5G Data Plans in Vietnam: How Do Prices Compare to 4G?

5G Data Plans in Vietnam: How Do Prices Compare to 4G?

Vietnam entered the 5G era on October 15th, when Viettel - the country's largest carrier - commercially launched services and unveiled new 5G data plans. While minimum monthly prices are nearly double that of 4G plans, customers get up to 8 times the data allowance along with additional benefits. But is 5G's premium worth it yet? Let's break down Viettel's newly announced 5G packages versus their 4G offerings.

An Overview of Viettel's 5G Packages

At a launch event in Hanoi, Viettel introduced 19 separate 5G plans for individual customers - 11 prepaid and 8 postpaid. Rivals VNPT and MobiFone haven't announced timelines for their own 5G rollouts just yet.

Viettel's monthly 5G plans range from VND 135,000 to 480,000 (US$5.50 to $19.50) for prepaid and VND 200,000 to 2 million ($8 to $81) for postpaid. Each tier grants different quotas of mobile data, call minutes, SMS, along with perks like free TV streaming, cloud storage, or access to social media and YouTube.

Let's look at some example prepaid plans:

• 5G135 - 120GB of data per month for VND 135,000 (~$5.50). Includes free TV360 4K streaming.
• 5G300 - 300GB for VND 300,000 (~$12). Perks include 70GB cloud storage, free YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Spotify.
• 5G480 - 600GB for VND 480,000 (~$19.50).

The highest postpaid plan is N2000 at VND 2,000,000 (~$81), offering a whopping 1,500GB per month plus 400 minutes of calls to other networks and unlimited on-network calls under 60 minutes.

How 5G Allowances Compare to 4G Plans

Viettel's cheapest 4G plan is ST70K, providing 15GB over 30 days for VND 70,000 (~$2.85). Compare that to the new 5G135 5G plan with 120GB for VND 135,000. That's over 8 times the data for less than double the price!

Here's another example - Viettel's 30N 4G plan provides 150GB for VND 300,000. The comparable 5G300 plan delivers 300GB of 5G data for the same VND 300,000.

In most cases, Viettel's new 5G allowances offer significantly higher value than their 4G equivalents. But minimum prices are also higher, so budget-focused subscribers don't get cheaper entry-level options like 70k or 90k VND plans.

Unique Perks of 5G Plans

One advantage of the 5G plans is hugely expanded data caps. Prepaid options now go up to 480,000 VND for 600GB per month. And the top postpaid plan allows an incredible 1,500GB per month - enough to stream HD video non-stop!

5G plans also bundle in nice perks like unlimited social media and YouTube access, TV streaming subscriptions, and cloud storage - extras not always available with 4G.

And Viettel says 4G subscribers can switch to 5G plans without changing SIM cards. Once 5G coverage reaches your area, the faster connectivity unlocks automatically.

The Downside - Limited 5G Availability

Before rushing to upgrade, customers need to check 5G coverage in their location. Right now, Viettel has only deployed around 6,500 5G base stations nationwide, concentrated in urban centers of 63 provinces.

While connected, users will enjoy blazing fast speeds up to 1Gbps, and ultra-low latency. But with limited tower density, seamless 5G access isn't guaranteed indoors or across wide areas. Be prepared for fallback to 4G in spots.

Over time, as infrastructure expands, having a 5G-ready device will pay dividends in speed - even if the difference isn't dramatic today for common usage.

The Bottom Line - Is 5G's Premium Worth It Yet?

Given the sparse coverage, for many Vietnamese subscribers, 4G still offers the best value currently. But in zones with solid 5G signals, the extra speed and future-proofing make higher 5G pricing reasonable.

And as rival networks join the 5G race, competition should drive costs down, making 5G plans even more attractive. MobiFone and VNPT are sure to mix things up with competitive offers once they launch 5G commercially.

For now, frequent video streamers or mobile gamers in urban centers will benefit most from the 5G premium. Average users can likely stick with 4G and wait out teething pains with spotty indoor reception.

But one thing is clear - with blazing fast maximum speeds and generous data limits, Viettel's new 5G plans give Vietnamese consumers a glimpse into the unlimited potential of next-gen mobile technology. Exciting times ahead!

Frequently Asked Questions about 5G Data Plans in Vietnam

What 5G data plans has Viettel introduced?

Viettel unveiled 19 separate 5G plans at their commercial launch event on October 15th - 11 prepaid and 8 postpaid. The prepaid plans range from VND 135,000 to 480,000 per month, while postpaid plans go from VND 200,000 up to 2 million. Each tier offers different data limits, call/text allotments, and perks like free streaming or cloud storage. Some examples:

• 5G135 (Prepaid) - 120GB data for VND 135,000 (~$5.50) + free 4K TV streaming
• 5G300 (Prepaid) - 300GB data for VND 300,000 (~$12) + YouTube, Facebook, TikTok access
• N2000 (Postpaid) - 1,500GB data for VND 2,000,000 (~$81) + unlimited on-network calls

How does 5G data compare to 4G plans?

Viettel's 5G allowances offer much higher value than equivalent 4G plans in most cases. For example, the cheapest ST70K 4G plan provides 15GB for VND 70,000. But 5G135 offers 8 times the data (120GB) for less than double that price. The minimum pricing is higher than 4G, but you get far more for your money.

What are the advantages of Viettel's 5G plans?

Reasons to consider upgrading to 5G include:

• Huge data limits - up to 600GB on prepaid and 1,500GB for postpaid
• Faster peak speeds of up to 1Gbps
• Low latency for real-time gaming and video calls
• Free streaming, social media, and cloud storage perks
• 5G access without changing SIM card (in covered areas)

How is Viettel's 5G coverage right now?

Viettel has activated around 6,500 5G base stations so far, concentrated in major urban hubs across 63 provinces. But with limited tower density, indoor and rural reception may be spotty until infrastructure expands over time. For now, seamless 5G access isn't guaranteed everywhere.

What 5G phones work on Viettel?

Most newer high-end Samsung, Apple, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi phones support 5G on Viettel's network. The carrier has verified over 70 approved 5G devices. Check your phone's specs before upgrading plans.

Does it make sense to switch to 5G yet?

For users in areas with solid 5G signals, the speed boost and future-proofing make the extra cost worthwhile. But if coverage is limited in your location, 4G likely remains the better value for now. As infrastructure improves, 5G will become more universally beneficial.

Will 5G plans get cheaper as more networks launch?

Yes, prices should come down as VNPT and MobiFone enter the 5G race soon. The increased competition will likely force carriers to offer more competitive pricing and packages to win subscribers. More options are great news for Vietnamese consumers.

What uses will 5G enable in the future?

5G's ultra-low latency and massive capacity will bring advances like:

• Autonomous vehicles
• Seamless video calls and conferencing
• Next-gen cloud gaming
• Widespread Internet of Things
• Remote medical care and procedures
• Enhanced virtual and augmented reality

How fast is 5G compared to 4G in Vietnam?

5G offers revolutionary peak download speeds up to 1 Gbps, versus around 30-40 Mbps currently attainable on 4G. That's up to 10 times faster! Latency also plummets from 50ms on 4G to roughly 1ms on 5G networks. You'll notice the lightning speed when downloading files or streaming high-res video.

When will other Vietnamese networks launch 5G?

VNPT and MobiFone are both conducting 5G trials and working towards commercial rollouts. However, neither has announced definitive launch dates yet. Viettel's head start gives them a competitive edge for now. But greater competition will arrive soon to shake up the 5G market even further. Exciting times ahead!