The colorful temples in Hoi An, Vietnam were one of my stops on my recent Vietnam trip testing the Saily eSIM card.
While I was hesitant to use eSIM initially, they’ve been a lifeline for me since I travel nonstop for work. While I’ve written about the pros and cons of eSIM cards, I’ve recently tested out Saily eSIM, which is owned by the team behind NordVPN, on a five-week trip through Southeast Asia with stops in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in January and February.
(AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward blog maintenance costs. I only recommend products and companies I use.)
First of all, what’s an eSIM?
An eSIM card is a digital SIM card that works the same as a physical SIM card minus the hassle of trying to insert anything into your phone. Most newer phones only accept eSIM cards and allow you to switch easily between multiple eSIM cards.
What type of eSIMs does Saily sell?
Saily sells country and regional eSIM cards to over 200 destinations with data plans ranging from 1GB to 50GB over a period of one week to 30 days. Plans have a 30-day activation window, and if not activated during that period, they will automatically activate 30 days after purchase.
Regional eSIMs are the most convenient if you are country-hopping while country-specific eSIM cards are often cheaper. If you choose a regional eSIM card, make sure all the locations you are traveling are covered. (You’ll see where I made that mistake below.) Since they are owned by the NordVPN team, they’ve integrated a lot of free security features, which I talk about below. (Use Saily promo code ANNA5 for 5% off your purchase.)
Saily eSIM Review for Southeast Asia
I started my trip in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park, known for wild elephants.
I used a regional Asia eSIM (10 GB for 30 days for $35.99), a Cambodia-only eSIM (3GB for 30 days for $8.99), and a Vietnam eSIM (5 GB for 30 days for $10.99) during a six-week trip through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. (Use promo code ANNA5 for 5% off all purchases. Yes, I totally use my own affiliate discount codes.)
It was very easy to install. The best thing about Saily is that you install the eSIM once, and it automatically reloads with any new plans you buy. (I’ve found it cumbersome to be constantly installing eSIMs every time I buy a new plan with other eSIM providers and having to delete old ones.) Saily does give you the option to install multiple eSIMs if you prefer.
Thailand
I installed this eSIM on a visit to Khao Yai National Park, roughly a 2.5-hour drive northeast of Bangkok. Saily uses the True network, which is one of the top two providers in Thailand. I only had LTE service initially since I was in a remote area, but it worked fine. I was even able to hotspot on LTE with no issues. In Bangkok, it was on 4G and worked perfectly.
Laos
Next, I flew to Luang Prabang, Laos, but I knew in advance that Saily doesn’t cover Laos. In fact, I’ve only seen one eSIM company cover Laos, and it was very expensive ($9.50 for 1 GB!). It was cheaper to buy a local eSIM on arrival.
Vietnam
I used this on two trips to Vietnam. On the first trip in mid-January, I flew into Hanoi and had issues getting the eSIM to connect. It finally connected to 3G service on Vietnamobile, which is not a fast network. It was a bit of a nightmare getting my Grab (Southeast Asia’s version of Uber) due to the slow network, and I had to go back into the airport to get WIFI to order the car. (I saw on Reddit and a few other forums about people complaining about this same issue at Hanoi’s airport with both Saily and other eSIM companies. This could be an issue with that airport specifically.)
I contacted Saily support immediately when I got to my hotel to resolve the issue, and their support team was fantastic. They had me go through several troubleshooting steps including ensuring roaming was turned on (it was). To fix the issue, they had me turn off automatic selection for the carrier network in the eSIM’s settings and select Mobifone, which gave me LTE service and resolved the issue. (When you do this, it gives a list of cell networks, but you need to know which ones your eSIM partners with to ensure you get service.) Please note that it’s not uncommon for eSIMs to switch between different networks.
Initially, I was expecting at least 4G or 5G coverage. (Even if an eSIM company partners with a network with 5G coverage, it usually only supports up to 4G in my experience.) With the LTE service, I was still able to stream YouTube videos on the ride from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with no issues. I had LTE with full bars in Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and along the Mekong Delta.
On my second trip to Vietnam, I flew into Ho Chi Minh City at the end of February and stayed in the city. Saily’s support told me they’d fixed the issue at the end of January, so I thought I’d test it again. (They gave me a code for a free 5 GB for 30 days plan due to the issues I’d experienced earlier.) I used a Vietnam-specific eSIM card, which connected to Mobifone LTE with no issues at the Ho Chi Minh airport when I arrived. I was able to call my Grab at the airport with no issues getting to my hotel. It worked in the city with no problems, and the connection was seemed pretty fast. I was able to use social media apps with no issues, etc.
