Key Takeaways: Best VPN for Vietnam
- Vietnam has one of the worst internet freedom policies in the world. It often introduces invasive regulations that put user’s privacy at risk.
- VPNs can ensure online security and privacy, and help you bypass any restrictions. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Vietnam.
- If you want a low-cost service, consider NordVPN, Surfshark or CyberGhost. There’s also Proton VPN, which has a generous free plan.
If you’re residing in or traveling to Vietnam, the best Vietnam VPN will help you circumvent the government’s online restrictions and ensure your connection’s security. The Freedom on the Net 2022 report rates Vietnam’s internet as “not free,” meaning certain services or websites are not available.
In February 2021, the government released a draft decree that required online platforms like Facebook and Google to store user data and share it with the government upon request. The government blocks websites of various international human rights organizations, expatriate political parties and other websites critical of the government in a practice referred to as “the Bamboo Firewall.”
A virtual private network (VPN) can protect you against the government’s invasive policies and help you circumvent the Bamboo Firewall. Using one of the best VPNs ensures online security and privacy and access to geoblocked content. Not all VPNs are created equal, though. Below, we help you pick the best Vietnam VPN. If you don’t want to read the full guide, you can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN.
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05/26/2021
Cloudwards.net updated this article. We removed VyprVPN from the fourth spot on the list and replaced it with Surfshark.
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07/22/2023 Facts checked
We rewrote the article to update our VPN recommendations and discuss the latest features added to them. The information on Vietnam internet freedom was also updated.
What Makes the Best Vietnam VPN?
During our tests, we looked for three critical VPN features and capabilities: security, speeds and the ability to circumvent the Bamboo Firewall and geoblocks on websites. Here are the best VPNs for Vietnam based on our tests:
- ExpressVPN — Excellent speed and security
- NordVPN — Fastest VPN
- Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Proton VPN — Free Vietnam VPN
- CyberGhost — VPN with automation features
Select a VPN that offers the best VPN protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard and AES or ChaCha20 encryption. These are currently the strongest VPN protocols to encrypt your connection and improve its security. The best VPNs offer other security features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and split tunneling.
The VPN should be able to offer a high level of security without a significant reduction in speed. Speeds may even improve in cases where internet service providers (ISP) have been throttling speeds. Fast connection speeds allow the streaming of high-quality content without buffering, provided the VPN is able to effectively unblock websites like Netflix and Hulu.
A VPN server in Vietnam offers some value too. For example, you can access websites geoblocked outside Vietnam when traveling, or access these websites securely when in Vietnam. Not having them isn’t a deal-breaker, though.
The 5 Best VPNs for Vietnam
We selected five VPN services based on the criteria discussed in the previous section. If you don’t want to read about all the services, we recommend our top pick, ExpressVPN.
1. ExpressVPN
More details about ExpressVPN:
- Pricing: $6.66 per month (15-months plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: expressvpn.com
Pros:
- Fast streaming
- Secure protocols
- Vietnamese servers
Cons:
- Expensive
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Vietnam because it offers great security and fast connection speeds. The service also offers Vietnam servers. You can acquire a Vietnam IP address by connecting to a Vietnam server.
You can use OpenVPN or ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol along with AES-256 encryption to secure your connection and protect your privacy in Vietnam. The app offers security features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and app-based split tunneling (available on Windows, Android and a few versions of the macOS 10).
ExpressVPN has servers in over 90 countries — more than most premium VPNs. All servers have built-in obfuscation, which helps conceal VPN usage and circumvent the Bamboo Firewall. Learn more about ExpressVPN in our comprehensive ExpressVPN review.
Best VPN for Streaming
Streaming is one of ExpressVPN’s strongest suits — it’s the best VPN for streaming. It unblocks all popular streaming sites including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus.
The VPN also offers MediaStreamer, a smart DNS feature that helps access geoblocked websites without encrypting your connection. This helps improve streaming performance, so you can watch your favorite show on Netflix U.S. in 4K without buffering.
