Southeast Asia – known for its tropical climate, beaches & fantastic food.
The region is also home to many (fabulous and stunning) temples, palaces & islands.
Southeast Asia is a popular destination for backpackers because it is one of the most affordable travel regions out there.
But not just backpackers love the region, but Digital Nomads and regular travelers also adore it.
There is a lot to do and see in Southeast Asia – there are dedicated blogs that focus on particular countries – heck, even specific cities – because the number of activities is sky high.
So I will not even try to summarize the best things to do in Southeast Asia.
But I can tell you is that you are looking for affordable ways to stay connected when in Southeast Asia.
Else you would not have clicked on this guide 😏.
But as you probably know, international roaming can be expensive – also in Southeast Asia.
That is why you should get a local SIM card or eSIM per Southeast Asian nation you visit to save the most money.
And unlike in North America and the Caribbean, you can get SIM cards for just 1 USD or 2 USD – aka pocket change.
Moreover, the cost of mobile data is low in Southeast Asia too.
So, what are your options in Southeast Asia? Which SIM card is the best? How much do they cost? And what plans are available?
This guide will answer all these questions for every individual Southeast Asian country.
Yes, this is the ultimate guide to buying a SIM card in Southeast Asia. Let's do this.
This guide is being completely redone. It may look empty for a while.
Original publication: 13th of October 2019. Last updated: 15th of January 2024.
Table of Contents
Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Southeast Asia
With 11 different countries in Southeast Asia, it can be a challenge to summaize which SIM card is the best for a particular country.
However, I will try my best. Which SIM cards are the best in Southeast Asia?
In Brunei, DST. Choose Metfone or Smart (KH) in Cambodia. Stick with Telkomsel in Indonesia. For Malaysia, Digi or Celcom. Myanmar – MPT or Mytel. In the Philippines, go with Smart (PH). Choose Singtel in Singapore, AIS in Thailand & Telemor in Timor-Leste. In Vietnam, stick with Viettel Mobile or Vinaphone.
Quite an impressive summary, right? In just 310 characters 😎.
For your convenience, here is a table of the best SIM cards in all Southeast countries:
Why are the mobile operators mentioned above the best in the stated countries?
You will have to read along to find out 😏.
SIM Card Prices in Southeast Asia
Now you know which mobile operators are the best in South America.
But how much to SIM cards cost in this region?
It is hard to say because various currencies are used throughout South America.
But I will give it a try:
You can get a Southeast Asian SIM card for free (!) or from 5000 IDR (Indonesia – 0.30 USD) to 60 SGD (Singapore – 44.30 USD). However, you will often spend around 2.30 USD per SIM per country (but the average is 5.38 USD). Tourist SIM cards are available too, with an average price of 12.30 USD.
IDR? SGD? USD? What do those symbols mean?
Well, you probably know USD stands for US Dollar (and if you did not, then I am angry at you 😡 – just kidding 💸).
But IDR and SGD are just the ISO 4217 symbols for the currencies used in Indonesia (Indonesian Rupiah) and Singapore (Singapore DOllar).
So, why not convert everything into US Dollars/Euros/(British) Pound Sterling/insert your currency here?
Currencies fluctuate every day – even every 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to keep track of all currency changes.
Instead, I want to keep track of SIM card offerings worldwide 🤓.
Worry not, Wise has a nifty tool keeping track of currencies worldwide in real-time.
So if you want to know how much 10 SGD is in (British) Pound (Sterling), simply select the currencies on the Wise currency converter tool.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
With that out of the way, let's see how much SIM cards cost throughout Southeast Asia:
By the way: mobile operators marked in bold are the recommended mobile operators for said country.
Table is coming soon.
Best eSIMs in Southeast Asia
Some mobile operators in Southeast Asia offer eSIMs to prepaid customers. However, most have no eSIMs at all, while some offer them only to postpaid customers.
These Southeast Asian mobile operators offer eSIMs to prepaid customers:
- Brunei: N/A
- Cambodia: Metfone, Smart Cambodia & Cellcard Cambodia
- Indonesia: Smarfren
- Laos: Unitel Laos & Lao Telecom (LaoTel)
- Malaysia: Digi Malaysia, U Mobile Malaysia, speakOUT Malaysia, Tune Talk & Yoodo
- Myanmar (Burma): N/A
- Philippines: Smart Philippines
- Singapore: N/A
- Thailand: AIS Thailand, TrueMove H & Dtac Thailand
- Timor-Leste (East Timor): N/A
- Vietnam: Viettel Mobile & Mobifone
In all Southeast Asians nations with eSIMs offered to prepaid customers, except for the Philippines, SIM card registration is mandated by law.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Southeast Asia without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Airalo (most affordable), Holafly (unlimited data in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam), or Nomad (automatic network switching).
This way, you can avoid the bureaucratic hassle of obtaining a SIM card or eSIM and just purchase an eSIM on an app.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Southeast Asia
VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) is available in Southeast Asia, and it is offered by many mobile operators – so is VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling).
Below is a list of Southeast Asian countries with VoLTE and VoWiFi, and which mobile operator offers the features:
| Country | VoLTE & VoWiFi | VoLTE Only | VoWiFi Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunei | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Cambodia | Smart Cambodia | Metfone | N/A |
| Indonesia | Telkomsel | IM3 Ooredoo (soon Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison), XL Axiata & Smartfren | N/A |
| Laos | N/A | Lao Telecom (LaoTel) | N/A |
| Malaysia | Hotlink by Maxis, Digi Malaysia, Celcom Malaysia & U Mobile Malaysia | Yes Malaysia | N/A |
| Myanmar | N/A | MPT Myanmar, ATOM (formerly Telenor Myanmar), Ooredoo Myanmar & Myyel Myanmar | N/A |
| Philippines | Smart Philippines, Globe Philippines & TNT Philippines | Dito Telecommunity | N/A |
| Singapore | Singtel, StarHub, M1 Singapore 1 | SIMBA Telecom (formerly TPG Singapore) | N/A |
| Thailand | AIS Thailand 1, TrueMove H & Dtac | N/A | N/A |
| Timor-Leste | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vietnam | Viettel Mobile & VinaPhone | N/A | MobiFone Vietnam |
1 Voice over New Radio (VoNR – Voice over 5G (NR)) is supported too (very new – VoLTE is not even widely available worldwide). However, it is only available on the AIS Thailand and Singtel networks as a prepaid customer (for Singtel, only one prepaid plan is 5G NR eligible)
5G NR in Southeast Asia
Commercial 5G NR has been available in Indonesia since August 2018 (for the 2018 Asian Games only). The other countries launched and are still launching 5G NR to this date.
Southeast Asian Prepaid SIM Cards
I will be covering 11 countries in this guide.
While I would love it if you read this whole guide, it has more than 13k words.
Moreover, you may not even visit all these countries, so I do not blame you for just wanting to focus on the country you will go to.
Therefore, I created this index so that you can jump to the country you are interested in (instead of having to scroll for ages).
If you are done reading about a country and want to read another one (let's say from Brunei to Singapore), you can easily do so by jumping back to the index.
