Asia eSIM for digital nomads and long trips
A month in Chiang Mai, a few weeks in Da Nang, a visa run to Kuala Lumpur, then Bali. Long trips through Asia are cheap to connect, but the right plan depends on whether you stay put or keep moving, and on how much of your work happens away from wifi.
Stay put or keep moving?
| How you travel | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One to three months in one country | A long validity country plan | Cheapest per GB, one install |
| A few weeks each in several countries | A regional Asia plan | One eSIM across borders |
| Mostly in one country with short side trips | A country plan plus a small regional or country plan for the trips | Pay for the big data where you spend the time |
| Heavy work use every day | A large fixed plan, or a daily plan with a high full speed amount | Keeps video calls usable |
Live prices for a plan with 1GB or more: Thailand from US$3.60, Vietnam from US$3.90, Indonesia from US$3.60, Malaysia from US$3.60, and Asia regional from US$4.10 (updated 27 Sep 2026).
Long validity plans
Most plans run for up to 30 days. Some country plans, including Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, and some regional Asia plans also come as a large allowance valid for up to 180 days. They cost more up front but save topping up or buying again every month. Check the validity column on the destination page, for example our Thailand eSIM page.
Working from your laptop
Hotspotting a laptop from your phone works like it does at home. A few settings keep it from eating your data:
- Set the hotspot as a metered connection on your laptop, so it holds back large updates.
- Pause cloud sync for photo libraries and big folders while you are on mobile data.
- Turn off automatic app and system updates until you are back on wifi.
- Turn video off on calls where you do not need it; audio uses a fraction of the data.
Video calls use far less data than streaming, but an hour a day adds up over a month. Our cost and data guide has the numbers.
Daily plans and their speed limit
Daily plans give you a fresh full speed amount every day, then slow down until the day resets. On current Asia plans the slower speed ranges from 128 kbps to 1 Mbps depending on the plan, and it is listed with each plan. On our unlimited travel eSIM, Endless, the slower speed is never under 384 kbps, and it is 1 Mbps at 1GB a day in 136 of 218 destinations. At the low end, video calls will not work once you pass the daily amount, so choose the full speed amount to fit your call schedule.
A backup for when the wifi drops
Coworking and cafe wifi fails at the worst moments. A travel eSIM is the usual backup, but it helps to plan for that too:
- Keep enough data in reserve for one important call.
- Know which network your plan uses, and check its coverage where you are staying.
- For trips to islands or rural areas, read our guide to remote areas and backup plans.
Where your data exits
Many Asia plans exit to the internet in Hong Kong or Singapore, and some regional plans in the United Kingdom or Norway, so websites may think you are there. That matters for work tools with location checks, banking apps and streaming. Read where your eSIM's internet comes out and check the exit country on the plan before you buy.
Moving between countries
You can keep several eSIMs installed and choose which one handles data. Before you cross a border:
- Buy the next plan and install it on wifi.
- On arrival, turn on the new line, switch Data Roaming on for it and select it for mobile data.
- Turn the old line off. Turning it off does not delete it.
Every eSIM you buy also earns a Frequent Roamer stamp, and six stamps get you US$10 off your next one, which adds up quickly on a long trip.
Prices for popular trips
- Asiafrom US$4.10
- Thailandfrom US$3.60
- Vietnamfrom US$3.90
- Indonesiafrom US$3.60
- Malaysiafrom US$3.60
- Philippinesfrom US$3.90
Cheapest plan with 1GB or more, in US dollars from our catalogue, updated 27 Sep 2026.
Questions travellers ask
Is there an eSIM that lasts several months in Asia?
Yes. Some country plans, including Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, and some regional Asia plans run for up to 180 days on a large data allowance. Check the validity column on each destination page.
Can I hotspot my laptop from a travel eSIM?
Yes, sharing your connection works like it does at home. It uses data quickly, because laptops sync and update in the background, so pick a large plan and set your laptop's connection as metered.
Which is better for remote work, a daily plan or a fixed plan?
A daily plan suits steady use every day, as long as its full speed amount covers your calls. A large fixed plan suits days of heavy use mixed with days on coworking wifi. Remember that daily plans slow down after their full speed amount until the day resets.
Will websites think I am in the country I am working from?
Usually not. Many of our Asia plans exit to the internet in Hong Kong or Singapore, and some regional plans in the United Kingdom or Norway. Each destination page lists the exit country for every plan.
What if I change countries more often than I expected?
Buy the next country's plan or a regional plan before you cross, install it on wifi, and switch lines when you arrive. You can keep several eSIMs installed and choose which one handles data.