ExpressVPN is a premium service and that is reflected in its pricing. The best value plan (the 15-month plan) costs $6.66 per month. Shorter-term plans are also available, including a six-month plan — costing $9.99 per month — and a monthly plan, costing $12.95 per month. You can try the service risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
2. NordVPN
More details about NordVPN:
- Pricing: $3.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: nordvpn.com
Pros:
- Fastest VPN
- Top-notch security
- Unlocks streaming apps
Cons:
- No NordLynx specialty servers
Our speed tests suggest that NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market. If speed is your priority — either because you download via torrents or stream a lot — NordVPN is your best bet. NordVPN doesn’t compromise on security to offer faster speeds. You can choose between two protocols: OpenVPN (UDP and TCP) and NordLynx (NordVPN’s proprietary protocol inspired by WireGuard).
The VPN app includes a kill switch and split tunneling (available on Windows, Android and Android TV). The VPN also has a large server network with over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, including Vietnam. This means you can use NordVPN to acquire a Vietnam IP address and watch Vietnamese TV abroad.
The VPN service can unblock all major streaming platforms, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. It can also effectively circumvent internet censorship in Vietnam. Moreover, the VPN provider has a strict no-logs policy, so you never have to worry about online privacy as long as you’re using NordVPN. Read more about this NordVPN in our NordVPN review.
Specialty Servers
While NordVPN is already a secure VPN, you can make it even more secure by using one of its five types of specialty servers: obfuscated, double VPN, dedicated IP, P2P and Onion over VPN. All of these add extra security to your connection in different ways. For example, obfuscated servers conceal VPN usage, while double VPN routes internet traffic via two servers.
geo-restricted content and defeat surveillance.
NordVPN is a pocket-friendly VPN. The best value plan (the two-year plan) costs $3.49 per month. Shorter-term plans include an annual plan, costing $4.99 per month, and a monthly plan, costing $12.99 per month. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Surfshark
More details about Surfshark:
- Pricing: $2.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: surfshark.com
Pros:
- Unlimited connections
- Feature-rich
- Decently fast
Cons:
- High latency
Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that offers unlimited simultaneous connections and unlimited bandwidth. This allows you to share the subscription cost with as many friends or family members as you want. Even though Surfshark is inexpensive, it still offers one of the most extensive feature sets on the market.
The app allows you to choose between OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard to secure your VPN connection. You also get a kill switch, split tunneling and a strict no-logs policy. In fact, all of Surfshark’s 3,200 servers are RAM-only, which means they don’t store user data.
The service’s global server network covers 100 countries, including Vietnam, which means it can help you acquire a Vietnamese IP address. Moreover, Surfshark can unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other popular streaming services effectively. Learn more about this service in our Surfshark review.
Extensive Feature Set
Surfshark is packed with useful features. It has MultiHop servers (another term for double VPN) to improve your connection’s security. The CleanWeb 2.0 malware and ad blocker blocks ads on every app on your device, instead of just the browser.
The app also has an IP rotation feature that changes your IP every few minutes without changing your location, which ensures you’re always anonymous.
Surfshark is a low-cost VPN, and you can further reduce the cost by sharing your account with as many people as you want. The best deal is the two-year plan, which costs $2.49 per month. Shorter-term plans include the annual plan ($3.99 per month) and the monthly plan ($12.95 per month). If you’re not fully satisfied, you can request a full refund using Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
4. Proton VPN
More details about Proton VPN:
- Pricing: Free; paid plans from $4.99 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: Yes; limited to three server locations
- Provider website: protonvpn.com
Pros:
- Unlimited data on free plan
- Pretty fast & secure
- Vietnam server on paid plan
Cons:
- Only three free servers
Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs and it offers top-notch security and fast connection speeds. We generally don’t recommend free VPNs because most are slow and some are insecure, as you’ll see in our worst VPNs list. Services like Proton VPN are an exception, since you’re basically getting a limited version of the full service.
The service has a strict no-logs policy, so you never need to worry about Proton VPN sharing any of your data. The VPN lets you choose from VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard and ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20.
The free plan offers access to servers in three countries: the U.S., Netherlands and Japan. The Vietnamese server is only available on the paid plan. If you want to be able to acquire a Vietnamese IP, you’ll need Proton VPN’s paid plan. We talk more about Proton VPN’s free plan in our extensive Proton VPN review.