There will be a Jump back to the Index button at the end of each country section.
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Vietnam
In this guide, I will:
- introduce you to the mobile operators in each country
- give my SIM card recommendation(s) for each country
- give you eSIM recommendations
- show you the coverage map(s) of the recommended mobile operator(s)
- tell you how much SIM cards cost and where to get them
- explain where to get top-up vouchers, how to top-up & how to check your balance
- give you the recommended plan(s) by the recommended mobile operator(s)
- provide a short recap of what you need to know about SIM cards in the country
With that being said, let's see what Southeast Asia has to offer to us.
Brunei Prepaid SIM Cards
In Brunei, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- DST Brunei
- Progresif
- Imagine Brunei
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Brunei
I recommend going with DST Brunei. DST Brunei has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Progresif is slightly cheaper than DST Brunei while having extensive coverage and fast speed.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Brunei
You can get a Bruneian SIM card for 8 BND (5.90 USD) from Imagine Brunei and 10 BND (7.40 USD) from DST Brunei and Progresif. DST Brunei and Progresif also sell tourists SIM cards for 15 BND (10.70 USD). SIM cards are also sold at Brunei International Airport (BIA).
For up-to-date BND:your currency (let's say MYR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Brunei
No mobile operator in Brunei offers eSIMs (to prepaid customers) yet.
Note that the Bruneian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Brunei without personal detail capturing, you can get the Brunei (Muara Mobile) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers & 5 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Consider Holafly's Brunei eSIM for more data upfront (6 GB/15 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Brunei (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Brunei eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Brunei
Below are DST Brunei and Progresif's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see Imagine Brunei's coverage map, head to my Brunei SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Brunei
DST Brunei and Progresif top-up vouchers are sold in DST Brunei stores and Progresif stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your DST Brunei SIM card, dial *103*VoucherCode#.
For Progresif, dial *177#, select option 1 and enter your VoucherCode.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *102# with DST. For Progresif, dial *179# or *177# and select option 3.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Brunei
DST Brunei has four data-featured plans, but the Easi Data Addons are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Easi Data Addons are available, which can be activated by dialing *133#:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 3 BND | 1 GB | 1 day |
| 5 BND | 2 GB | 3 days |
| 10 BND | 3 GB | 30 days |
| 10 BND | 5 GB | 7 days |
| 13 BND | 6 GB | 30 days |
| 20 BND | 8 GB | 30 days |
| 20 BND | 10 GB | 7 days |
| 40 BND | 15 GB | 30 days |
| 60 BND | 25 GB | 30 days |
Progresif has six data-featured plans, but the Data Add-Ons are recommended (which can be combined with the Talk N' Text Add-Ons for minutes and SMS).
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Data Add-Ons are available, which can be activated on the Progresif Care+ app:
| Price | Data | Bonus Data 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 BND | 1 GB | N/A | 3 days |
| 4 BND | 1.2 GB | N/A | 30 days |
| 7 BND | 2 GB | N/A | 30 days |
| 8 BND | 3 GB | 300 MB | 3 days |
| 17 BND | 7 GB | 1.1 GB | 30 days |
| 15 BND | 6 GB | 800 MB | 7 days |
| 20 BND | 10 GB | 1.1 GB | 7 days |
| 21 BND | 9 GB | 1.4 GB | 30 days |
| 30 BND | 13 GB | 1.7 GB | 30 days |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Brunei
- Both DST Brunei and Progresif are recommended
- Bruneian SIM cards are available for 8 BND (Imagine Brunei) and 10 BND (DST Brunei & Progresif)
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 15 BND (DST Brunei & Progresif)
- SIM cards are also sold at Brunei International Airport (BIA)
- Topping up can be done in DST Brunei and Progresif stores and through top-up partners
- DST Brunei's Easi Data Addons range from 3 BND to 60 BND. Progresif's Data Add-Ons range from 3 BND to 30 BND
- Read my Brunei SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Bruneian SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Cambodia Prepaid SIM Cards
In Cambodia, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Metfone
- Smart Cambodia
- Cellcard
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Cambodia
I recommend going with Metfone or Smart Cambodia. Metfone has the best overall coverage, but Smart Cambodia has the best 4G/LTE availability. Smart Cambodia also has the fastest speeds.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Cambodia
You can get a Cambodian SIM card for 1 USD or 2 USD from Metfone, Smart Cambodia & Cellcard Cambodia in their stores. Smart Cambodia and Cellcard Cambodia also have tourist SIM cards for 5 USD and 6 USD, respectively. SIM cards are also sold at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) and Siem Reap International Airport (REP).
For up-to-date KHR/USD:your currency (let's say VND – Vietnamese Dong) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Cambodia
Metfone, Smart Cambodia & Cellcard Cambodia offer eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Cambodian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Cambodia without personal detail capturing, you can get the Cambodia (Connect Cambodia) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers & 5 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or Cambodia eSIMs from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Finally, you can also get Cambodia eSIMs from Holafly (8 GB/30 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Cambodia (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Cambodia eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Cambodia
Below are Metfone and Smart Cambobia's coverage maps produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see Cellcard Cambodia's coverage map, head to my Cambodia SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Cambodia
Metfone and Smart Cambodia top-up vouchers are sold in Metfone stores and Smart Cambodia stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Metfone SIM card, dial *1203*VoucherCode# or call 1529, select option 1, and enter the VoucherCode#.
For Smart Cambodia, dial *888*VoucherCode# or *1203*VoucherCode#.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *1201# with Metfone. For Smart Cambodia, dial *888#.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Cambodia
Metfone has five data-featured plans, but the Limited Plans are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Limited Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.10 USD | MID | 100 MB | 1 day | *1522*1*1# |
| 1 USD | MI1 | 700 MB | 30 days | *1522*1# |
| 1 USD | MI4E1 | 1500 MB | No expiry | *1522*41# |
| 1 USD | MIW | 4 GB 1 | 7 days | *1522*1*71# |
| 2 USD | MI2 | 1.5 GB | 30 days | *1522*2# |
| 2 USD | MI4E2 | 3500 MB | No expiry | *1522*42# |
| 3 USD | MI3 | 4 GB | 30 days | *1522*1*3# |
| 5 USD | MI5 | 7 GB | 30 days | *1522*5# |
| 10 USD | MI10 | 15 GB | 30 days | *1522*105# |
| 20 USD | MI20 | 30 GB | 30 days | *1522*20# |
1 +399 on-net minutes & 399 on-net SMS
Cellcard Cambodia has seven data-featured plans, but the SurfLikeCrazy Plans are recommended.
