Best eSIM For South East Asia
Are you travelling to South East Asia soon and wondering what is the best eSIM for South East Asia? Well, you’re in luck!
In this article we are going to show you our recommendation for the best eSIM to download before travelling to South East Asia.
Whether you’re travelling to South East Asia on a gap year after university or visiting for a few weeks on holiday, this South East Asia eSIM provided by Airalo will ensure you have reliable internet connectivity throughout the entire region.
We have used an Airalo eSIM in countless countries across the globe and can’t recommend them enough. They’re cheap, reliable and really easy to download!
So, let’s dive into: Best eSIM for South East Asia
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Ticket 4 Two Please kayaking in the Philippines
Our choice for the Best eSIM in South East Asia
So, now you’re probably wondering what our choice of the best eSIM for South East Asia is.
Well, we kind of spoiled the surprise at the beginning of the article but we highly recommend the Asialink eSIM by Airalo as the best eSIM for South East Asia.
It is easy to download, straightforward to purchase, and worked flawlessly while we were in South East Asia. Honestly, we can’t recommend it enough!
Here’s a quick rundown of the popular South East Asia countries the Asialink eSIM can be used in:
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
*the Asialink eSIM can be used in an impressive 18 different East Asian countries, but these are the countries on the popular backpacking routes in the region.
Best eSIM data plans for South East Asia
Airalo are our choice for the best South East Asia eSIM because we personally used the eSIM they offer in South East Asia and it worked like a charm.
It worked in Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, and even in South Korea.
Airalo has plenty of different South East Asia eSIM Packages to suit any travel itinerary:
Good to know: if you’re planning to visit only one or two countries in South East Asia, Airalo also offers country-specific eSIM plans. You may find these to be better value for money than buying an eSIM that covers the entire region.
How to Buy the South East Asia eSIM
Buying the South East Asia eSIM is very straightforward and can be completed in a matter of minutes.
Firstly, head to the Airalo website and choose between the different South East Asia eSIM options, then press ‘buy now’.
From here, you can either log in to an existing Airalo account, or simply create a new one with your email address.
Once you’ve created the account, you will go through a simple ID verification process before buying the eSIM for South East Asia.
Once you’ve bought the eSIM, you then have to ‘install the eSIM on your device’ - we promise it’s not as complicated as it sounds, as long as you follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: the data package begins on the day you activate, so once you’ve bought the eSIM, don’t press activate until you are due to travel to South East Asia.
Is an eSIM or Physical SIM Card better in South East Asia?
When travelling through South East Asia, the chances are that you are going to be visiting at least 2 different countries.
Popular routes take you from Thailand to Vietnam, with Cambodia and Laos added into the mix, and usually end with a trip to an island nation like Indonesia or the Philippines.
For this reason, we guarantee an eSIM is better than a physical SIM Card because you don’t have to keep swapping between SIM cards in every country you visit.
Instead you can either download a different eSIM directly to your phone or, alternatively, there is an option to purchase an eSIM that works in the entire South East Asia region.
Here are some extra Pros of eSIMs:
Less plastic waste than physical SIM cards
eSIMs are more convenient - you download them straight onto your phone
Usually more cost-effective than physical SIM cards
You can activate them in your home country and they’ll work as soon as you land
Here are some Cons of eSIMs:
Usually can’t use texts and phone calls with eSIMs
Not compatible with all phones (though most modern phones are compatible)
Did you know? eSIMS are also more environmentally friendly as they produce an average of 46% lower emissions than physical SIMs.
Tips for Using an eSIM in South East Asia
Before you buy the eSIM South East Asia, you must check that your phone is compatible with one. You can view a full list of Airalo eSIM-compatible devices here.
If you don’t want to be charged for data roaming on your home SIM card, we recommend turning that off in your phone settings. Airalo will guide you through how to do this when you install your eSIM.
We recommend downloading the Airalo App once you’ve bought your eSIM - from the app you can track how many days of data you have remaining.
As mentioned, with a South East Asia eSIM, you have mobile data but no access to phone calls or text messages. If you need this, we suggest buying a physical SIM card at the airport once you land.
If you want to extend your stay in South East Asia, you can’t extend the eSIM package. Instead, you simply buy a new package and activate it like the initial package.
Bamboo Boats - a classic activity to try in Vietnam
Conclusion: What is the Best eSIM to use in South East Asia?
There we have it, folks, a complete round-up of the best South East Asia eSIM. We hope this article has made it easier to find an eSIM data plan suitable for your South East Asia adventures.
South East Asia is a beautiful, budget-friendly region of the world, whether you’re visiting as part of a gap year for couples, or just want to visit for a nice relaxing holiday, we hope you’ll now have the correct South East Asia eSIM for your trip.
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