Unlimited Data
Not many premium VPNs offer unlimited data on the free plan. Most services add a data limit to encourage users to upgrade to the paid plan. Proton VPN limits access to server locations instead.
This presents an opportunity for those who like streaming content online. The unlimited data and fast connection speeds allow you to stream content on the most popular streaming services. You never have to worry about running out of data.
Proton VPN also offers paid plans. The best value plan (the two-year plan) costs $4.99 per month. The annual and monthly plans cost $5.99 and $9.99 per month, respectively. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can always try Proton VPN’s paid plans risk-free.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
5. CyberGhost
More details about CyberGhost:
- Pricing: $2.37 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 45-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: cyberghostvpn.com
Pros:
- Intuitive desktop interface
- Automation features
- 45-day money-back return
Cons:
- Slow download speeds
CyberGhost is the cheapest service on the list (except for Proton VPN’s free plan). However, CyberGhost is still one of the best VPNs on the market.
It has one of the largest server networks of any VPN on the list, with over 9,000 servers spread across 91 countries, including Vietnam. This means you can use CyberGhost to acquire a Vietnamese IP.
The app lets you choose between OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 — IKEv2 is available only on Windows, macOS and iOS. The app has security features like a kill switch and split tunneling — URL-based on the Windows and macOS apps and app-based on the Android app. Learn more about CyberGhost in our comprehensive CyberGhost review.
Automation Features
The CyberGhost app has a feature called “smart rules” that helps automate repetitive VPN-related tasks. For example, you can create a smart rule to connect CyberGhost automatically with a server in a specific location whenever you launch a particular app or game.
CyberGhost is the cheapest service on the list. The best deal (the two-year plan) costs $2.37 per month. The six-month plan costs $6.99 per month, while the monthly plan costs $12.99 per month. CyberGhost offers a longer-than-average 45-day money-back guarantee on all plans except the monthly plan, so you can try the paid version at no cost.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
Why You Should Use a Vietnamese VPN
The Vietnamese government censors internet access and has in the past introduced invasive policies. Under current policy, government officials have ordered social media companies like Facebook to remove thousands of pieces of content, especially ones that criticize the authorities.
Using a VPN encrypts your connection, safeguarding you against these policies. This encryption also protects you when using public WiFi for data-sensitive tasks like online banking.
In addition to circumventing internet censorship, VPNs can also help access geoblocked websites like Netflix. If you want to access Netflix U.S., you’ll need to connect to a U.S. VPN server using one of the premium VPN services.
Is Using a VPN Legal in Vietnam?
Yes, using a VPN is legal in Vietnam. There are no laws that prohibit the use of VPNs. However, it’s important to remember that any illegal activities, such as distribution of copyrighted content, is still illegal even when using a VPN.
Can You Use a Free VPN for Vietnam?
Yes, you can use a free VPN like Proton VPN for Vietnam. Don’t just use any free VPN, though. Most free VPNs are slow and many are insecure. Stick to reliable services like Proton VPN, which are premium VPN services that offer a generous free plan. With Proton VPN, you get unlimited data and top-notch security for free.
Final Thoughts
VPNs can help protect your privacy by encrypting your connection. Even if the government manages to get your data, they won’t be able to read it. VPNs also protect you against hackers. Moreover, you can use VPNs to access geoblocked websites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer.
Have you used a VPN in Vietnam before? Which VPN did you use, and were able to access geoblocked websites? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: 5 Best Vietnam VPNs
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ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Vietnam. However, if ExpressVPN seems a little expensive, consider pocket-friendly services like NordVPN, Surfshark or CyberGhost.
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Unfortunately, none of the free VPNs we recommend offer a Vietnam server on the free plan. However, if you don’t need a Vietnamese IP address, then Proton VPN, Windscribe and TunnelBear are great free VPN options for Vietnam.
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To get a Vietnam VPN, select a VPN service and sign up for it. Download and install the VPN app on your device. Launch the app and connect to a server to start using it. If you want a Vietnam IP address, you need to pick a VPN with servers in Vietnam.
The post Best VPN for Vietnam in 2023: Security & Privacy for Travelers appeared first on Cloudwards.