The following SurfLikeCrazy Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.10 USD | 100 MB | 1 day | *1700*087*10# |
| 0.25 USD | 250 MB | 1 day | *1700*087*25# |
| 1 USD | 500 MB | 30 days | *1700*087*101# |
| 1 USD | 1 GB | 1 day | *1700*087*101# |
| 3 USD | 2 GB | 30 days | *1700*087*300# |
| 5 USD | 4 GB | 30 days | *1700*087*500# |
| 10 USD | 8.5 GB | 30 days | *1700*087*1000# |
| 15 USD | 13 GB | 30 days | *087*1500# |
| 25 USD | 25 GB | 30 days | *1700*087*2500# |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Cambodia
- Both Metfone and Smart Cambodia are recommended
- Cambodian SIM cards are available for 1 USD or 2 USD (Metfone, Smart Cambodia & Cellcard Cambodia)
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 5 USD (Smart Cambodia) and 6 USD (Cellcard Cambodia)
- SIM cards are also sold at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) and Siem Reap International Airport (REP)
- Topping up can be done in Metfone and Smart Cambodia stores and through top-up partners
- Metfone's Limited Plans (data) range from 0.10 USD to 20 USD. Smart Cambodia's SurfLikeCrazy Plans (data) range from 0.10 USD to 25 USD
- Read my Cambodia SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Cambodian SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Indonesia Prepaid SIM Cards
In Indonesia, you have four mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Telkomsel
- IM3 Ooredoo (soon Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison)
- XL Axiata
- Smartfren
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Indonesia
I recommend going with Telkomsel. It is the fastest and has the best nationwide coverage, but it is the most expensive (but still affordable to most travelers). Consider IM3 Ooredoo (soon Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison) if costs are an issue.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Indonesia
You can get an Indonesian SIM card for 5000 IDR (0.30 USD) from Telkomsel and IM3 Ooredoo (soon Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison), between 21 000 IDR (1.35 USD) to 68 000 IDR (4.35 USD) from XL Axiata & between 16 000 IDR (1 USD) to 100 000 IDR (6.40 USD) from Smartfren in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at various airports, including (Jakarta) Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK).
For up-to-date IDR:your currency (let's say SGD – Singapore Dollar) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Indonesia
Smartfren offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Indonesian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Indonesia without personal detail capturing, you can get the Indonesia (Indotel) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers, 5 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers & 10 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or Indonesia eSIMs from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/30 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Indonesia eSIMs from Holafly if you prefer unlimited data plans and do not mind paying a bit more for this advantage (unlimited/5 days, unlimited/10 days, unlimited/15 days, unlimited/20 days, unlimited/30 days, unlimited/60 days & unlimited/90 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Indonesia (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Indonesia eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Indonesia
Below are Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison's (formerly IM3 Ooredoo & Tri (3) Indonesia) coverage maps produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Indonesia SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Indonesia
Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (formerly IM3 Ooredoo & Tri (3) Indonesia) top-up vouchers are sold in Telkomsel stores and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Telkomsel SIM card, redeem the voucher on the MyTelkomsel app (Android/iOS/Huawei AppGallery).
For Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, dial *556*VoucherCode#.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *101# with Telkomsel. For Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, dial *123#.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Indonesia
Telkomsel has eight data-featured plans, but the Ketengan Utama (Main) Packages are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Ketengan Utama (Main) Packages are available, which can be activated by dialing *363#:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 4000 IDR | 500 MB | 1 day |
| 12 500 IDR | 500 MB | 3 days |
| 13 200 IDR | 3 GB | 1 day |
| 16 200 IDR | 1 GB | 3 days |
| 17 000 IDR | 6 GB | 1 day |
| 21 700 IDR | 500 MB | 7 days |
| 27 200 IDR | 1 GB | 7 days |
| 22 200 IDR | 2 GB | 3 days |
| 27 200 IDR | 3 GB | 3 days |
| 34 200 IDR | 2 GB | 7 days |
| 37 200 IDR | 7 GB | 3 days |
| 39 200 IDR | 3 GB | 7 days |
| 47 200 IDR | 15 GB | 3 days |
| 48 200 IDR | 5 GB | 7 days |
| 55 000 IDR | 22 GB | 3 days |
| 58 200 IDR | 15 GB | 7 days |
| 77 200 IDR | 40 GB | 7 days |
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (formerly IM3 Ooredoo & Tri (3) Indonesia) has seven data-featured plans, but the Freedom Combo Packages are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (with 5G NR access) and minutes.
The following Freedom Combo Packages are available, which can be activated by dialing *123#:
| Price | Data | Nighttime Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 500 IDR | 3 GB | 1 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 5 minutes | 30 days |
| 31 000 IDR | 4 GB | 2 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 5 minutes | 30 days |
| 42 000 IDR | 7 GB | 3 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 10 minutes | 30 days |
| 55 000 IDR | 12 GB | 4 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 64 000 IDR | 15 GB | 5 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 86 000 IDR | 23 GB | 7 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 20 minutes | 30 days |
| 108 000 IDR | 30 GB | 10 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 30 minutes | 30 days |
| 164 000 IDR | 45 GB | 15 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 30 minutes | 30 days |
| 218 000 IDR | 45 GB | 15 GB | “unlimited” (5000 minutes) | 30 minutes | 90 days |
1 for between 1:00 and 6:00
2 also to Tri phone numbers
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Indonesia
- Both Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (formerly IM3 Ooredoo & Tri (3) Indonesia) are recommended
- Indonesian SIM cards are available for between 5000 IDR and 100 000 IDR
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 75 000 IDR and 110 000 IDR (Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison), 100 000 IDR and 200 000 IDR (Smartfren) & 109 000 IDR (Telkomsel)
- SIM cards are also sold at (Denpasar (Bali)) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), (Jakarta) Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), (Surabaya (East Java) Juanda International Airport (SUB) & (Yogyakarta) Adisutjipto/Adisucipto Airport (JOG)
- Topping up can be done in Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison stores and through top-up partners
- Telkomsel's Ketengan Utama (Main) Packages (data) range from 4000 IDR to 77 200 IDR. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison's Freedom Combo Packages (combo) range from 27 500 IDR to 218 000 IDR
- Read my Indonesia SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Indonesian SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Laos Prepaid SIM Cards
In Laos, you have four mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Unitel Laos
- Lao Telecom (LaoTel)
- TPlus Laos (formerly Beeline Laos)
- ETL Laos
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Laos
I recommend going with Unitel Laos. It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.
.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Laos
You can get a Lao SIM card for 10 000 LAK (0.50 USD) from Unitel Laos, Lao Telecom (LaoTel), TPlus Laos (formerly Beeline) & ETL Laos in their stores. Lao Telecom has tourist SIM cards for 15 000 LAK (85 USD) and 25 000 LAK (1.30 USD). SIM cards are also sold at Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) and Vientiane-Wattay International Airport (VTE).
