Vietnam mobile internet enters global top 10

Photo courtesy of Tuoi Tre

Vietnam has entered the world’s top 10 for mobile internet speed for the first time, climbing 10 places and overtaking both the United States and China in Ookla’s latest Speedtest Global Index.

Mobile speeds rise sharply

The July 2026 index placed Vietnam 10th globally for mobile internet, with a median download speed of 205.58Mbps. That was almost double the global median of 109.73Mbps.

The United States ranked 12th at 189.21Mbps, while China was 13th with 179.80Mbps. Vietnam’s advance marks a significant improvement in its international position as domestic operators continue expanding 5G coverage.

Despite the progress, Vietnam remains behind the fastest mobile markets. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar lead rankings dominated by Middle Eastern countries with advanced 5G networks, recording median download speeds of roughly 500Mbps to 640Mbps.

Those leading results are around 2.5 to three times Vietnam’s figure, showing that further network investment and broader coverage will still be needed to close the gap with the world’s strongest performers.

Fixed broadband also ranks highly

Vietnam also held seventh place globally for fixed broadband, with a median download speed of about 255.87Mbps. This was comfortably above the global median of approximately 200.12Mbps.

Singapore led the fixed broadband table at more than 641Mbps, followed by France on 528.07Mbps and Chile on 488.77Mbps. Japan was ranked 10th, while the United States placed ninth in Ookla’s index.

Vietnam’s performance across both categories reflects the rollout of 5G and the wider availability of gigabit fibre-optic broadband from domestic telecommunications companies.

Faster networks support digital growth

Higher connection speeds provide stronger foundations for online services, cloud applications, remote work and the wider digital economy. The improvements may also help businesses operate more effectively as Vietnam continues its digital transformation.

Headline rankings do not guarantee identical service everywhere, however. Actual speeds can vary according to location, operator, network congestion, device capability and the customer’s chosen package.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

Foreign residents, remote workers and visitors should benefit from faster mobile data and increasingly capable fixed broadband, particularly in well-covered urban areas. Those relying on connectivity for work should still compare local providers and check coverage at their exact address, especially outside major cities. A compatible 5G handset and suitable plan may also be required to access the fastest mobile performance.

3 September 2026