Best VPN for Vietnam 2020: Security & Privacy Pho Travelers

Vietnam is a fantastic country, with staggering beauty, rich culture and glorious beaches. It’s a popular place for travelers and digital nomads. Whether you’re there to explore, try the diverse street food or take a dive into its ancient history, you’re still likely to go online at some point, and you should use one of our best VPN for Vietnam picks for protection.

A virtual private network is not just a one-trick pony, and Vietnam holds some valuable reasons of why you need to use one while you’re there. For the most part, a VPN will help you get past restrictions, such as geoblocks. Let’s say you want to watch Netflix U.S. while you’re there. Well, you’ll soon realize you can’t.

That’s because of the wonderful Netflix ban. Each country has a different Netflix library, so you may well find that the show you want to watch isn’t included in your current country. 

Thankfully, you can get around this by changing your IP location, which is where a VPN comes in. Simply obtain a U.S. IP address through a VPN and, voila, you’re in the U.S. library. 

Keep in mind, though, that some VPNs don’t have what it takes to get past Netflix’s VPN detection system (see our piece on the Netflix proxy error). Our best VPN for Netflix article has some dedicated recommendations to choose from.

Other than geoblocks, there’s censorship, service blocks and other problems to deal with, so let’s get into all the reasons why you need a VPN in Vietnam.

Best VPN for Vietnam 2020

What Makes a VPN the Best for Vietnam

We’ve gone through all of the providers to find the best VPNs for Vietnam. We considered each VPN’s features and how well they’re implemented. Although providers may look equal in many areas on paper, it doesn’t mean their features are well executed.

For Vietnam, you need to focus on having great security to protect you and keep you hidden from surveillance. It’ll also keep you safe from cybercrime, which is especially important if you use public WiFi. Hidden dangers can often be lurking in such poorly secured connections, so it’s a good idea to install an antivirus, too.

Your privacy is also important, and you can ensure it with a no-logs policy. If a provider has one, it means they won’t keep a record of your online activities.

How many servers are available — and where — is another important factor. The more servers are, in as many places as possible, the easier it will be for you to find a suitable one. If you want to access content that’s restricted to Vietnam, you need to choose a VPN that has servers within the country so you can get a Vietnamese IP address. 

Speed is also important, especially if you plan on streaming or downloading. That is, unless you enjoy waiting for content to load. The same goes for unlimited bandwidth. If you have a limit and reach it, the VPN will stop working, which means no more protection and no more getting past restrictions. 

You should also check what devices it’s compatible with, how easy it is to use and how many connections you’re allowed. Good customer support is always an important thing to have, too. Lastly, make sure it’s within your budget.

Best VPN for Vietnam: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a favorite here at CommQueR.com, and for good reason. It is one of the best VPNs on the market, and it easily covers everything you need to stay safe in Vietnam. It’s our best VPN for China, too, and with it being more than capable of handling the Great Firewall, there’s no doubt it’s a great choice for Vietnam’s restrictions.

The security is excellent and set at AES 256-bit encryption by default. You have the option of increasing it, too. There’s also a kill switch, which is enabled automatically. Plus, ExpressVPN takes privacy seriously and has a strict no-logs policy in place.

It’s server network is competitive, with more than 3,000 servers spread across 94 countries. That gives you plenty of choice for circumventing blocks, but there are also some in Vietnam, in case you need to access country-restricted content.

You’ll forget what a loading screen looks like with its ultra-fast speeds. In fact, it’s the fastest VPN we’ve tested. Getting into streaming services is a breeze, so it’s no wonder it’s our best VPN for streaming, and there’s unlimited bandwidth, too. Read our ExpressVPN review to find out more.

Other Reasons We Like ExpressVPN

There are clients available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. All of them are easy to use, and it’s a great choice for beginners because it works pretty much straight out of the box. 

Once you’ve installed it, simply click “connect” and you’re off. More experienced users can play with the settings and features, though. Up to five simultaneous connections are allowed.

If you need help, you can use the handy knowledgebase for small issues. There’s also live chat and email support available 24/7. The help is good either way, but the email route is better for more in-depth answers.

ExpressVPN is pricey when compared to its rivals. That said, it offers such a good service, it’s worth it. You can bring the cost down by opting for a longer subscription, too. There’s a [ulr id=8428 text=”30-day money-back guarantee”], which you can use to see if you like it.

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NordVPN

NordVPN is also a good choice for Vietnam. You’ll be protected by some of the best security available, and you can use its double-hop servers, too, which add even more protection. A kill switch is provided for extra peace of mind, and the company is strict in not keeping user logs.