For up-to-date LAK:your currency (let's say THB – Thai Baht) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Laos
Unitel Laos and Lao Telecom (LaoTel) offer eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Laos mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Laos without personal detail capturing, you can get the Laos (Pak Ou Mobile) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Consider Holafly's Laos eSIM for more data upfront (8 GB/30 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Laos (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Laos eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Laos
Below is Unitel Laos' coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Laos SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Laos
Unitel Laos top-up vouchers are sold in Unitel stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Unitel Laos SIM card, dial *121*VoucherCode#.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *122# with Unitel Laos.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Laos
Unitel Laos has two data-featured plans, but the Mobile Plans are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Limited Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 LAK | MI1 | 25 MB | N/A | 24 hours | *209*1# |
| 2000 LAK | MI2 | 60 MB | N/A | 24 hours | *209*2# |
| 5000 LAK | MI5 | 125 MB | N/A | 24 hours | *209*3# |
| 10 000 LAK | MI10 | 270 MB | N/A | 30 days | *209*4# |
| 24 000 LAK | MI30 | 15 000 MB | N/A | 10 days | *209*106# |
| 25 000 LAK | CN25 | 7000 MB | Unlimited 1 | 7 days | *209*21# |
| 35 000 LAK | CN35 | 10 000 MB | Unlimited 2 | 10 days | *209*22# |
| 40 000 LAK | MI50 | 30 000 MB | N/A | 15 days | *209*107# |
| 50 000 LAK | CHAMPA | 1500 MB | N/A | 30 days | *209*7# |
| 63 000 LAK | MI79 | 35 000 MB | N/A | 30 days | *209*07# |
| 80 000 LAK | MI100 | 60 000 MB | N/A | 30 days | *209*100# |
| 95 000 LAK | CN95 | 30 000 MB | Unlimited 3 | 30 days | *209*23# |
| 100 000 LAK | LAMVONG | 3000 MB | N/A | 30 days | *209*8# |
| 120 000 LAK | KHAM | 4000 MB | N/A | 30 days | *209*9# |
1 for WeChat
2 for Facebook & WeChat
3 for WeChat & YouTube
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Laos
- Unitel Laos is recommended
- Lao SIM cards are available for 10 000 LAK (Unitel Laos, Lao Telecom (LaoTel), TPlus Laos (formerly Beeline) & ETL Laos)
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 15 000 LAK and 25 000 LAK (Lao Telecom)
- SIM cards are also sold at Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) and Vientiane-Wattay International Airport (VTE)
- Topping up can be done in Unitel Laos stores and through top-up partners
- Unitel Laos' Mobile Plans (combo) range from 1000 LAK to 120 000 LAK
- Read my Laos SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Lao SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Malaysia Prepaid SIM Cards
In Malaysia, you have four mobile operators, two 4G/LTE+-only mobile operators (of which one has a national roaming agreement), one sub-brand & three Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) easily accessible to travelers offering prepaid services:
- Hotlink by Maxis
- Digi Malaysia
- Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia
- U Mobile Malaysia
- Yes Malaysia (4G/LTE & 5G NR only)
- Antel Malaysia (4G/LTE only with Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia 2G & 4G/LTE national roaming)
- redONE Malaysia (Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia MVNO)
- speakOUT Malaysia (Digi Malaysia MVNO)
- Tune Talk (Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia MVNO)
- Yoodo (Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia sub-brand)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Malaysia
I recommend going with Digi Malaysia or Celcom Malaysia. Digi has the fastest speeds. Celcom has the best 4G/LTE coverage. Consider Celcom's MVNOs (speakOUT, redOne Malaysia Tune Talk & Yoodo) for great network performance at (slightly) lower prices.
.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Malaysia
You can get a Malaysian SIM card for between 7 MYR (1.50 USD) to 50 MYR (10.70 USD) from Hotlink/Maxis, Digi, Celcom, U Mobile, Yes & Antel in their stores. The MVNOs and sub-brands (RedONE, speakOUT, Tune Talk & Yoodo) sell SIM cards for between 3 MYR (0.65 USD) to 10 MYR (2.15 USD – from resellers). SIM cards are also sold at various airports, including Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
For up-to-date MYR:your currency (let's say SGD – Singapore Dollar) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Malaysia
Digi Malaysia, U Mobile Malaysia, speakOUT Malaysia, Tune Talk & Yoodo offer eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Malaysian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM without personal detail capturing, you can go with the Malaysia (Sambungkan) eSIMs from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, 5 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers & 10 GB/30 days).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or Malaysia eSIMs from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Malaysia eSIMs from Holafly if you prefer unlimited data plans and do not mind paying a bit more for this advantage (unlimited/5 days, unlimited/10 days, unlimited/15 days, unlimited/20 days, unlimited/30 days, unlimited/60 days & unlimited/90 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Malaysia (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Malaysia eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Malaysia
Below are Digi Malaysia and Celcom Malaysia's coverage maps produced by Speedtest:
Digi: on the left, Peninsular (West) Malaysia; on the right, East Malaysia:
Celcom: on the left, Peninsular (West) Malaysia; on the right, East Malaysia:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Malaysia SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Malaysia
Digi Malaysia and Celcom Malaysia top-up vouchers are sold in Digi stores and Celcom stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Digi SIM card, dial *123*VoucherCode#.
For Celcom, call 1111, select option 1 & enter the VoucherCode.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards with Digi and Celcom.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *126# with Digi. For Celcom, dial *118#.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Malaysia
Digi Malaysia has three data-featured plans, but the Prepaid NEXT Plans are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access for now) and minutes.
The following Prepaid NEXT Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing *128#:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1, 2 | Local Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 MYR | Next 15 | 6 GB | Unlimited | N/A | 30 days |
| 20 MYR | Next 20 | 15 GB | Unlimited | N/A | 30 days |
| 30 MYR | Next 30 | 20 GB | Unlimited | N/A | 30 days |
| 35 MYR | Next 35 | 30 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 68 MYR | RDY | 50 GB | Unlimited 3 | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Twitter
2 only when auto-renewal is/stays enabled
3 +unlimited data for Arena of Valor, Call of Duty Mobile, Free Fire, League of Legends Wild Rift, Mobile Legends Bang Bang & PUBG Mobile
Celcom Malaysia has eight data-featured plans, but the Monthly Passes are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access for now) and minutes.
The following Monthly Passes are available, which can be activated by dialing *118*1# or *118*2#:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 MYR | 30 GB | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 35 MYR | “Unlimited”, 60 GB @ 3 Mbps | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 38 MYR | “Unlimited”, 60 GB @ 3 Mbps + 5 GB (high speed) | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 43 MYR | “Unlimited”, 60 GB @ 3 Mbps + 5 GB (high speed) | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 45 MYR | 40 GB | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 45 MYR | “Unlimited”, 60 GB @ 6 Mbps | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 48 MYR | “Unlimited”, 60 GB @ 6 Mbps + 10 GB (high speed) | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 50 MYR | “Unlimited”, 60 GB @ 6 Mbps + 5 GB (high speed) | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 53 MYR | “Unlimited”, 60 GB @ 6 Mbps + 10 GB (high speed) | Unlimited | 30 days |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Malaysia
- Both Digi Malaysia and Celcom Malaysia are recommended
- Malaysian SIM cards are available for between 7 MYR (1.50 USD) to 50 MYR (10.70 USD)
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 7 MYR (1.50 USD) to 50 MYR (10.70 USD)
- SIM cards are also sold at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL/KLIA), Kuching International Airport (KCH), Langkawi International Airport (LGK), Miri Airport (MYY), Penang International Airport (PEN) & Sandakan Airport (SDK)
- Topping up can be done in Digi and Celcom stores, through top-up partners & online
- Digi's Prepaid NEXT Plans (combo) range from 15 MYR to 68 MYR. Celcom's Monthly Passes (combo) range from 35 MYR to 53 MYR
- Read my Malaysia SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Malaysian SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Myanmar (Burma) Prepaid SIM Cards
In Myanmar (Burma), you have four mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- MPT Myanmar
- ATOM (formerly Telenor Myanmar)
- Ooredoo Myanmar
- Mytel Myanmar
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Myanmar (Burma)
I recommend going with MPT Myanmar or Mytel Myanmar. MPT has the best 2G and 3G coverage in rural Myanmar (with the slowest overall speeds). Mytel has the best 4G/LTE coverage and the fastest (4G/LTE) speeds.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Myanmar (Burma)
You can get a Burmese SIM card for 1500 MMK (0.70 USD) from MPT Myanmar, ATOM (formerly Telenor Myanmar), Ooredoo Myanmar & Mytel Myanmar in their stores. Tourist SIM cards are available from 6500 MMK (3.10 USD) to 99 999 MMK (47.50 USD – MPT, ATOM & Ooredoo). SIM cards are also sold at various airports, including Mandalay International Airport (MDL) and Yangon International Airport (RGN).
