Destination Compatibility Hubs

Mainland China operates behind the Great Firewall and relies almost entirely on Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes for daily payments, transit, and menus.

Quick take: Install a Singapore- or Hong Kong-routed travel eSIM (Airalo or Nomad) and link a foreign Visa/Mastercard inside Alipay and WeChat Pay before you board your flight.

• ConditionalCan Foreigners Use Alipay in China with a Visa or Mastercard?
• Workaround requiredDoes ChatGPT Work in China, and How to Access It Safely?
• WorksDoes an eSIM Work in China, and Does It Bypass the Great Firewall?
• BlockedDo Google Maps, Gmail, and WhatsApp Work in China?
• Workaround requiredWhich VPNs Actually Work in China in 2026?
• ConditionalDoes WeChat Pay Work with Foreign Credit Cards in China?

One regional eSIM covers 30–39 European countries, contactless Apple Pay / Google Pay works almost everywhere, and dynamic currency conversion (DCC) on card terminals is the main tourist trap.

Quick take: Ensure your European regional eSIM explicitly includes Switzerland and the UK (non-EU), and always choose to pay in EUR/GBP/CHF—never USD—on card terminals.

Hong Kong has open access to Google, WhatsApp, and social media, but enforces mandatory eSIM real-name registration for local numbers and is geo-blocked by OpenAI and Anthropic.

Quick take: Google and WhatsApp work without a VPN, but ChatGPT and Claude block Hong Kong IPs—use a VPN or a Singapore-routed eSIM to access AI tools.

• Workaround requiredDoes ChatGPT Work in Hong Kong, or Do You Need a Non-HK eSIM / VPN?
• ConditionalDo eSIMs in Hong Kong Require Real-Name Passport Registration?

Japan has fast 5G/LTE networks and unrestricted internet, but 3D Secure 2.0 rules frequently reject foreign Visa cards on Japanese transit and Shinkansen booking sites.

Quick take: Add a Suica or PASMO directly in Apple Wallet before arrival, and pick a low-latency eSIM (Ubigi or Nomad) instead of carrying a bulky Pocket Wi-Fi.

• WorksBest eSIM for Japan: Coverage, Latency, and Fair-Use Throttling Compared
• ConditionalJapan Pocket Wi-Fi vs. eSIM: Cost, Battery Drain, and Multi-Device Math
• ConditionalHow to Load Apple Wallet Suica, PASMO & ICOCA with a Foreign Card

South Korea has ultra-fast 5G and widespread credit card acceptance, but national security laws restrict Google Maps from offering walking or driving turn-by-turn directions.

Quick take: Google Maps cannot give walking or driving directions in South Korea—install Naver Map or KakaoMap in English mode before landing, and bring a physical chip card for T-money.

• Workaround requiredDoes Google Maps Work in South Korea? Naver Map vs. KakaoMap Setup

Taiwan has open internet access (Google, WhatsApp, ChatGPT all work natively), Chunghwa Telecom 5G coverage, and EasyCard transit payments.

Quick take: Taiwan enforces NCC real-name registration on domestic carrier eSIMs; use a foreign roaming eSIM or pre-book a Chunghwa Telecom airport pickup pass on Klook.

Thailand offers fast 5G tourist connectivity on AIS and True/DTAC, Grab ride-hailing with foreign cards, and Visa/Mastercard tap-to-pay on Bangkok MRT.

Quick take: Skip the 220 THB Thai ATM fee by linking a Wise or Revolut card inside Grab and using contactless Visa/Mastercard on Bangkok MRT; install an AIS/DTAC eSIM before arrival.

• WorksThailand eSIM vs. Airport Tourist SIM: AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove Compared

Vietnam relies heavily on Viettel for rural 4G/5G coverage and Grab for urban transport, while third-party airport SIM kiosks frequently sell unverified SIMs that deactivate mid-trip.

Quick take: Choose a travel eSIM that roams on Viettel (Airalo Xin Chao or Nomad) rather than Vietnamobile, and link your foreign card in the Grab app before leaving home.

• ConditionalVietnam eSIM, Grab & Card Payments: Why Airport SIMs Get Blocked Mid-Trip