There are more than 5,600 servers dotting 60 countries, so you should find one to suit. Plus, there are 10 in Vietnam, allowing you to access content restricted to there. 

Overall, its speeds are good, but they can become slow when connecting to servers farther away. It comes with unlimited bandwidth, and it is able to access all streaming services. It’s also our best VPN for torrenting, in case torrenting is something you want to do. Our NordVPN Review goes into more detail.

Other Reasons We Like NordVPN

It’s available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and the clients are easy to use. You can connect up to six devices at the same time, too.

Help is available if you need it. A knowledgebase can assist you with smaller problems, but there’s also live chat and email available 24/7. Live chat will get you the fastest response, but either way is helpful.

NordVPN is fairly priced, but you’d be better off subscribing to a longer plan. In case you’re worried about diving straight in, there’s a 30-day refund period to fall back on.

NordVPN Review

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CyberGhost

Next up is CyberGhost, which is another great service, even if it’s not quite on the same level as our first two picks. Its security is solid, and it comes with a permanently enabled kill switch. On the one hand, that’s good, but it also means you don’t have any control over it. There’s also a solid no-logs policy in place, so you know your privacy is honored.

CyberGhost has seen a major growth spurt in its server department during the last few months. It currently has 6,100 servers in 90 countries, which is huge. There are eight in Vietnam, too, in case you want content from there.

Its speeds are fast but, like NordVPN, can slow down over long distances. There are no bandwidth restrictions, and it can get into streaming services. Take a look at our CyberGhost review for more information.

Other Reasons We Like CyberGhost

CyberGhost can be installed on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and it was recently updated, giving the user a more pleasant experience. It can take a while to get used to, but it isn’t difficult to use. You can connect up to seven devices at the same time, but that’s the limit for installations. Still, it made our list for the best VPN for multiple devices.

It has one of the best knowledgebases we’ve seen, which is great for self-help. There’s also live chat and email support. Live chat is the quicker option of the two, but email support is better at answering more technical queries.

The monthly plan isn’t the cheapest option, but opting for a longer plan makes the cost pretty inexpensive. There’s also a seven-day trial for Android and iOS users, and a money-back guarantee for all customers.

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VyprVPN

VyprVPN doesn’t quite get the ranking that our other picks do, but its excellent security makes it a good pick for Vietnam. It’s customizable, which is great for those in the know. 

Plus, it has its own Chameleon protocol that, if used, adds more protection to the VPN tunnel and makes it look like you’re not even using a VPN. There’s also a kill switch, and the company doesn’t keep a log of your online activities.

Its server count isn’t great, with around 700 across 64 countries. Still, that should be enough for circumventing blocks. Plus, there are some in Hanoi, for Vietnamese content. Its speeds are subpar, too, though they should be fine for most activities, and it can get into most streaming services. Check out our VyprVPN review for a better look at the service.

Other Reasons We Like VyprVPN

You can use it on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It’s also listed in our best VPN for Android piece because of its great mobile apps. You can connect up to five devices, though that will depend on which plan you opt for.

A self-help knowledgebase is available. Plus, there’s live chat, but you’ll be initially speaking to a bot. You’ll have the chance to request to speak to a human, and then you’ll be put into a queue. It’s much slower than other help desks out there, but email support is available 24/7.

The cost will depend on which tier you choose. Firstly, there’s the standard plan, which gives you three simultaneous connections. Then there’s the premium plan, which gives you five simultaneous connections and access to its Chameleon protocol.

You can then choose from the monthly or yearly plan. As with our other choices, the longer plan works out better in the end. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee you can use to see if you like it.

VyprVPN Review

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Windscribe

Our last pick for Vietnam is Windscribe. Its security is good and can be customized. There’s a kill switch, but it’s confusingly named a “firewall.” 

A no-logs policy is in place, but you should know that it does keep some logs. That said, it’s nothing of true value. Just things like how much bandwidth you used and a timestamp of your activity. It can’t be traced back to you, either.

Windscribe’s server count is as scarce as VyprVPN’s. There are more than 600 servers in 60 countries to choose from, but that should be enough. There are some in Hanoi, too, but you can only access them if you’re a “pro” member. 

Windscribe has a free plan, which is pretty good and came first in our best free VPN piece. However, you don’t get all the perks of the paid plan, and there’s only a limited number of servers you can connect to. 

Although “pro” members get access to all the servers, you can also add locations on its “build a plan” option for $1 each per month. In doing that, you’ll increase your bandwidth limit, too.

“Pro” members also get unlimited bandwidth. If you opt for the free plan, you’ll get 2GB per month, or 10GB per month if you enter your email address. Adding a location will give you an extra 10GB per month. 