For up-to-date MMK:your currency (let's say THB – Thai Baht) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Myanmar (Burma)
No mobile operator in Myanmar (Burma) offers eSIMs (to prepaid customers) yet.
Note that the Burmese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Myanmar without personal detail capturing, you can get the Myanmar eSIM from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Or Myanmar eSIMs from Holafly (6 GB/15 days & 8 GB/30 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Myanmar (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Myanmar eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Myanmar (Burma)
Below coverage maps of MPT Myanmar and Mytel Myanmar's coverage maps produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Myanmar SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Myanmar (Burma)
MPT Myanmar and Mytel Myanmar top-up vouchers are sold in MPT and Mytel stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your MPT or Mytel SIM card, dial *123*VoucherCode#.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *124# with MPT and Mytel.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Myanmar (Burma)
MPT Myanmar has eight data-featured plans, but the Data Carry Plus are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Data Carry Plus are available, which can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 699 MMK | 250 MB | 30 days | *777*1# |
| 799 MMK | 350 MB | 30 days | *777*2# |
| 999 MMK | 470 MB | 30 days | *777*3# |
| 1299 MMK | 615 MB | 30 days | *777*4# |
| 1799 MMK | 860 MB | 30 days | *777*5# |
| 2699 MMK | 1290 MB | 30 days | *777*6# |
| 4499 MMK | 2160 MB | 30 days | *777*7# |
| 8999 MMK | 4330 MB | 30 days | *777*8# |
| 17 999 MMK | 8660 MB | 30 days | *777*9# |
| 26 999 MMK | 13 030 MB | 30 days | *777*0# |
Mytel Myanmar has only one data-featured plan: Data Packs.
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access) and SMS.
The following Data Packs are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 966:
| Price | Plan | Data | On-Net SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 333 MMK | D3 | 160 MB | 160 SMS | 24 hours | D3 |
| 555 MMK | SH500 | 268 MB | N/A | 30 days | SH500 |
| 888 MMK | SH8 | 428 MB | 428 SMS | 30 days | SH8 |
| 999 MMK | SH968 | 482 MB | 482 SMS | 30 days | SH968 |
| 1299 MMK | SH1299 | 627 MB | 627 SMS | 30 days | SH1299 |
| 1799 MMK | SH1799 | 869 MB | 869 SMS | 30 days | SH1799 |
| 2400 MMK | SH24 | 1159 MB | 1159 SMS | 30 days | SH24 |
| 3500 MMK | SH35 | 1690 MB | 1690 SMS | 30 days | SH35 |
| 7000 MMK | SH70 | 3381 MB | 3381 SMS | 30 days | SH70 |
| 13 500 MMK | SH135 | 6521 MB | 6521 SMS | 90 days | SH135 |
| 20 000 MMK | SH200 | 9661 MB | 9661 SMS | 90 days | SH200 |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Myanmar (Burma)
- Both MPT Myanmar and Mytel Myanmar are recommended
- Burmese SIM cards are available for between 5000 MMK and 100 000 MMK
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 29 999 MMK to 99 999 MMK (MPT), 6500 MMK (ATOM) & 3000 MMK to 45 000 MMK (Ooredoo Myanmar)
- SIM cards are also sold at Mandalay International Airport (MDL) and Yangon International Airport (RGN)
- Topping up can be done in MPT and Mytel stores, through top-up partners & online
- MPT's Data Carry Plus (data) range from 699 MMK to 26 999 MMK. Mytel's Data Packs (combo – yes, really) range from 333 MMK to 20 000 MMK
- Read my Myanmar SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Burmese SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Philippines Prepaid SIM Cards
In the Philippines, you have three mobile operators and four Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) offering prepaid services:
- Smart Communications Philippines
- Globe Telecommunications Philippines
- Dito Telecommunity
- Cherry Prepaid (Globe Telecommunications Philippines MVNO)
- GOMO Philippines (Globe Telecommunications Philippines MVNO)
- TM Philippines (Globe Telecommunications Philippines MVNO)
- TNT Philippines (Smart Communications Philippines MVNO)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in the Philippines
I recommend going with Smart Philippines. It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.
.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in the Philippines
You can get a Filipino SIM card for 40 PHP (0.70 USD) from Smart Philippines and Globe Philippines and 49 PHP (0.85 USD) from Dito in their stores. The MVNOs (Cherry Prepaid, GOMO Philippines, TM Philippines & TNT Philippines) sell SIM cards for between 29 PHP to 299 PHP (0.50 USD-5.30 USD) from resellers like convenience stores and kiosks. SIM cards are also sold at airports, including Manila – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA/MNL).
For up-to-date PHP:your currency (let's say AUD – Australian Dollar) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in the Philippines
Smart Philippines offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.
You can also get travel eSIMs from Airalo (Smart & Alpas Mobile), Holafly & Nomad.
Smart struck a special deal with Airalo, where you can get the Smart Traveler offering as an eSIM through their platform before arriving in the Philippines.
This is one of the few eSIMs on the Airalo platform offering 5G NR.
Unfortunately, the Smart eSIM has been out of stock for a while and it is unknown when they will come back.
But I can tell you that they were super popular.
