A reliable VPN for Vietnam isn't just about speed; it's about bypassing government censorship, unblocking global content, and staying safe on public Wi-Fi. Whether you're a local or visiting expat, choosing the right service makes a real difference.
After hands-on testing, we found that NordVPN is the best VPN in 2025. It's consistently fast, has robust security, and is packed with advanced features. ExpressVPN also remains a strong contender, with newly improved speeds and rock-solid privacy credentials.
TechRadar has spent over 11 years reviewing VPNs. Our latest testing round examined the top five providers to help you make the best choice, whether you're streaming Netflix, dodging firewalls, or just browsing safely in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
5 best Vietnam VPNs: quick overview
The 5 best Vietnam VPNs in 2025
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The best Vietnam VPN overall
NordVPN is the best VPN for Vietnam thanks to its impressive balance of speed, security, and usability. It consistently topped our tests with peak speeds of 950+ Mbps, making it ideal for streaming, browsing, and remote work. While NordVPN doesn't operate physical servers in Vietnam, it does offer virtual Vietnam locations, giving users access to a local IP address from abroad, which is useful for staying connected to regional content.
Its independently audited no-logs policy, combined with privacy tools like DoubleVPN and obfuscated servers, makes it an excellent choice in restrictive regions where censorship and surveillance are concerns.
Read more about NordVPN ▼
Ease of use
NordVPN is easy to install and intuitive to use. Its apps offer a clean layout, a Quick Connect button, and a searchable server list. We appreciated the Favorites feature, which is handy for frequent use of specific regions like Vietnam.
The newer Meshnet feature lets you link your devices securely, even across borders: a great solution for remote teams or families abroad. App improvements also include smarter auto-connect options and better alerts for connection drops, adding peace of mind for users who rely on constant protection.
Streaming
NordVPN performed flawlessly in our latest round of tests – and reigns at the top of our best streaming VPN rankings. It successfully unblocked Netflix libraries in all tested countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia. Speeds remained high enough for 4K playback, with no buffering during our trials.
While Vietnam-specific platforms weren't tested directly, the virtual Vietnam servers worked reliably for general access, and overall consistency was excellent. We recommend NordVPN's NordLynx protocol for optimal performance, as it delivered both speed and stability throughout our testing.
Privacy and security
Privacy is where NordVPN really stands out. Its Threat Protection Pro feature blocked 87% of phishing and 79% of malware sites in our latest round of testing, which is the best performance of any VPN we reviewed (aside from specialist antivirus tools).
That said, Threat Protection Pro is now only available with the Plus plan; the Basic plan includes more limited DNS filtering. Still, with kill switch options, split tunneling, and full support for secure VPN protocols, NordVPN remains the top choice for users in Vietnam who value speed and serious privacy.
The best Vietnam VPN for beginners
ExpressVPN remains one of the most trusted names in the VPN space, and for good reason. In our latest testing round, it showed marked improvements in performance, jumping from approximately 410 Mbps to 898 Mbps, thanks to tweaks in protocol settings and CPU optimization. That makes it a solid choice for Vietnam, where internet restrictions and variable infrastructure demand both speed and consistency.
While ExpressVPN's Vietnam servers are virtual, they're effective for accessing local services from abroad. For travelers or remote workers needing to appear inside the country, this setup works well, though it may not reliably support all Vietnamese platforms due to potential geo-detection of virtual IPs.
What really separates ExpressVPN is its commitment to transparency. Its no-logs policy has been verified through 18 independent audits, the latest by KPMG in May 2024 (we're still waiting on more recent audits, and will update this piece with the results). ExpressVPN also publishes a biannual transparency report detailing official data requests, all of which it claims to have denied due to a lack of stored user data.
Read more about ExpressVPN ▼
Ease of use
ExpressVPN's apps are clean, fast, and consistent across platforms. From setup to connection, it rarely takes more than a few clicks. We particularly liked the split tunneling feature on Windows, which lets you route sensitive apps through the VPN while leaving others, like local services, untouched.
It's one of the few VPNs that still supports this feature on desktop, which can be especially useful in Vietnam, where users may want to access both international and domestic content simultaneously. All in all, ExpressVPN is by far the best VPN for beginners.
