Per-country travel app & route intelligence
Never get lost in a
country you've never been to
"Which apps am I even supposed to use here?" — the apps, payments, maps, transit and routes that actually work on the ground, on one screen.
A self-contained ecosystem where Korean and Western apps barely work. Half the battle is setting up before you leave.
Google Maps is strong, but Japan-specific apps are better for rail and transit cards.
Grab handles getting around and food delivery; 12Go for intercity travel. Cash still matters.
Grab does almost everything, but it's a motorbike paradise and cash is still king.
Gojek and Grab go head-to-head, plus WhatsApp to stay in touch. Bali and Jakarta have a very different feel.
The easiest country in Southeast Asia. You can even ride the subway with a Korean contactless card.
Grab-centric and English goes a long way. For local payments, it's Touch 'n Go.
Grab in the cities, cash on the islands. English works well, but travel is full of variables.
Countries at a glance
Where it's easy, and what to set up first — in one table.
| Country | Difficulty | Solo | Ride app | Cash | English | Google Maps | Tap transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳China | ●●●●● | ●●●○○ | DiDi | Mid | Weak | Limited | ✕ |
| 🇯🇵Japan | ●●○○○ | ●●●●● | GO / Uber | Mid | OK | OK | ✕ |
| 🇹🇭Thailand | ●●○○○ | ●●●●● | Grab / Bolt | High | OK | OK | ✕ |
| 🇻🇳Vietnam | ●●●○○ | ●●●●○ | Grab | High | Weak | OK | ✕ |
| 🇮🇩Indonesia | ●●●○○ | ●●●●○ | Gojek / Grab | High | OK | OK | ✕ |
| 🇸🇬Singapore | ●○○○○ | ●●●●● | Grab | Low | Strong | OK | ✓ KR card |
| 🇲🇾Malaysia | ●●○○○ | ●●●●○ | Grab | Mid | Strong | OK | ✕ |
| 🇵🇭Philippines | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | Grab | High | Strong | OK | ✕ |
● out of 5 · Cash = how much you'll rely on cash · Tap transit = whether a Korean contactless card rides the subway/bus directly.