Do I need a phone number for Grab in Vietnam?

Do you need a phone number in Vietnam?

Do I need a VN number? Grab, nah, app call. Zalo too!

Wait, how do you call a VN number anyway? I guess it depends. International code is +84, right?

• Dial +84 first. Gotta remember that.
• Then the number. Without the zero.

My aunt visited Saigon. No, Ho Chi Minh City. Back in 2023. She said SIM cards were super cheap. Like, dirt cheap.

Zalo is cool. Super popular there. Everyone uses it. Like WhatsApp here, but better?

Why bother with a local number for a short trip? App calls work. Hotels have Wi-Fi, usually.

Reddit has threads about this. Saw one. Grab avoids direct calls. Safer, maybe?

• Grab uses in-app messaging & calling.
• Zalo needs an account… but not necessarily a VN number, right?

Phone Service there? Confusing. My cousin mentioned something. Tourist SIMs, maybe. With data. Need data.

Can I use a US phone number in Vietnam?

Yeah, nah, your US phone’s gonna be as useful as a screen door on a submarine unless you wanna pay a king’s ransom. Roaming charges? Highway robbery, I tell ya. Think month’s rent for a few calls. Like trading your firstborn for a bowl of pho.

• Enable international roaming: Do it before you pack your bags, not after you land and your phone’s drier than the Sahara.
• Check with your carrier: See what kinda daylight robbery they’re planning. Negotiate! Threaten to switch! Become their worst nightmare.
• Local SIM card: Cheaper than dirt. Easier than falling off a log. Pick one up at the airport like a pro.
• Unlock your phone: Unless you like being chained to your carrier like a lovesick puppy. Freedom, baby!
• Wi-Fi calling: Your new best friend. Free as a bird, clear as a bell. Except when the power goes out, then you’re back to square one. Murphy’s Law, am I right?

My cousin Vinny went to Hanoi last year – 2023, that is – burned through his savings in roaming charges. Now he lives in a cardboard box. Kidding! He just eats ramen for a month. True story. Learned his lesson though. Bought a local SIM. Smart cookie. Unlike me, I left my phone in the hotel safe the whole time. Bliss. Except I missed my mom’s calls. Ooops.

How can I keep my US phone number while living abroad?

Ugh, moving abroad. So much to do. Phone number… gotta keep that US number. VoIP, right? That’s the key. Internet based, not cell towers. Makes sense. I use Google Voice sometimes, for work stuff. Is that a VoIP? Maybe? Anyway, I need something reliable for this.

• Need to research specific VoIP providers. Reviews are crucial.
• Pricing is a big factor. Gotta compare plans. International calling rates are important.
• Data usage concerns, too. Roaming charges are a nightmare. I hate those.

My sister used Skype back in 2017, but I dunno… that’s old news. There are probably better options now. This is stressing me out. I wish I had a simple solution. Need to find one that’s, like, actually good.

This whole thing is making me question my decision. Should I even bother? But then again, Mom will freak if I don’t keep my number. She’ll just keep calling the old one…

Okay, focus. VoIP providers. Gotta find one with good customer service. Because seriously, tech support nightmares are the absolute WORST. I’m thinking about using my laptop more abroad anyway… more internet, less cell tower dependency. Good.

I need a reliable provider for texting too. Texts are important! I almost missed a birthday party last year because the cheap app I used was down. Never again. Damn. 2024 is gonna be the year of reliable communication. That’s my resolution, for real.

Can you use a US SIM card in another country?

Okay, so, can you use a US SIM card in, like, France? Yeah, you can. Def used mine in Paris last summer. Ugh, wish I was back there…wait, what was I even thinking about?

Like, roaming charges? Totally exist. Remember that insane bill Dad got after his trip to Canada? Yikes. International SIMs are a thing too, right? Aren’t they cheaper?

• US SIM Card Abroad:

  • Works, but watch out for those fees.
  • Contact your carrier first! T-Mobile was surprisingly helpful.
  • Data roaming is the real killer.

• International SIM:

  • Could save money.
  • Might need to unlock your phone.
  • Where do you even buy those things? Airport?

• Additional Fun Facts:

  • Wi-Fi is your friend! Starbucks everywhere.
  • Google Maps offline is a lifesaver. Download maps before you go!
  • Learn a few basic phrases. “Bonjour!” goes a long way, trust me.

• Think about this:

  • Is it cheaper to just buy a local phone?
  • Is my phone even unlocked? I should check that.
  • Maybe I should just leave my phone at home… nah, who am I kidding? It’s definitely better to prepare before traveling abroad!

Do you need a Vietnamese number for Zalo?

Yeah, you absolutely need a Vietnamese phone number (+84) to set up a Zalo Official Account. No wiggle room there.

Think of it like needing a passport to travel; it’s simply the price of entry.

Here’s the gist of creating a Zalo Official Account:

• You gotta have a personal Zalo account first. It’s the foundation.
• Then, you use that account to log into the Zalo Official Account management portal. Find it on Zalo’s website.

Why a Vietnamese number? Zalo is heavily geared toward the Vietnamese market, so it makes sense. Adds that local flavor, ya know.

Actually, that reminds me of when I tried using a foreign SIM in Vietnam. Total headache! The roaming charges, ugh.

Getting verified often asks for details, the business name, and such.