For now, you have these five Alpas Mobile eSIMs (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers & 20 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers)
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or Philippines eSIMs from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/30 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Finally, you can also get Philippines eSIMs from Holafly (8 GB/30 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in the Philippines (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Philippines eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in the Philippines
Below is Smart Philippines' coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Philippines SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in the Philippines
Smart Philippines top-up vouchers are sold in Smart stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Smart Philippines SIM card, call 1510 and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *123# or *123*777# with Smart Philippines.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in the Philippines
Smart Philippines has 18 data-featured plans, but the All Data+ are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following All Data+ are available, which can be activated on the GigaLife app:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 PHP | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 149 PHP | 6 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 7 days |
| 499 PHP | 24 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 599 PHP | 36 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 699 PHP | 48 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in the Philippines
- Smart Philippines is recommended
- Filipino SIM cards are available for 40 PHP (Smart & Globe Philippines) and 49 PHP (Dito)
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 15 000 LAK and 25 000 LAK (Lao Telecom)
- SIM cards are also sold at Angles/Mabalacat (Central Luzon/Greater Manila) – Clark International Airport (CRK), Bacolod – Bacolod-Silay International Airport (BCD), Batanas – Basco Airport (BSO), Boracay – Kalibo International Airport (KLO), Cabatuan/Iloilo – Iloilo International Airport (ILO), Cagayan de Oro/Iligan/Northern Mindanao – Laguindingan (International) Airport (CGY), Caticlan – Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (MPH), Cebu – Mactan–Cebu International Airport (CEB), Clark – Clark International Airport (CRK), Davao – Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO), Manila – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA/MNL), Puerto Princesa – Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS), San Vicente – San Vicente Airport (SWL), Siargao – Siargao Airport (IAO) & Tacloban – Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport (TAC)
- Topping up can be done in Smart Philippines stores, through top-up partners & online
- Smart Philippines' All Data+ (combo) range from 75 PHP to 699 PHP
- Read my Philippines SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Filipino SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Singapore Prepaid SIM Cards
In Singapore, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Singtel
- StarHub
- M1 Singapore
- SIMBA (formerly TPG Mobile Singapore)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Singapore
I recommend going with Singtel. It is the fastest and has one of the best nationwide coverage.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Singapore
You can get a Singaporean SIM card 8 SGD (5.90 USD) to 38 SGD (28.05 USD) from Singtel, 8 SGD to 50 SGD (36.60 USD) from StarHub, 10 SGD (7.30 USD) from SIMBA (formerly TPG Mobile Singapore) & 14 SGD (10.25 USD) to 27 SGD (19.75 USD) from M1 Singapore. Tourist SIM cards with 100 GB (!) of data are sold from 12 SGD to 50 SGD. SIM cards are also sold at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
For up-to-date SGD:your currency (let's say MYR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Singapore
M1 Singapore allows prepaid customers to offers eSIMs to prepaid customers. However, only if you get its 12 SGD tourist SIM card (or eSIM for that matter). Regular prepaid customers cannot get eSIM (yet).
Note that the Singaporean mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Singapore without personal detail capturing, you can get the Singapore (Connect Lah!) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days – most popular with PTW readers, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers & 20 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or Singapore eSIMs from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/30 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days & 20 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Singapore eSIMs from Holafly if you prefer unlimited data plans and do not mind paying a bit more for this advantage (unlimited/5 days, unlimited/10 days, unlimited/15 days, unlimited/20 days, unlimited/30 days, unlimited/60 days & unlimited/90 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Singapore (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Singapore eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Singtel
Below is Singtel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Singapore SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Singapore
Singtel top-up vouchers are sold in Singtel stores (1/2/3), kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Singtel SIM card, call 9676 7777 and follow the instructions.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *100# or *100*1# with Singtel.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Singapore
Singtel has ten data-featured plans, but the Ultimate Plans (Combo) are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data(with 5G NR access) and minutes.
The following Ultimate Plans (Combo) are available, which can be activated on the Singtel Prepaid hi!App:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 SGD | 5 GB | 500 minutes | N/A | 100 SMS | 28 days |
| 35 SGD | 60 GB 1, 2 | 5000 minutes | 2000 minutes | 500 SMS | 28 days |
| 50 SGD | 150 GB 2, 3 | 5000 minutes | 2000 minutes | 500 SMS | 28 days |
1 to Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar/Burma & the Philippines. The actual minute allowance differs per destination, but it is undisclosed
2 40 GB of the 60/120 GB data allowance can also be used in Malaysia
3 with 5G NR access
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Singapore
- Singtel is recommended
- Singaporean SIM cards are available for between 8 SGD and 38 SGD (Singtel, StarHub, M1 Singapore & SIMBA (formerly TPG Mobile Singapore))
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for between 12 SGD and 60 SGD (Singtel, StarHub & M1)
- SIM cards are also sold at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
- Topping up can be done in Singtel stores, through top-up partners & online
- Singtel's Ultimate Plans (Combo) range from 15 SGD to 50 SGD
- Read my Singapore SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Singaporean SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Thailand Prepaid SIM Cards
In Thailand, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- AIS Thailand
- TrueMove H
- Dtac Thailand
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Thailand
I recommend going with AIS Thailand. It is the fastest and has the best nationwide coverage, but it is the most expensive (but still affordable to most travelers).
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Thailand
You can get a Thai SIM card for between 25 THB (0.70 USD) and 1500 THB (40.20 USD) from AIS, TrueMove H & Dtac, with more than 50 starter packs across the board, in their stores or resellers, like convenience stores. SIM cards are also sold at various airports, including (Bangkok) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
For up-to-date THB:your currency (let's say MYR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Thailand
AIS, True Move H & Dtac offer eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Thai mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
And even worse, from a privacy perspective, biometrics (fingerprints or face recognition) are also taken.
In most cases for tourists, only photos will be taken of you.
Dtac struck a special deal with Airalo, where you can get the Dtac Happy Tourist offering as an eSIM through their platform before arriving in Thailand.
This is one of the few eSIMs on the Airalo platform offering 5G NR.
Surprisingly, unlike buying the Dtac Happy Tourist SIM card or eSIM from Dtac directly, registration is not necessary when this eSIM is purchased from Airalo.
And unlike most travel eSIMs, which are data-only eSIMs, you can make calls and send SMS with the Dtac Happy Tourist eSIM.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Thailand without personal detail capturing, you can get the Thailand (Dtac Happy Tourist) eSIM from Airalo (15 GB/8 days – most popular with PTW readers & 30 GB/15 days).
After exhausting your 15 GB or 30 GB data allowance, you get unlimited data @ 384 Kbps.
And that is infuriating slow, I have to warn you.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or Thailand eSIMs from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/30 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days & 20 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Thailand eSIMs from Holafly if you prefer unlimited data plans and do not mind paying a bit more for this advantage (unlimited/5 days, unlimited/10 days, unlimited/15 days, unlimited/20 days, unlimited/30 days, unlimited/60 days & unlimited/90 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Thailand (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Thailand eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Thailand
Below is AIS Thailand's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Thailand SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Thailand
AIS Thailand top-up vouchers are sold in AIS stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your AIS Thailand SIM card, dial *120*VoucherCode# or dial *120# and follow the instructions.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *121# with AIS Thailand.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Thailand
AIS Thailand has seven data-featured plans, but the 4G/5G Internet On-Top Packages are recommended.
They are data bundles (with 5G NR access).
