Is there a physical SIM card that works in Asia?

One: the Three UK travel SIM. Its Go Roam destinations include Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, on a data-only basis — you get mobile data there, but calls and texts stay inside the UK and EU. For anywhere else in Asia there is no physical SIM in our range; an eSIM is the option.

Which Asian countries does the Three UK SIM cover?

Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, as part of its 71-country roaming list. Japan, Thailand, mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Cambodia and Laos are not included — those need a dedicated Asia eSIM.

SIM card or eSIM for Asia — which should I pick?

If your trip is mainly the UK or Europe with an Asian stopover, the Three UK SIM makes sense: one card, a UK number, and data in six Asian destinations. If you are travelling within Asia, an eSIM is better on every count — it covers the countries this SIM does not, arrives by email in minutes instead of by post, and needs no swapping.

How does the physical SIM reach me?

By Australia Post, so allow delivery time before you fly. An eSIM arrives by email as a QR code, usually within minutes, which is why it is the better choice if you are leaving soon.