Streaming
ExpressVPN continues to unblock major streaming platforms, including Netflix (US, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia), Disney+, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer. While it did experience a few minor hiccups (requiring two or three attempts to access certain Netflix libraries), it ultimately succeeded across the board.
Playback was smooth, with no buffering or resolution drops during our tests. ExpressVPN's proprietary Lightway protocol, especially in TCP mode, delivered stable performance even on crowded or unstable networks.
Privacy and security
Although ExpressVPN's web protection tools underperformed (blocking 0% of phishing or malware links in our latest testing round), we don't consider this a dealbreaker. These tools are bonus features, not core VPN functions.
What matters more is ExpressVPN's consistent privacy-first design: TrustedServer tech, robust encryption, and jurisdiction outside 14-Eyes alliances. For users in Vietnam, that's a meaningful layer of protection in a tightly monitored digital environment.
The best cheap Vietnam VPN
Surfshark continues to impress as the best cheap VPN, particularly for users in Vietnam who want security without breaking the bank. It was one of the fastest services in our latest testing round, hitting 950+ Mbps peak download speeds: a rare achievement, especially for a budget-friendly provider.
Although Surfshark doesn't have physical servers in Vietnam, it does offer virtual Vietnam locations. These are useful for accessing region-locked services while traveling, though (as with all virtual IPs), your mileage may vary depending on how content providers handle geo-detection.
What really sets Surfshark apart are its privacy-enhancing extras. The newly introduced Alternative Number tool lets you create a disposable phone number for account sign-ups, a helpful workaround for services that require SMS verification. This complements the existing Alternative ID feature, which creates an anonymous digital identity with a unique email, name, and address. For users in Vietnam who want to reduce their digital footprint, these tools are rare and valuable.
Read more about Surfshark ▼
Ease of use
Surfshark's apps are beginner-friendly but packed with depth. Installation is quick, and connecting to a server takes just a tap. You can filter servers by specialty, such as MultiHop or static IP, or manually pick from Surfshark's 100-country network. The mobile apps are particularly polished, and the Android version now has a 4.5-star rating, up from 4.3.
There's also unlimited device support, which makes Surfshark a smart choice for families or users with lots of connected hardware.
Streaming
In our most recent round of testing, Surfshark unblocked all major streaming services, including Netflix (US, Japan, UK, Canada, and Australia), Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and regional platforms like BBC iPlayer and 10 Play Australia. Playback was consistently smooth, with no buffering and fast load times, even when connecting from Southeast Asia. Simply put, it's one of the best Netflix VPNs on the block.
Privacy and security
Surfshark includes industry-standard protections like AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and strong support for the WireGuard protocol. It also offers obfuscated servers to help users in restrictive regions like Vietnam bypass detection.
The built-in CleanWeb 2.0 tool performed well in browser-based testing, blocking 84% of ads in Chrome and Firefox. However, its phishing and malware protection was less impressive, blocking just 6% of malware sites and 7% of phishing attempts. For users who want stronger threat protection, Surfshark Antivirus (a separate paid feature) performed significantly better, blocking 94% of phishing threats in our tests.
Surfshark has not yet undergone as many audits as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, but it continues to expand its transparency initiatives and publishes warrant canaries and RAM-only server policies to reinforce its no-logs promise.
The best free Vietnam VPN
Proton VPN stands out as the only provider on this list offering real physical servers in Vietnam, giving users true Vietnamese IP addresses. That's a major win for expats or remote workers who need reliable access to domestic banking, news, or streaming services. It's also a strong performer globally, now operating in 112 countries (more than NordVPN and ExpressVPN).
In our most recent testing round, Proton VPN hit peak speeds of 950+ Mbps on nearby servers and maintained solid performance across long-distance connections. While its speeds dipped slightly on US routes (630 Mbps peak), performance was still strong enough for HD streaming and large downloads.
On the security front, Proton VPN is one of the most transparent providers we've tested. It publishes open-source apps, undergoes regular independent audits, and recently completed another successful no-logs audit. It also operates Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through hardened data centers in privacy-friendly jurisdictions before exiting to the internet: a feature designed to thwart surveillance, especially useful in restrictive regions like Vietnam.
Read more about Proton VPN
Ease of use
Proton VPN's apps, including the mobile experience, are polished and simple to navigate. They offer helpful extras like server load percentages and specialty server tags (e.g., Secure Core, P2P, Streaming). Setup is fast, and the connection process is seamless across platforms.
