Vietnam (VN)
Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.
Digital Services
Digital ID, e-government and essential apps in Vietnam.
Căn Cước Công Dân (CCCD) — National ID Card
Vietnam's biometric national ID card with chip and QR code, issued to Vietnamese citizens. VNeID is the associated digital identity app. Foreigners are NOT eligible for CCCD — this applies to Vietnamese citizens only.
How to get it: For Vietnamese citizens: apply at the local Police Registration Office (Công an phường/xã) with biometric capture. Foreigners use passport + TRC as equivalent identity documents.
E-Government Portal
https://dichvucong.gov.vnVietnam's e-government portal (dichvucong.gov.vn) is available in Vietnamese only. Most services require a VNeID account (Vietnamese citizens) or will require in-person attendance for foreigners. E-tax filing (eTax portal) is available for individual and corporate taxpayers — English instructions minimal. Practical note for expats: most government e-services relevant to you (tax filing, work permit tracking, BHXH) are best navigated through your employer's HR department or a local accountant/lawyer with system access.
Essential Apps
ExpatCheapRent
FreeExpat-focused cheap rental finder at expatcheaprent.com — compares listings across major rental portals to help newcomers find affordable apartments.
Batdongsan.com.vn
FreeVietnam's leading real estate portal for apartment and house rentals in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang and other cities.
Grab
FreeThe dominant super-app in Vietnam: GrabBike (motorbike taxi), GrabCar (car), GrabFood (food delivery), GrabExpress (same-day parcel delivery), GrabMart (grocery). Fixed upfront pricing, cashless payment, driver tracking. Available in all cities. Non-negotiable essential for expat daily life.
Zalo
FreeVietnam's dominant messaging app with 74+ million users — like LINE in Thailand. Essential for communicating with landlords, local businesses, Vietnamese colleagues, schools and government contacts. Supports voice/video calls, groups, file sharing, and ZaloPay payments. Download before arriving.
MoMo
FreeVietnam's leading e-wallet with 31+ million users. Pay bills, top up mobile, buy bus/train tickets, scan QR codes at shops and restaurants, transfer money, buy insurance. Requires Vietnamese bank account and phone number. Accept "MoMo" when offered as payment — it is trusted and instant.
VNPay
FreeInterbank QR payment standard used at thousands of merchants, from Vinmart to parking lots. Integrated into most Vietnamese bank apps. Enables instant VND payment by scanning merchant QR codes. Essential for cashless daily transactions.
ZaloPay
FreeIntegrated into the Zalo app. Vietnam's second-largest e-wallet. Payments at restaurants, online shops, utilities and transport. Useful if your communication is primarily via Zalo anyway — payment in the same app.
ShopeeFood / Shopee
FreeShopee is Vietnam's largest e-commerce platform (50M+ items). ShopeeFood (formerly Now.vn) is a major food delivery competitor to Grab. Competitive pricing, Vietnamese-language interface. COD (cash on delivery) option available. Essential for online shopping.
Lazada Vietnam
FreeAlibaba-owned e-commerce platform — second largest in Vietnam after Shopee. Good for electronics, appliances and branded goods. LazMall for official brand stores. English interface partially available. Payment: card, COD, or e-wallet.
Tiki
FreeVietnamese-owned e-commerce platform — 3rd largest. Strong in books, electronics, home goods and fast delivery. TikiNOW 2-hour delivery in major cities. Vietnam's most trusted platform for authentic goods.
VinID
FreeVingroup's super-app: loyalty points at WinMart/VinMart, Vinpearl hotels and resorts, parking at Vinhomes, healthcare booking at Vinmec. Useful if you shop at WinMart regularly or live in a Vinhomes development.
Google Maps
FreeVietnam coverage is excellent — Hanoi Old Quarter, alleyways (hẻm), and most streets are mapped. Traffic layer is useful in HCMC and Hanoi. Download offline maps before travelling to rural areas or Central Highlands where data is patchy.
eTax Mobile
FreeVietnam General Department of Taxation (GDT) mobile app for checking tax obligations, e-invoice lookup, and filing quarterly PIT returns. Vietnamese language. Available on iOS and Android. Essential for self-employed individuals.
Carenet / Vinmec App
FreeBook appointments at Vinmec International Hospitals across Vietnam. View test results, doctor's notes and medical history. Telemedicine consultations available. Available in English. Highly recommended for Vinmec patients.
Air Visual / IQAir
FreeReal-time PM2.5 air quality index for HCMC, Hanoi and all major cities. Vietnam's air quality varies dramatically — essential during Hanoi's winter dry season and HCMC's traffic rush hours. Alerts when AQI exceeds safe levels.
Vietnam's digital ecosystem is one of the most vibrant in Southeast Asia. Mobile internet penetration exceeds 80%; 4G/5G coverage is comprehensive in urban areas. Key practical points: (1) Zalo is the primary communication tool — without it, interacting with landlords, local businesses and Vietnamese colleagues is significantly harder. (2) MoMo is cash equivalent at millions of Vietnamese merchants — register within the first week. (3) All four major telecom operators (Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone, Vietnamobile) offer data SIMs at airports — pick up a Viettel SIM for best rural coverage. 4G data plans are among the cheapest in the world. (4) VPN services: several popular VPN apps and some foreign websites (notably some news/social media) are blocked in Vietnam. Use a VPN if needed for work or privacy — widely used without enforcement issues. (5) Facebook is widely used in Vietnam, including by businesses — many local companies manage customer relations entirely via Facebook Messenger.