call or text message.

However, I have been told that some people continuing to use a "home" SIM card do get charged from their HOME service provider for received calls. I stress, this is not first hand experience.

Hope that helps.

(Ms) RedRoof

[UpScope]

Touche..... a bottle of chardonnay it shall be