The Android app also supports split tunneling, auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi, and alternative routing options, which are helpful in restrictive networks like those in Vietnam.
Streaming
Proton VPN successfully unblocked Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia, as well as platforms like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer during testing. Streaming performance was stable, and its specialized streaming servers made it easy to jump between regions. Picture quality stayed crisp, and we encountered no buffering issues during playback.
Privacy and security
In our latest phishing and malware tests, Proton VPN's performance was modest: blocking just 11% of malware and 19% of phishing sites. While not ideal, these features are secondary to ProtonVPN's core strengths, including a strict no-logs policy, strong encryption, and real transparency. If you want maximum privacy and a real Vietnam IP, Proton VPN is an excellent choice.
The best advanced Vietnam VPN
Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the best budget-friendly VPNs in this lineup (second only to Surfshark), offering a surprising amount of power for its price. It recently boosted speeds to 436 Mbps (up from 330 Mbps previously), putting it within striking distance of more expensive rivals on this list. While PIA doesn't have physical servers in Vietnam, it offers virtual Vietnam locations, which are useful for accessing local content abroad. However, as with all virtual setups, platform compatibility can vary depending on how services detect IP addresses.
PIA remains a great option for users in Vietnam who want security without overpaying. It passed its second Deloitte audit in April 2024 (we're standing by for more recent audit results), confirming its strict no-logs policy. While the full report is only available to customers, its publication still signals welcome transparency. PIA also releases quarterly transparency reports and supports advanced features like port-forwarding, which is useful for torrenting or self-hosting securely from Vietnam.
Read more about PIA ▼
Ease of use
PIA has one of the most configurable VPN apps available. On mobile, you can customize nearly everything, from the size and order of interface widgets to the protocols and ports used for each connection. Its redesigned Android app supports dark mode, landscape orientation, and includes smart automation rules that automatically enable the VPN when you connect to untrusted networks.
Despite this depth, beginners won't feel lost. The default interface is clean and simple, and if you just want to click and connect, it works well out of the box.
Streaming
PIA performed strongly in our latest round of unblocking tests, successfully accessing Netflix across all tested libraries, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more. Speeds were good enough for HD streaming, though it didn't quite match the top three rivals on this list in terms of raw performance.
We had stable playback across servers and didn't encounter any buffering during use. Plus, PIA's streaming-optimized servers are clearly labeled in the app, making it easier to find what works.
Privacy and security
PIA's MACE tool blocks ads and trackers, but only achieved 2% of phishing protection in testing (the weakest on this list). Still, core privacy features are solid: open-source apps, WireGuard support, a kill switch, and no known data logging. For privacy-savvy users in Vietnam on a budget, PIA is a very capable and trustworthy choice.
Best Vienam VPN FAQs
What is the best VPN for Vietnam?
Based on our most recent testing round, NordVPN is the best VPN for Vietnam. It combines blazing-fast speeds (up to 950+ Mbps), powerful security features, and consistently excellent performance for streaming, browsing, and bypassing restrictions. It also includes advanced tools like Meshnet and obfuscated servers, which are useful for getting around government firewalls or ISP throttling.
Are VPNs legal in Vietnam?
Yes, VPNs are legal in Vietnam, and many residents, expats, and tourists use them to protect their privacy or access global content. That said, the government imposes strict controls on internet activity, particularly related to censorship, political speech, and access to banned websites.
Using a VPN to bypass censorship or geo-restrictions is generally tolerated, especially for personal use. However, you should avoid using VPNs to engage in activities that violate Vietnamese laws, such as spreading disinformation or accessing content deemed politically sensitive.
To stay safe, choose a VPN provider with a strict no-logs policy, robust encryption, and obfuscated servers that can hide VPN traffic: features found in services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and ProtonVPN.
How do I get a Vietnam IP?
To get a Vietnamese IP address, you'll need to use a VPN with servers located in Vietnam. Among the providers we tested, ProtonVPN is the only one offering real physical servers in Vietnam. Just open the app, search for Vietnam in the server list, and connect. Your IP address will be replaced with a local one.
If you're using a provider like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark, you can still select a virtual Vietnam server to simulate a local connection. These are effective for some use cases, but may not work with all Vietnamese websites or platforms.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
