The present disclosure includes gateways and methods for node selection of virtual network nodes in virtual evolved packet core networks. The methods include receiving, at a gateway from an evolved Node B (eNodeB), an attach request for a user equipment (UE), and determining a network selection hint corresponding to the received attach request, where the network selection hint is used for determining a virtual network node for selection in a mobile cloud network. The methods further include determining a domain name for establishing a network connection based at least in part on the network selection hint, where the selected domain name is associated with a virtual network node in the mobile cloud network. The methods also include selecting a virtual network node associated with the determined domain name, and establishing a network session to the selected virtual network node.