Vietnam eSIM on Huawei Phones Without Google Services

Many Huawei flagship models sold outside mainland China — including the Mate 20 Pro, P40 series, Mate 40 series, P50 series, and Mate X series — include eSIM hardware. However, most Huawei phones sold within mainland China do not have an eSIM chip; they rely on dual physical nano-SIM slots instead.

If your phone is an international model running EMUI 10 or later, or HarmonyOS 2 or later, you will find a native eSIM manager under Settings → Mobile Network → SIM Management → Add eSIM. Before purchasing a Vietnam eSIM, confirm your specific model number supports eSIM by checking official specifications or searching for "eSIM" in the Settings app.

eSIM activation on Huawei does not require Google Play Services — the phone reads the QR code directly from the Settings menu. Many app-based eSIM providers like Airalo depend on Google Play for installation, but that is not the only way to obtain an eSIM.

A provider that sends a QR code by email or PDF allows you to skip the app entirely. Huawei's EMUI/HarmonyOS method for adding an eSIM is nearly identical to stock Android — you scan the QR, name the profile, and you are ready. iPhone and Samsung users similarly use native menus, so the process is universal.

First, purchase a Vietnam eSIM plan — for example, the Viettel 7-day 5GB/day plan for $10 — and you will receive a QR code by email within one minute. On your Huawei phone, go to Settings → Mobile Network → SIM Management → Add eSIM. Tap "Scan QR code" and scan the QR from your email (you can also download or screenshot the QR for offline use).

Name the eSIM profile (e.g., "Vietnam data") and set it as default for mobile data. Keep roaming enabled for the eSIM; it will activate automatically when your phone connects to a Vietnamese carrier (Viettel, Vinaphone, or Mobifone) after landing. If activation fails, restart the phone, check that APN settings are correct (they are usually set automatically), or contact customer support for a new QR code or manual activation code.

Airalo, Holafly, and similar resellers require their app to deliver the eSIM profile. On a Huawei without Google Play Services, these apps likely will not install or run correctly. Even sideloading does not fix the dependency on Google Mobile Services (GMS).

Some providers do offer a QR-by-email option — check before purchasing. For Huawei users, a provider that sends the QR code directly by email is the most reliable method. Using an eSIM also avoids swapping your physical home SIM, keeping it active for SMS and banking while you use data on the Vietnam eSIM.

Many Huawei users have common questions about compatibility and installation. Below we answer the most frequent ones.

For example, dual SIM with one physical home SIM and one eSIM for data works on most eSIM-capable Huawei models. However, Chinese mainland versions lack eSIM hardware entirely and require a physical SIM. The eSIM profile can be installed before you travel; it only activates upon connecting to a Vietnamese network.