Mobile phone in VN (I've done my searching through the forum)

Anh Map,

Vietnam has many good phones now and the services and warranties have improved a lot.  However, their prices are still high, compared to the US.  So, you should determine what you really want from your phone and get it in the States.

Never buy a used phone in Vietnam.  I know so many people with horror stories to tell.

Howie

VN is a test market for many electronics manufacturers and most have offices in TP HCM or Ha Noi - not representative offices. Crapple has Vinafone and Vietel.

Carriers are competitive, Mobiphone offering services for younger people's needs - they are owned by Vinafone but completely separate except for their networks which are shared.

Vinafone has the best coverage, even in areas as desolate as the rural parts of Son La, Dien Bien Phu and Lai Chau. It also has remarkable coverage in the imprisonment areas of DakLak and even the Spratly Islands.

I second Wild_1 on used phones. With the new push to disable stolen / lost cells through a world-wide database, and given that many of the used cells are snatched from users, there will be a lot of unhappy buyers.

Reasonable smartphone use can even be supported on a Pre-Paid service.

The expertise for unlocking / jailbreaking cell phones is remarkable and available throughout the larger centres of VN. A colleague had his iThingy jaibroken and reloaded with software for $14 including a whole bunch of neutered Apps. Changing the International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, aka seerial number is also easily done and necessary for hot Crapples.

HTC and Blackberry have sizable market share - the colloquial name for a cell was Nokia not long ago.

Bottom end Chinese smartphones are showing up - Android OS - and are priced around $30 odd.

Don't wear one of those belt clips for your cell, they are a gift for snatch thieves. I wear all my portable electronics on my belt, in custom designed holders, and have never lost anything.

Thieves will brazenly attack you / steal your goodies in public areas and no one will come to your aid. And most VN thieves are qualified in running at the Olympics.

I +1 everyone here, and emphasize, as Howie already said, if you decide to get an iPhone, buy an unlocked one in the US. Prices here are significantly higher.

Anh Map wrote:

I've read all the threads in the forum and am still wanting more info.  I'm coming from the US with my 2 year old HTC Incredible.  Also have an old BlackBerry 8830. 

The HTC is acting like a POS recently thanks to the latest software upgrade.  Seems that it can't multitask as it once did.  The 8830 was a trusty warrior without a camera. 

What suggestions do members have for me re: phone service, pricing, etc.  Should I look at getting an unlocked 4g phone here in the US, or wait to see what I really want to do with a phone and buy one there?  New/used doesn't make a difference.  Obviously have to be careful to not buy a stolen phone. 

Thanks 

Save your money!  Between those 2 phones you should be OK.  I know someone who may look at the HTC and give his opinion, or maybe even fix it.  If not, then you can get a decent droid for 2.5 VND.

Nguyen Kim Cell Phones

Thegioididong...What a name!

Jaitch wrote:

Mobiphone offering services for younger people's needs -

I am curious as to what services you think they need v older people?
I subscribe to their services and use, streaming, email, im,games, chat and other services. I wouldn't class myself as young though, so I'm curious as to what I'm missing out.....

OP What's the problem with your HTC ? You running it stock? no modifications to it? Pretty good phone and I'm sure it can reclaim its former glory unless syou want an upgrade.

laidbackfreak wrote:

Jaitch wrote:

Mobiphone offering services for younger people's needs -

I am curious as to what services you think they need v older people?
I subscribe to their services and use, streaming, email, im,games, chat and other services. I wouldn't class myself as young though, so I'm curious as to what I'm missing out.....

OP What's the problem with your HTC ? You running it stock? no modifications to it? Pretty good phone and I'm sure it can reclaim its former glory unless syou want an upgrade.

Speak of the devil!

laidbackfreak wrote:

Jaitch wrote:

Mobiphone offering services for younger people's needs -

I am curious as to what services you think they need v older people?
I subscribe to their services and use, streaming, email, im,games, chat and other services. I wouldn't class myself as young though, so I'm curious as to what I'm missing out.....

OP What's the problem with your HTC ? You running it stock? no modifications to it? Pretty good phone and I'm sure it can reclaim its former glory unless syou want an upgrade.

I've enjoyed the phone and was planning to keep it for a while longer.  No problems until recently.

HTC pushed through an OS upgrade in July.  Since then these phones lock up and/or go into a perpetual reboot cycle when you are using any sort of map/gps feature especially.  CAn be as simple as doing a check-in through facebook or getting walking directions in the city.

I've taken to the Verizon shop several times, done a factory reset, and scoured the online forums.  All seem to conclude that it's not going to change until HTC Google/Android creates a fix.

So now I'm considering my options.  I have no interest in buying a $600 usd phone.  I'm not an online video user.  Primarily talk, text, email, map, some browsing.

Anh Map wrote:

phones lock up and/or go into a perpetual reboot cycle when you are using any sort of map/gps feature especially.  CAn be as simple as doing a check-in through facebook or getting walking directions in the city.

Ah yes a well know problem and one that's relatively easy to fix.

I'll pm you some info

laidbackfreak wrote:

Anh Map wrote:

phones lock up and/or go into a perpetual reboot cycle when you are using any sort of map/gps feature especially.  CAn be as simple as doing a check-in through facebook or getting walking directions in the city.

Ah yes a well know problem and one that's relatively easy to fix.

I'll pm you some info

Thanks!

Hey Roger, what part of Boston are you from? I was born in CT but quite a few of my friends went to college in Boston so I spent a good portion of my weekends up there when I was at Uconn. Are you coming to Vietnam for work, and if so what field?

Jerry