Cambodia
When I entered Cambodia by ship on the Mekong River, my phone wasn’t initially connecting so I reached out to their support team. Turns out the regional Asia eSIM card I had doesn’t support Cambodia, which was my fault for not checking that. Haha!
I bought a Cambodia-specific eSIM card (3GB for 30 days for $8.99), which uses the SMART network, which works best in big cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. In more rural areas like Kampong Cham, I had EDGE service whereas a second eSIM I’d bought on the Metfone network had 4G. Then, in other rural places, I’d have service on the Saily eSIM (SMART network) and no service on Metfone. Cell service in Cambodia is very location dependent.
Locals tell me that the Metfone and CellCard networks are best in rural areas in Cambodia. If you’re going somewhere outside the major tourist areas, then reach out to your accommodation to see what network is best for that area. For example, the remote island of Koh Rong Sanloem only gets Metfone service barely, so I bought a Metfone SIM card just for my three-day visit to the island.
Use Saily promo code ANNA5 for 5% off your purchase!
Saily eSIM Card Review Summary
Mua Caves in Ninh Binh was a highlight of my Vietnam trip.
Overall, eSIM cards are only as good as the cell networks they partner with. I was impressed by the ease of the eSIM installation for Saily and their fast customer support, which was better than the support with other companies I’d used. I’d recommend it easily for Thailand and Cambodia (major cities). As for Vietnam, I initially wouldn’t have recommended it after my fiasco at the Hanoi airport, but I had a much more pleasant experience on my second visit to Ho Chi Minh. (If you’re heading to Hanoi, be aware that you’ll likely have trouble connecting to any cell network around that airport.) I’d highly recommend buying the plan and installing it before you leave for your trip, so it works on arrival.
While Saily has a virtual location option, I used my NordVPN in conjunction with my Saily eSIM to download shows on Paramount + and Disney + since I was switching back and forth from WIFI to cellular data for downloading. (Both streaming services require you to be in the U.S. for anything to download, which is why I always use a VPN when I travel.) NordVPN and Saily’s eSIM worked seamlessly together.
Before I boarded my flight, I was triple testing my downloads using the VPN to be safe, which I also recommend doing. The eSIM worked perfectly for this. If you purchase a Saily eSIM, use code ANNA5 for 5% off your purchase.
Saily eSIM FAQ
Photo of Screenshot: Virtual location is one of the built-in security features in Saily eSIM cards.
Are Saily eSIM cards safe and secure?
Saily is owned by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, so security is one of their top concerns. Saily includes the following security features in the top section of their app:
Virtual Location: Saily lets you choose your virtual location from 82 options and browse with more privacy by routing your connection through a remote server. (This is really important for streaming services and downloading movies to watch on planes.)
Ad blocker: To reduce screen clutter and save data, Saily can block intrusive ads. (Keep in mind that many websites rely on ad revenue to keep content free. If you’re browsing content from smaller creators (like me!), consider leaving ads on to help support them.)
Web Protection: Through DNS filtering, Saily reduces trackers and malicious websites before they reach your phone.
Does a Saily eSIM give you a phone number?
No, a Saily eSIM does not give you a phone number. It currently only supports mobile data, but this is a feature they are looking to add per their website. For more about having a number when you travel, check out my post on traveling and two-step verification.
Does Saily eSIM work in the U.S.?
Yes, Saily has six different plans for the United States ranging from 1 GB to 50 GB lasting from one week to 30 days. Prices range from $3.99 to $49.99.Use code ANNA5 for 5% off your purchase.
How to Install Saily eSIM on your iPhone
The setup for Saily is easy. Simply download the Saily eSIM app, choose your plan and it will activate automatically.
If you’d like to set it up manually, go to “Settings,” tap “Cellular”, Tap “Add eSIM,” click on “Use QR code” and follow the instructions. For more details, check out Saily’s Help website.
Troubleshooting Issues with a Saily eSIM card
If you are having issues with your eSIM cards connection to cellular service, try the following. These worked well for me when I had issues.
1. Turn Airplane Mode on and off.
2. Make sure the correct eSIM card is turned on and set as your default line.
3. Make sure data roaming is turned on.
4. If you know the network your eSIM is partnered with, turn off “Automatic Selection” and manually choose the network.
5. Toggle between 5G, LTE and the other network speed selections.
6. Turn Airplane Mode on and off again to test everything is working properly.
For more details, check out Saily’s Help website.
