10 Must-Have Apps for New Expats in Southeast Asia
Just landed in Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia? Here’s your digital survival kit.
Grab: Your go-to for rides, food, and groceries. You’ll use it daily — promise.
Wise: Easiest way to move money across borders without losing half to fees.
Google Translate: Menu decoding and small talk lifesaver. Download offline languages before heading out.
ExpressVPN or NordVPN: Keeps your connection stable (and sometimes your Netflix options open).
Maps.me or Google Maps: Great for offline navigation in patchy-signal areas.
Shopee / Lazada: For all the random things you forget to pack.
Line (Thailand), Zalo (Vietnam), WhatsApp (Indonesia): Local messaging essentials — don’t expect everyone to use one app.
If you’re still setting up your digital life, check out ToolsForExpats.com — an expat resource hub with useful expat tools for managing money, goals, and daily logistics.