Viettel has launched Vietnam’s first commercial 5G network, offering early access with faster speeds and enhanced connectivity in select areas as the country moves into the 5G era.
The official enrollment of Vietnam’s first commercial 5G network is expected from Viettel on Oct. 15, marking the 20th anniversary of the military-run telecom service provider.
However, users can already sign up for the service and experience high-speed connectivity in covered areas ahead of the official launch.
Upon visiting a telecom store earlier this week, staff confirmed that “registration is now available,” with prepaid packages starting from VND135,000 (US$5.43).
“After registering, whenever I enter a 5G-covered area, my phone automatically switches to the network,” Duc shared. Unlike previous free trial periods, his app now tracks data usage as it depletes.
Since early this month, prepaid subscribers have been able to sign up for 5G via various Viettel sales websites. By Thursday, postpaid packages were also introduced.
Over the weekend, users across several places, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and provinces near the capital like Thai Binh and Nam Dinh, reported seeing unexpected 5G signals, though the connection later disappeared. After subscribing to the service, the signal reappeared.
Viettel Telecom has not yet commented on the rollout. Earlier, the company launched the “Nine” package, which ranges from VND200,000 to VND2 million and offers “priority early 5G access” to subscribers.
As the service is still under development and not officially launched, some users have experienced registration difficulties.
Minh Thanh, another HCMC resident, noted that he has not been able to switch to 5G due to using a SIM card with an annual 4G plan. The telecom app does not display the 5G service, requiring users to register through SMS, USSD codes, or by contacting customer service.
Users should also ensure their area has 5G coverage before switching.
Globally, 5G technology has been commercially deployed for five years, ushering in an era of hyperconnectivity and enabling the Internet of Things (IoT).
In China, 5G is used across industries such as manufacturing, mining, power grids, ports, and healthcare, while many countries are still in the testing phase.
For regular users, 5G offers significantly faster speeds, with ideal maximums reaching 10 Gbps. In practical use, speeds of 1 Gbps—10 times faster than the 100 Mbps of 4G—are common, improving online work, study, and entertainment experiences.
Other key advantages of 5G include ultra-low latency and the ability to support many devices simultaneously, enabling technologies like autonomous vehicles, remote surgical device control, and virtual and augmented reality experiences. However, 5G stations cover smaller areas due to higher frequencies, requiring more stations compared to 4G.
To use 5G, in addition to subscribing to the service, users need a compatible device. High-end smartphones such as the iPhone 12, Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold2, and newer models already support 5G. Many mid-range and budget Android phones released in the last 2-3 years are also equipped with this connectivity.
