How to Make Cheap International Calls & Messages From Vietnam

If you are coming from overseas for a short stay expect most types of cellphone to work okay here. The major Vietnam telecoms companies all have global roaming arrangements with overseas operators. However, be aware that if you are signed on with your home supplier for global roaming, you will pay charges at both ends, as well as call duration charges, and exchange rate variations. These can make local calling quite expensive, especially when using an international handset set on global roaming to make local Vietnam calls.

Check unlocked your phone before buying a Sim or eSIM Vietnam

  • Your mobile phone is the most convenient way to stay connected and communicate with family and friends. If you are in Vietnam for a short stay and would prefer not to purchase a SIM card, you might want to activate the international roaming service on your phone. Make sure to check these rates with your mobile service provider prior to your departure.
  • Unlocking your mobile phone before leaving for Vietnam is the recommended method to enable your communication to remain clear and uncomplicated. If you are coming from Europe, Asia, or Australia, your mobile phone might already be unlocked by default, with the exception if you are on a prepaid plan. Vietnamese SIM cards (and inexpensive new mobile phones if yours turns out to be locked) are available for purchase at all airports and cities.

Buy a local Sim Card

  • By far the best way is to buy a local Vietnam eSIM or SIM Card to fit your phone handset. You can get a eSIM card, with Vietnamese phone number at local rate 250,000 VND ($10 USD) Local calls are relatively cheap and SMS message is even cheaper. You will find it significantly cheaper to put a message on your home mobile re-directing people to your new Vietnam mobile number.
  • You can easily top up your usage credit buy buying a pre-paid mobile card from 50,000 VND ($2) up to 500,000 VND ($20) from just about any street operator.

You want to made an international call, but you just realise that there’s a lot to keep track of. Besides dialing the correct phone number, you’ll need to know the exact country code and international calling code for your call to find its destination. If this sounds complicated, let us change your mind! We’ve put together this complete guide to help you understand how international calling works, so you can effortlessly keep in touch with your loved ones abroad.

Dialing a friend who lives outside Vietnam might seem intimidating at first, especially if you’ve never made an international call before. If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable way to stay in touch with loved ones around the world, you’ve come to the right place. After reading this article, you’ll know how to make international calls, how to send international text messages. In this post, we will not mention free calls, messages from mobile Apps likes Zalo, Viber, Whatsapp, Telegram…etc.

How to Dial Internationally from Vietnam

To dial a friend who lives outside Vietnam, example you want to call someone in USA, please follow these steps;

  • Step 1: Dial 011

Known as the exit code, this sequence of numbers tells us you’re calling a number outside of the United States. Each country has its own exit code (easily found on the web) but let’s stick with the USA for this example.

Tip: Most smartphones know the exit code from where you’re calling. Input the “+” symbol to replace your exit code. You can dial “+” by holding down the “0” button on your keypad if you don’t see a “+” symbol.

  • Step 2: Dial the country code

You’ll need to know the country code for your destination. It’s a unique, numerical tag assigned to every country that tells us where in the world you want to reach. Dial the country code after the exit code. Example, Vietnam code is +84 or 0084.

  • Step 3: Dial the local number

(with area code if needed)
Now you’re ready to input the phone number, just like you would when making a regular call. Double-check that your phone’s keypad looks something like this before you ring:

How Do I Send International Text Messages?

Sending international text messages follows the same steps as making an international call but with one difference. For destinations that use 10-digit dialing, enter the number as you would when sending a domestic text. Follow these steps to send international text messages:

Step 1: Dial your exit code
*Tip: Remember you can replace your exit code with the “+” symbol.
Step 2: Dial your destination’s country code
Step 3: Dial the local phone number you want to message

Anyone who’s made an international call knows there’s a lot to keep track of. Besides dialing the correct phone number, you’ll need to know the exact country code and international calling code for your call to find its destination. If this sounds complicated, let us change your mind! We’ve put together this complete guide to help you understand how international calling works, so you can effortlessly keep in touch with your loved ones abroad.

Making a phone call in Vietnam

In Vietnam, to make local calls, dial '0,' followed by
the province code and the phone number. For overseas calls, dial '0' followed
by the country code and the phone number without the initial '0'. Here are some
examples:

  • USA: 00 1 area code phone number
  • UK: 001 44 phone number
  • Australia: 00 61 phone number
  • Switzerland: 0041 area code phone number
  • Canada: 001 area code phone number

However, you may find the easiest way to phone home is
through apps like Facebook Messenger or Skype. It will be free of cost (on
Messenger or WhatsApp) and only require a strong wifi signal. For making phone
calls to banking or government numbers, you will need a phone number for them
to contact you. Make sure you know your Vietnamese phone number ahead of
time. 

