A new phone in Vietnam carries a 12-month chain warranty, and an iPhone 17 that Apple Vietnam lists at about $1,110 (28,999,000 VND) sells for roughly $1,000 at FPT Shop in October 2026. Foreigners get 85% of the VAT back at the airport. Russian-issued cards are usually declined at the till, so bring dong or a foreign card.
Which version of an iPhone should I buy in Vietnam?
Buy the Vietnamese model, coded VN/A, if you plan to stay. It carries the chains’ warranty, a nano-SIM slot plus eSIM, and a receipt every authorised service centre recognises. A US LL/A unit has an eSIM only, and its warranty may be refused without an authorised dealer’s receipt, so the lower price comes with a service risk.
The iPhone 17 line adds confusion. Thế Giới Di Động says the new generation ships under the ZP/A code, while FPT Shop still calls it VN/A, and Apple has published nothing on the point. I read the model number under Settings, General, About, then confirm coverage by serial number on Apple Check Coverage.
What does a new iPhone or Galaxy cost in Vietnam in 2026?
An iPhone 17 with 256 GB costs about $975 to $1,015 (25.5 to 26.5 million VND) at FPT Shop, and a Galaxy S26 with 256 GB starts at roughly $805 (20,990,000 VND). Prices below are converted at about 26,000 VND per $1 and move with weekly promotions, so open each shop’s page on the day you buy.
| Model | Price at the shop | Shop and date |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17, 256 GB | about $975 to $1,015 (25.5 to 26.5 million VND) | FPT Shop, 11 to 16 Oct 2026 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max, 256 GB | about $1,320 (34,490,000 VND) | FPT Shop, 11 Oct 2026 |
| iPhone 16, 128 GB | about $960 (24,990,000 VND) | FPT Shop, 16 Oct 2026 |
| iPhone 16, 128 GB | about $845 (21,990,000 VND) | Thế Giới Di Động, 8 Sep 2026 |
| Galaxy S26, 12/256 GB | about $845 (21,990,000 VND) | FPT Shop, 16 Oct 2026 |
| Galaxy S26, 12/256 GB | about $805 (20,990,000 VND) | Hoàng Hà Mobile, May 2026 |
The Apple Vietnam list price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 256 GB is about $1,455 (37,999,000 VND), so chains cut roughly $135 off it. Two shops can price the same phone further apart than two neighbouring generations, so I compare the final price after discount.
Where should I buy: FPT Shop, Thế Giới Di Động or Hoàng Hà Mobile?
Any of the three works: all sell new phones with the manufacturer’s warranty, so the deciding factors are the price on the day and whether a service centre is close to your flat. Warranty repairs are done at authorised centres, so check where the nearest one sits before you choose the shop.
| Shop | Warranty | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| FPT Shop | 12 months | iPhones sold as “chính hãng” (official import), the product card states VN/A |
| Thế Giới Di Động | 12 months | authorised Apple reseller, servicing through AASP centres (Apple Authorised Service Providers) |
| Hoàng Hà Mobile | 12 months | Galaxy S26 from $805 (20,990,000 VND), trade-in available |
| CellphoneS | n/a | iPhone 17 256 GB at about $910 (23,690,000 VND) on 17 Jul 2026 |
| Viettel Store | n/a | publishes its VAT refund terms for foreigners |
What should I check before paying?
Before you pay, confirm three things: the unit is new and was not activated before you, the model number matches the receipt, and the SIM type fits your plan. Check the serial number on the spot at the till, and open the box only after the receipt is printed. The whole check takes about five minutes. Ask the shop about repacking before you open anything, since customs expects the phone in its box with the receipt.
- Enter the serial number or IMEI on Check Coverage: it shows whether the unit is activated and when the warranty ends.
- Match the model number in Settings with the box and the receipt.
- Confirm the box is sealed when it is handed over and that the receipt names the shop, the model and the serial number.
- Check the SIM type: the Vietnamese version has two slots (nano-SIM and eSIM), the US version has only an eSIM.
The guide to a long-stay SIM card in Vietnam covers what to do with the phone once you own it.
Can a foreigner get the VAT back on a phone?
Yes. Circular 84/2026/TT-BTC, in force since 1 July 2026, returns 85% of the VAT paid on a new phone to a foreigner leaving the country. The receipt must total $75 (2 million VND) or more in one shop per day and be issued no earlier than 60 days before the flight. The boxed phone goes to the Vietnam customs service at least 30 minutes before departure, and refunds are handled only at international airports and seaports.
Not every shop issues the refund invoice, so ask at the till before paying.
The 60-day window works against you when your visa runs out before your flight: the phone is bought, the receipt is in your bag, and you have to leave by land for a border run, where no refund exists, so the tax stays in Vietnam. The e‑visa form on evisa.gov.vn takes an evening, but the portal tends to reject Russian-issued cards. Through BestBus Vietnam I arrange a 90-day e‑visa end to end, pay the state fee with my own card and pick the right entry point.
If your visa ends before the flight, message me your flight date and I will tell you whether the receipt still works and which visa length covers it.
How do I pay for a phone in Vietnam?
A foreign Visa or Mastercard and cash dong are the two reliable options at a till. Russian-issued cards usually do not work abroad, and Mir or QR payment from Russian banking apps is not guaranteed in phone shops, so ask before the box is unwrapped. Cash and cards in daily life are broken down in paying in Vietnam with cards and cash.
Instalment plans are advertised by the chains, but their terms for foreigners are not published, and the chains usually ask for a Vietnamese ID card (CCCD), so confirm at the shop before counting on one.
Apple’s own warranty terms do not stop at the border in every case, so run the serial number through Check Coverage before you fly: the page shows what Apple itself will honour for that unit.
What is the short answer on buying a phone in Vietnam?
Buy a new iPhone or Galaxy at FPT Shop, Thế Giới Di Động or Hoàng Hà Mobile, comparing the product card on the day. Pick the VN/A version, verify the serial number on Check Coverage and pay in dong or with a foreign card. To claim VAT, buy within two months of a flight from an international airport, ask the shop for the refund invoice (Viettel Store describes it publicly), and keep the phone in its box with the receipt until customs.
A phone needs no middleman: shop, price and receipt are one visit. The tight part is dates, because the VAT window is shorter than many visas, and when the visa ends first you leave by land and the tax stays in Vietnam. If that is your situation, send me your flight date and airport on WhatsApp and I will work out which e‑visa length gets you out through an airport in time for the refund.
Methodology: Where These Numbers Come From
Prices come from the product pages of FPT Shop and Thế Giới Di Động between 11 and 16 October 2026, the Hoàng Hà Mobile page for the Galaxy S26 with a May 2026 price, and Apple Vietnam list prices. Conversion uses the Vietcombank cash selling rate of 26,090 VND per $1 on 15 October 2026, rounded to $5. VAT refund terms follow Circular 84/2026/TT-BTC and were matched across four publications.
Frequently asked questions
Does the warranty cover a cracked screen or water damage?
No, the standard warranty covers factory defects only. Thế Giới Di Động sells a separate one-year bundle of drop insurance plus one-for-one exchange, and an IP68 rating does not mean the warranty covers water.
What should I check on a second-hand iPhone?
The phone must be erased and unlinked from the seller’s Apple ID. If the screen shows “iPhone Locked to Owner”, walk away: Apple cannot activate it without the original owner.
How much do the Galaxy S26 Plus and Ultra cost?
Hoàng Hà Mobile listed the S26 Plus with 12/256 GB at about $920 (23,990,000 VND) and the S26 Ultra with 12/256 GB at about $1,150 (29,990,000 VND) in May 2026.