Besides all that, its speeds are ok, though not as fast as some, and it’s able to get into streaming services. “Pro” members get access to its Windflix servers, too, which are built for streaming. You can currently choose between Windflix servers in the U.S., UK, Canada and Japan. Read our Windscribe review for more on that.

Other Reasons We Like Windscribe

Windscribe ’is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. The interface is easy to use, but tinkerers can have some fun, too. It allows for unlimited connections.

A troubleshooting guide is available for self-help, as well as FAQs, a subreddit and setup guides. Live chat and email support is available 24/7. However, the live chat puts you through to Garry, Windscribe’s AI representative. It provides good help, but you’ll have to submit a ticket with email support if you want to speak to a human.

Its monthly plan is pretty expensive, so it’s best to opt for a longer one. There’s no free trial or official refund policy because you can use the free plan to see if you like it. However, if you do buy it and change your mind, Windscribe will usually issue a refund, if you ask within three days of purchase. 

Windscribe Review

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Online Censorship in Vietnam

Vietnam’s internet is highly restricted, with many websites being blocked and content being filtered. The government claims to make such an effort in order to safeguard Vietnamese citizens from obscene or sexually explicit content. 

However, in reality, a lot of other content gets blocked, too. The level of filtering is so pervasive that it is often referred to as the Bamboo Firewall, in a nod to China’s Great Firewall.

Anything deemed to be a threat to the rule of the Communist Party of Vietnam can be blocked. That can include political dissent, advocacy for human rights and democracy, and criticism of the government. 

High-profile blogs and websites that have a large following can also be blocked. Plus, content that promotes certain religions can be blocked, too, including Buddhism and Roman Catholicism.  

Social media and messaging apps are periodically blocked, as well, especially during protests. Twitter, WordPress, Blogger and Facebook have all been blocked previously. 

Online Surveillance in Vietnam

Getting information about the surveillance capabilities of the Vietnamese authorities is limited, but there is some information available, which proves surveillance is possible. 

Cybersecurity company FireEye has said that Vietnam has developed cyber-espionage capabilities. Targets have included overseas-based Vietnamese journalists, as well as local and international organizations. Although there was no proof of the attacks being from the Vietnamese government, the data collected would have been useful only to them.

Plus, research group Citizen Lab found FinFisher software on servers in many countries, including Vietnam. FinFisher software is capable of surveillance, such as monitoring communications and extracting information from computers. 

Citizens must provide internet and mobile service providers with identification when purchasing a service, and cyber cafe owners have to install tracking software and store clients’ activity logs. 

In a further crackdown on dissent, the Cybersecurity Law requires technology companies to store data on Vietnamese users and to share the data with state agencies, if requested. The law also requires users to register with their real names, and the companies have to verify users’ identities.

It also requires social media networks and other similar companies to provide user information related to terrorism and crimes to the authorities. However, the law lacks any need for oversight, which means it can be violated. 

Nevertheless, the Ministry of Information and Communications has worked with Facebook and Google to remove critical accounts.

Vietnam’s Law on Cyber-Information Security, which was passed in November 2015, also requires technology companies to share user data, but without user consent. It also states that the authorities should be given these companies’ encryption keys, if needed. 

Freedom of Speech Online in Vietnam

The Vietnamese constitution provides for freedom of speech, but it is restricted in practice. The ruling Communist Party doesn’t like to be criticized, and internet users and journalists can be punished for their critical posts under the Law on Publication, the Law on Protection of State Secrets and the penal code. 

Many journalists, critics and free speech advocates have been jailed, and some have been subjected to violence. Foreign journalists risk having their visa extensions refused, too.

In January 2018, three activists and video bloggers were given various prison sentences, the longest being eight years, for spreading propaganda against the state. 

Shortly after, blogger Hoang Duc Binh received a 14-year prison sentence for leading hundreds in an environmental crisis protest. It is the harshest sentence given to a Vietnamese activist to date.

Overall, though, most media outlets are state controlled so that the government can keep an eye on what’s being published. 

Final Thoughts

With Vietnam’s restricted internet and intolerant government, it’s easy to see why you should use a VPN while you’re there. You should pick one that has great security and privacy to keep you anonymous. Plus, a decent server network is beneficial for getting past any censorship.

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Vietnam. With it, you’ll be protected by its excellent security and be able to get past any restrictions with its large server base. Plus, its Vietnamese servers mean you can access content that’s restricted to the country. Why not give it a try? With its 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s nothing to lose.

If you have experience using a VPN in Vietnam, let us know in the comment section. We’d love to hear about it. Be sure to check out our VPN archive while you’re here, too. Thank you for reading.

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