The following 4G/5G Internet On-Top Packages are available, which can be activated by dialing *501#:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 10 THB | 150 MB | 1 day |
| 11 THB | 150 MB | 3 days |
| 12 THB | 150 MB | 7 days |
| 15 THB | 150 MB | 30 days |
| 17 THB | 300 MB | 1 day |
| 18 THB | 300 MB | 3 days |
| 20 THB | 300 MB | 7 days |
| 22 THB | 800 MB | 1 day |
| 23 THB | 300 MB | 30 days |
| 23 THB | 800 MB | 3 days |
| 25 THB | 800 MB | 7 days |
| 27 THB | 800 MB | 30 days |
| 38 THB | 1.25 GB | 1 day |
| 49 THB | 2.5 GB | 1 day |
| 52 THB | 3.4 GB | 1 day |
| 69 THB | 1.25 GB | 3 days |
| 79 THB | 7 GB | 1 day |
| 82 THB | 2.5 GB | 3 days |
| 84 THB | 3.4 GB | 3 days |
| 97 THB | 10 GB | 1 day |
| 105 THB | 1.25 GB | 7 days |
| 115 THB | 7 GB | 3 days |
| 115 THB | 15 GB | 1 day |
| 115 THB | 7 GB | 3 days |
| 125 THB | 2.5 GB | 7 days |
| 129 THB | 3.4 GB | 7 days |
| 135 THB | 20 GB | 1 day |
| 155 THB | 7 GB | 7 days |
| 155 THB | 10 GB | 3 days |
| 189 THB | 15 GB | 3 days |
| 199 THB | 20 GB | 3 days |
| 205 THB | 10 GB | 7 days |
| 209 THB | 1.25 GB | 30 days |
| 230 THB | 15 GB | 7 days |
| 245 THB | 20 GB | 7 days |
| 259 THB | 2.5 GB | 30 days |
| 419 THB | 3.4 GB | 30 days |
| 505 THB | 7 GB | 30 days |
| 615 THB | 10 GB | 30 days |
| 649 THB | 15 GB | 30 days |
| 699 THB | 20 GB | 30 days |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Thailand
- AIS Thailand is recommended
- Thai SIM cards are available for between 25 THB and 1500 THB (AIS, TrueMove H & Dtac Thailand)
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for between 49 THB and 1250 THB (AIS, TrueMove H & Dtac)
- SIM cards are also sold at Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI), Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), Hat Yai International Airport (HDY), Krabi International Airport (KBV), Phuket International Airport (HKT), Samui Airport (USM) & U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP)
- Topping up can be done in AIS stores, through top-up partners & online
- AIS' 4G/5G Internet On-Top Packages (data) range from 10 THB to 699 THB
- Read my Thailand SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Thai SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Timor – Leste (East Timor) Prepaid SIM Cards
In Timor-Leste, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Telemor
- Timor Telecom (TT)
- Telkomcel
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
I recommend going with Telemor. It has the best coverage (especially in rural Timor-Leste) and the fastest speeds
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
You can get a Timorese SIM card for 1 USD from Telemor, Timor Telekom (TT) & Telkomcel in their stores. SIM cards are also sold near (Dili) Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport (DIL – for at least 10 USD).
For up-to-date USD:your currency (let's say IDR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
No mobile operator in Timor-Leste offers eSIMs (to prepaid customers) yet.
Note that the Timorese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Timor-Leste without personal detail capturing, you can get the Timor-Leste (Jaco Mobile) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days).
Be aware: you will be restricted to 3G – not 4G/LTE with the Jaco Mobile eSIM (unlike most Airalo eSIMs).
But if you use 4G/LTE in the cities, like Dili (capital), it will feel like you are on 3G anyway.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Timor-Leste (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Timor-Leste eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Below is Telemor's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Timor-Leste SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Telemor top-up vouchers are sold in Telemor stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Telemor SIM card, dial *120*VoucherCode#.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *121# with Telemor.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Telemor has only one data-featured plan with no apparent name
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following plans are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 127 or dialing *177*3#:
| Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | On-Net SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.15 USD | DL | 50 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | DL |
| 0.25 USD | PJ | 50 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | PJ |
| 0.25 USD | DF | 100 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | DF |
| 0.25 USD | FB1 | 100 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days | FB1 |
| 0.50 USD | PJ50 | 100 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | PJ50 |
| 0.50 USD | D1 | 200 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | D1 |
| 0.50 USD | FB2 | 250 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15 days | FB2 |
| 0.50 USD | DN1 | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1 night (0:00 – 8:00) | DN1 |
| 1 USD | D2 | 300 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days | D2 |
| 1 USD | FB | 500 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15 days | FB |
| 1 USD | 4G1 | 500 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | 4G1 |
| 1 USD | DU | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | DU |
| 1 USD | DU4G | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | DU4G |
| 2 USD | D3 | 800 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days | D3 |
| 2 USD | DUMAX | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 hours | DUMAX |
| 2 USD | DU2 | Unlimited | Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited | 48 hours | DU2 |
| 5 USD | DT | 2.2 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15 days | DT |
| 5 USD | DU7 | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days | DU7 |
| 5 USD | DU4G7 | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days | DU4G7 |
| 10 USD | DP | 4.8 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15 days | DP |
| 10 USD | DUMAX7 | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days | DUMAX7 |
| 15 USD | Gold | Unlimited | Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited | 10 days | GO |
| 20 USD | 4G20 | 8 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days | 4G20 |
| 25 USD | DU30 | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days | DU30 |
| 25 USD | DU4G30 | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days | DU4G30 |
| 30 USD | Diamond | Unlimited | Unlimited | 50 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days | DI |
| 50 USD | 4G50 | 25 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days | 4G50 |
| 50 USD | King | Unlimited | Unlimited | 100 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days | KING |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Telemor is recommended
- Timorese SIM cards are available for 1 USD (Telemor, Timor Telecom (TT) & Telkomcel)
- SIM cards are also sold at (Dili) Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport (DIL – for at least 10 USD)
- Topping up can be done in Telemor stores and through top-up partners
- Telemor's plans (comno) range from 0.15 USD to 50 USD
- Read my Timor-Leste SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Timorese SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Vietnam Prepaid SIM Cards
In Vietnam, you have four three mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Viettel Mobile
- VinaPhone
- MobiFone Vietnam
- Vietnamobile (do not go with Vietnamobile – it is trash)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Card(s) in Vietnam
I recommend going with Viettel Mobile or Vinaphone. Viettel Mobile and Vinaphone have fast speeds and extensive coverage. MobiFone is not bad and allows you to customize your plans.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Vietnam
You can get a Vietnamese SIM card for 50 000 VND/60 000 VND (2.05 USD/2.55 USD) from Viettel Mobile, VinaPhone & MobiFone in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at various airports, including Ho Chi Minh City-Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN).
For up-to-date VND:your currency (let's say MYR – Malaysian Ringgit) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Recommended eSIMs in Vietnam
Viettel Mobile, VinaPhone & MobiFone offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Vietnamese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Vietnam without personal detail capturing, you can get the Vietnam (Cu Chi) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or Vietnam eSIMs from Nomad (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Vietnam eSIMs from Holafly if you prefer unlimited data plans and do not mind paying a bit more for this advantage (unlimited/5 days, unlimited/10 days, unlimited/15 days, unlimited/20 days, unlimited/30 days, unlimited/60 days & unlimited/90 days).
