Area Code 238 – Nghe An province
The phone area code for Nghe An province is 238 (international format +84238). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Nghe An province
Geographic Overview
The area code 238 is the National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the province of Nghe An, located in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. The province's administrative capital is Vinh City, which is the largest urban center served by this code. Other major towns and districts within the 238 numbering area include Cua Lo, Thai Hoa, Hoang Mai, and the districts of Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, and Nam Dan. As a geographic code, 238 is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, including traditional copper lines and increasingly VoIP-based fixed services that retain geographic numbering.
Dialing Formats
For callers within Vietnam, the trunk prefix 0 is used before the area code. The national dialing format is 0 238 XXX XXXX, where the subscriber number is 7 digits long, making the total national significant number (excluding trunk prefix) 10 digits. For international callers, the country code +84 replaces the trunk prefix, resulting in the format +84 238 XXX XXXX. For example, a fixed-line number in Vinh City might be dialed as 0 238 385 1234 domestically and +84 238 385 1234 from abroad.
Caller Instructions
When calling a Nghe An fixed-line number from another province in Vietnam, you must dial the trunk prefix and area code: 0 238 followed by the 7-digit subscriber number. When calling from a mobile phone within Vietnam, the same national format applies. For international callers, always omit the leading 0 and use +84 instead. If you are calling from within Nghe An to another local fixed-line number, you may be able to dial only the 7-digit subscriber number, but for consistency and to avoid errors, it is recommended to use the full national format.
Numbering Plan Considerations
Vietnam's numbering plan is regulated by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). As of the latest updates, no overlay code has been assigned for Nghe An; the 238 code remains the sole geographic code for the province. However, due to the growth of VoIP and fixed wireless services, some numbers under 238 may not be tied to a physical copper line but still retain geographic significance. When dialing, ensure you have the correct 7-digit subscriber number, as numbers are not portable between geographic areas in Vietnam; a number assigned to Nghe An cannot be moved to another province while retaining the 238 code.