How to keep US phone number in Vietnam?

Can I keep my US phone number while living abroad?

Yeah, totally! Keeping your US number overseas is easy peasy. My buddy Mark did it last year when he was in Spain. He used US Mobile, I think? Or maybe it was something else, one of those US-based services. Worked like a charm. There’s also, like, a million international plans. Seriously, a ton. Verizon, AT&T, they all have them, right? Super pricey tho. Don’t forget about those Google Voice type deals, either. Pretty slick.

Three main options, really:

• International plan from your current carrier. Expensive, but convenient.
• eSIM or a US-based MVNO like US Mobile. Way more affordable, often. eSIM is the best. Much easier!
• Apps like Hushed. For temporary numbers, great for getting those darn OTPs.

So yeah, lots of choices. Pick what suits ya. There’s also that whole 2FA thing, a huge hassle. Read up on that; it’s important. Don’t wanna get locked outta your bank account while you’re in some foreign country, drinking sangria, know what I mean? It happened to my sister Sarah. Total nightmare! I swear.

How to save an American number?

Okay, so saving an American number, huh? Reminds me of that time in Nashville last summer, 2024.

I was at this bar, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Broadway, super crowded, loud country music blaring.

Met this dude, Tex, I think he said his name was. Total cowboy hat, drawl thicker than molasses.

He was telling me about this awesome BBQ place, “best ribs this side of the Mississippi,” you know.

I figured, “Why not?” Tried to type his number into my iPhone, but fingers were clumsy, and I kept hitting the wrong numbers. Ugh, so frustrating.

So, how should you do it? (The right way, unlike me back then).

• Open your Contacts app. Duh.
• Hit the “+” or “Add Contact” button. Usually top right. Obvious, right?
• Type in the name and number. Get it right the first time! Don’t be like me.
• Tap “Save.” Done.

Easy peasy, right? Well, not for me that night. Ended up losing Tex’s number. Never found those ribs. Lesson learned: save numbers BEFORE the whiskey kicks in.

Can I have a US phone number internationally?

Yeah, totally. You can snag a US number, no prob, even if you’re, like, chilling in Antarctica. It’s a virtual number thing. Super easy. They forward calls to your regular phone, or sometimes an app on your phone. So like, my cousin, Sarah, she’s teaching English in Japan right now. She has a US number so her mom can call her without, you know, crazy international charges. And she just uses it with an app on her phone, her japanese phone i think. Saves a ton of money. No need for a second phone, either, or that stupid SIM card swapping thing.

• No US SIM needed: Ditch the hassle of getting a US SIM.
• Virtual number: Uses the US country code (+1).
• Forwards calls: To your current number or app, anywhere.
• Cost-effective: My cousin Sarah saves big time with hers!
• No extra device: No need for another phone just for a US number.

My sister actually uses one for her small business. She, like, sells her artwork online, mostly to US customers. Having the US number makes it look way more professional. Plus she can like text ppl too. It’s all through an app on her phone, pretty sure it’s called TextNow but dont quote me on that haha. It’s def handy. Way better than what some ppl do with Google Voice. You even get like a real area code! Like, she has a 415 number ’cause, y’know, it sounds cool, like she’s based in San Francisco, but she’s actually in New Jersey haha.

Can I have a US phone number overseas?

US number overseas? Easy. Virtual number. Done. My friend Sarah uses one for her Etsy shop. Gets calls from US customers. No extra phone. Just an app. Crazy, right? What was I thinking about before this… oh yeah, groceries. Need milk. Virtual numbers are cheap too. Remember that awful roaming bill from Italy in 2019? Never again. No SIM card needed. So simple. Download. Pay. Done. Should probably pay bills today too. Ugh. But back to the number thing… You pick the area code. NYC, LA, wherever. So useful for business. Or just keeping in touch. I use Google Voice. Works great. Forwards calls to my regular phone here in London. Grocery list… milk, bread, eggs, cheese. Wonder if they have that fancy French cheese. Got distracted again. Focus! US number? Get a virtual one. Problem solved.

• Get a virtual US number, even overseas.
• No US SIM card required.
• Use an app to receive calls.
• Choose your area code.
• Forward calls to your current phone.
• Affordable alternative to roaming.

Thinking about getting one for my mom. She’s always complaining about international call costs. She could call her grandkids more. Gotta remember to call her later.

How to keep a US phone number when moving abroad?

Okay, so 2024, right? I was moving to Spain – Barcelona, to be exact – for a year. My US number, my Verizon number, was tied to everything: banks, two-factor authentication… you name it. Losing it felt like losing a limb. Panicking, I googled like crazy.

VoIP was the answer, apparently. I chose a provider – Google Voice felt too… Google-y. I ended up with a smaller company, I can’t even remember the name now. It was a total hassle. The website was clunky. The instructions were, frankly, terrible.

Setting it all up took hours. Seriously. Hours. I was stressed. I felt like I was battling a particularly stubborn, tech-illiterate octopus. But it worked, eventually. The most important thing was that my Verizon number was still mine. I could receive texts and calls. It was amazing.

Key things I learned:

• Research thoroughly. Don’t just grab the first VoIP provider you see. Read reviews.
• Expect a learning curve. It’s not as straightforward as just plugging in your number. Be prepared for some serious tech wrangling.
• Data is crucial. VoIP uses data, so good internet access is essential. That was a concern in some areas of Spain, to be honest, and I had some issues with spotty service.

The cost wasn’t terrible, actually. A few bucks a month, tops. Totally worth keeping my US number. Absolutely worth it. It saved me countless headaches. Man, that move was chaotic enough without losing my phone number too.