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly eSIM reviews
For an in-depth analysis of eSIMs in Vietnam (covering prices, discounts & pros + cons), check out my Vietnam eSIMs Compared guide.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Vietnam
Below are Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone's coverage maps produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage map MobiFone, head to my Vietnam SIM Card Buying Guide.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Vietnam
Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone top-up vouchers are sold in Viettel stores and VinaPhone stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone SIM cards, dial *100*VoucherCode#.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *101# with Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Vietnam
Viettel has four data-featured plans, but the Gói Cước Chính (Main Packages) are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access for now), minutes & SMS.
The following Gói Cước Chính (Main Packages) are available, which can be activated by dialing *098#:
| Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 000 VND | V70C | 500 MB/day (15 GB) | “Unlimited” 1 (1000 minutes) | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 90 000 VND | ST90K | 1 GB/day (30 GB) 3 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 90 000 VND | V90C | 1 GB/day (30 GB) 3 | “Unlimited” 1 (1000 minutes) | 20 minutes | N/A | 30 days |
| 120 000 VND | V120N | 4 GB/day (120 GB) | “Unlimited”, 20 minutes/call | 50 minutes | N/A | 30 days |
| 150 000 VND | B150T | 8 GB | 1000 minutes | 100 minutes | 100 SMS 2 | 30 days |
| 160 000 VND | V160T | 3 GB/day (90 GB) | “Unlimited”, 20 minutes/call | 60 minutes | 60 SMS 2 | 30 days |
| 200 000 VND | V200K | 3 GB/day (90 GB) | “Unlimited” 1 (1000 minutes) | 100 minutes | N/A | 30 days |
| 200 000 VND | V200T | 4 GB/day (120 GB) | “Unlimited”, 20 minutes/call | 100 minutes | 100 SMS | 30 days |
| 200 000 VND | B200T | 20 GB | “Unlimited” 30 minutes/call | 150 minutes | 150 SMS | 30 days |
| 250 000 VND | V250T | 5 GB/30 days (150 GB) | “Unlimited” 30 minutes/call | 150 minutes | 150 SMS | 30 days |
| 250 000 VND | B250T | 25 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 200 minutes | 200 SMS | 30 days |
| 300 000 VND | V300T | 6 GB/30 days (180 GB) | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 200 minutes | 200 SMS | 30 days |
| 300 000 VND | B300T | 30 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 250 minutes | 250 SMS | 30 days |
| 350 000 VND | B350T | 35 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 300 minutes | 300 SMS | 30 days |
| 400 000 VND | B400T | 40 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 350 minutes | 350 SMS | 30 days |
| 500 000 VND | D500T | 5 GB/30 days (150 GB) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 360 days |
| 500 000 VND | B500T | 50 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 500 minutes | 400 SMS | 30 days |
| 700 000 VND | B700T | 70 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 700 minutes | 700 SMS | 30 days |
| 1 000 000 VND | B1KT | 100 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 1000 minutes | 1000 SMS | 30 days |
| 2 000 000 VND | B2KT | 200 GB | “Unlimited” 60 minutes/call | 2000 minutes | 2000 SMS | 30 days |
VinaPhone has two data-featured plans, but the Trả trước (Prepay) are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access for now), minutes & SMS.
The following Trả trước (Prepay are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 888, 900 or 9588:
| Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | On-Net SMS | Validity | Activation Code | Deactivation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 000 VND | B30 | 300 MB | 100 minutes | N/A | 100 SMS | 30 days | B30 to 900 | HUY B30 to 900 |
| 30 000 VND | DL7 | 3 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days | DK DL7 to 900 | HUY DL to 900 |
| 50 000 VND | B50 | 600 MB | 250 minutes | N/A | 250 SMS | 30 days | B50 to 900 | HUY B50 to 900 |
| 50 000 VND | DL15 | 5 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15 days | DK DL15 to 900 | HUY DL15 to 900 |
| 50 000 VND | HEY | 10 GB 3 | 100 minutes | N/A | N/A | 30 days | HEY to 900 | HUY HEY to 900 |
| 59 000 VND | MAX TV59 | 8 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days | MAX59V to 888 | HUY MAX59VU to 888 |
| 69 000 VND | VD69 | 4.8 GB | Unlimited 1 | 30 minutes | N/A | 30 days | VD69 to 900 | HUY VD69 to 900 |
| 79 000 IDR | MAX TV79 | 9 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days | MAX79V to 888 | HUY MAX79VU to 888 |
| 79 000 VND | HEY79 | 15 GB | 1000 minutes | N/A | N/A | 30 days | HEY79 to 900 | HUY HEY79 to 900 |
| 100 000 VND | B100 | 30 GB | 250 minutes | N/A | 250 SMS | 30 days | B100 to 900 | HUY B100 to 900 |
| 120 000 VND | Đỉnh 60G | 2 GB/day (60 GB) | 1500 minutes | 50 minutes | N/A | 30 days | D60G to 888 | HUY D60G to 888 |
| 129 000 VND | DIGI129 | 2 GB/day (60 GB) | 1000 minutes | 50 minutes | N/A | 30 days | DIGI129 to 9588 | HUY DIGI129 to 9588 |
| 149 000 VND | VD149 | 4 GB/day (120 GB) | Unlimited 2 | 200 minutes | 200 SMS | 30 days | VD149 to 900 | HUY VD149 to 900 |
| 237 000 VND | HEY79 3T | 15 GB/month (45 GB) | 1000 minutes | N/A | N/A | 3 months | HEY79 3T to 900 | HUY HEY79 3T to 900 |
| 249 000 VND | DIGI249 | 4 GB/day (120 GB) | 1500 minutes | 100 minutes | 100 SMS | 30 days | DIGI249 to 9588 | HUY DIGI249 to 9588 |
| 395 000 VND | HEY79 6T | 15 GB/month (90 GB) | 1000 minutes | N/A | N/A | 6 months | HEY79 6T to 900 | HUY HEY79 6T to 900 |
| 790 000 VND | HEY79 12T | 15 GB/month (180 GB) | 1000 minutes | N/A | N/A | 12 months | HEY79 12T to 900 | HUY HEY79 12T to 900 |
1 “unlimited” on-net calls as long as your call lasts for less than 10 minutes per call
2 “unlimited” on-net calls as long as your call lasts for less than 30 minutes per call, but up to 1500 minutes
3 +unlimited VNEdu, VNPT Elearning, Zalo & Zing MP3
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Vietnam
- Both Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone are recommended
- Vietnamese SIM cards are available for 50 000 VND or 60 000 VND, depending on how premium the phone number is (Viettel Mobile, VinaPhone & MobiFone)
- Tourist SIM cards are sold for 109 000 VND (MobiFone) and 179 000 VND or 249 999 VND (VinaPhone)
- SIM cards are also sold at Da Nang International Airport (DAD), Hanoi – Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), Ho Chi Minh City – Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Nha Trang – Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) & Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC – may not be the case anymore)
- Topping up can be done in Viettel Mobile and VinaPhone stores and through top-up partners
- Viettel Mobile's Gói Cước Chính (Main Packages – combo) range from 70 000 VND to 2 000 000 VND. VinaPhone's Trả trước (Prepay – combo) range from 30 000 VND to 790 000 VND
- Read my Vietnam SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Vietnamese SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.