Full List of Country Calling Codes

Country Country Code
Afghanistan 93
Albania 355
Algeria 213
American Samoa 1 684
Andorra 376
Angola 244
Anguilla 1-264 
Antigua and Barbuda 1-268 
Argentia 54
Armenia 374
Aruba 297
Australia 61
Austria 43
Azerbaijan 994
Bahamas 1-242 
Bahrain 973
Bangladesh 880
Barbados 1 246
Belarus 375
Belgium 32
Belize 501
Benin 229
Bermuda 1-441
Bhutan 975
Bolivia 591
Bosnia and Herzegovina 387
Botswana 267
Brazil 55
Brunei Darussalam 673
Bulgaria 359
Burkina Faso 226
Burundi 257
Cambodia 855
Cameroon 237
Canada 1
Cape Verde 238
Cayman Islands 1-345
Central African Republic 236
Chad 235
Chile 56
China 86
Christmas Island 61-8
Cocos (Keeling) Islands 61-8
Colombia 57
Comoros 269
Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville) 242
Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa) 243
Cook Islands 682
Costa Rica 506
Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 225
Croatia 385
Cuba 53
Cyprus 357
Czech Republic 420
Denmark 45
Djibouti 253
Dominica 1-767 (ROS)
Dominican Republic 1-809, 1-829, 1-849
Ecuador 593
Egypt 20
El Salvador 503
Equatorial Guinea 240
Eritrea 291
Estonia 372
Ethiopia 251
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) 500
Faroe Islands 298
Fiji 679
Finland 358
France 33
French Guiana 594
French Polynesia 689
Gabon (Gabonese Republic) 241
Gambia 220
Georgia 995
Germany 49
Ghana 233
Gibraltar 350
Greece 30
Greenland 299
Grenada 1-473
Guadeloupe (formerly French Antilles) 590
Guam 1-671
Guatemala 502
Guinea 224
Guinea-Bissau 245
Guyana 592
Haiti 509
Holy See (Vatican City State) 379
Honduras 504
Hong Kong 852
Hungary 36
Iceland 354
India 91
Indonesia 62
Iran 98
Iraq 964
Ireland (Irish Republic) 353
Israel 972
Italy 39
Jamaica 1-876
Japan 81
Jordan 962
Kazakhstan 7-6, 7
Kenya 254
Kiribati (Kiribati Republic, formerly Gilbert Islands) 686
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of (North Korea) 850
Korea, Republic of (South Korea) 82
Kuwait 965
Kyrgyzstan 996
Laos 856
Latvia 371
Lebanon 961
Lesotho 266
Liberia 231
Libya 218
Liechtenstein 423
Lithuania 370
Luxembourg 352
Macao (SAR China) 853
Macedonia 389
Madagascar 261
Malawi 265
Malaysia 60
Maldives 960
Mali 223
Malta 356
Marshall Islands 692
Martinique (formerly French Antilles) 596
Mauritania 222
Mauritius 230
Mayotte 262
Mexico 52
Micronesia 691
Moldova 373
Monaco 377
Mongolia 976
Montenegro 382
Montserrat 1-664
Morocco and Western Sahara 212
Mozambique 258
Myanmar 95
Namibia (former South West Africa) 264
Nauru 674
Nepal 977
Netherlands 31
Netherlands Antilles 599
New Caledonia 687
New Zealand 64
Nicaragua 505
Niger 227
Nigeria 234
Niue 683
Norfolk Island 672
Northern Mariana Islands 1-670
Norway 47
Oman 968
Pakistan 92
Palau 680
Palestinian Territory, Occupied 970
Panama 507
Papua New Guinea 675
Paraguay 595
Peru 51
Philippines 63
Pitcairn 870
Poland 48
Portugal 351
Puerto Rico 1-787, 1-939
Qatar 974
Réunion 262
Romania 40
Russian Federation 7
Rwanda (Rwandese Republic) 250
Saint Helena and Tristan Da Cunha 290
Saint Kitts and Nevis 1-869
Saint Lucia 1-758
Saint Pierre and Miquelon 508
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1-784
Samoa 685
San Marino 378
São Tomé and Príncipe 239
Saudi Arabia 966
Senegal 221
Serbia 381
Seychelles 248
Sierra Leone 232
Singapore 65
Slovakia 421
Slovenia 386
Solomon Islands 677
Somalia 252
South Africa 27
Spain 34
Sri Lanka 94
Sudan 249
Suriname 597
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Island 47
Swaziland 268
Sweden 46
Switzerland 41
Syrian Arab Republic (Syria) 963
Taiwan, Republic of China 886
Tajikistan 992
Tanzania 255
Thailand 66
Timor-Leste 670
Togo (Togolese Republic) 228
Tokelau 690
Tonga 676
Trinidad and Tobago 1-868
Tunisia 216
Turkey 90
Turkmenistan 993
Turks and Caicos Islands 1-649
Tuvalu (formerly Ellice Islands) 688
Uganda 256
Ukraine 380
United Arab Emirates 971
United Kingdom 44
United States of America 1
Uruguay 598
Uzbekistan 998
Vanuatu 678
Venezuela 58
Vietnam 84
Virgin Islands, British 1-284
Virgin Islands, US 1-340
Wallis and Futuna Islands 681
Yemen 967
Zambia 260
Zimbabwe 263