Roaming vs local SIM?

Roaming convenient; local SIM cheaper for heavy data.

Southeast Asia

SIM Cards and eSIMs in Southeast Asia 2026 — Best Options and Where to Buy

Country-by-country SIM options, eSIM vs physical, airport pricing vs convenience stores, and tethering rules across all eight countries.

8 min readPublished 2026-03-10

Convenient but sometimes premium; fine for first 30 days if you want connectivity immediately.

AIS and True tourist SIMs widely sold at 7-Eleven and airports; keep passport handy for registration rules.

Viettel and Mobifone dominate; verify passport registration sticker; eSIM availability improving.

Telkomsel (Indonesia), Celcom/Digi (Malaysia), Globe/Smart (Philippines) — airport booths are reliable; registration rules vary by country.

Plans differ; read fine print if you hotspot a laptop all day.

eSIM shines for same-day arrival data. Physical SIM helps if you swap devices or need the shop to debug APN settings for tethering.

Carriers o

Unlock full access in the app

The complete guide — verified intel, live community data, and AI concierge — available to LandedGo members.

Free to install. Account required for full access.

Stay ahead of deadlines and scams in one app

LandedGo turns local intelligence into checklists and reminders — built for foreigners navigating Southeast Asia.