For Australian travellers, staying connected abroad has long meant a choice between exorbitant roaming fees or the hassle of buying a local physical SIM card. But a new digital contender is changing the game. After a five-day trip to Vietnam, this journalist put a Holafly eSIM to the test against standard carrier roaming, with revealing results.
The Digital Shift: Why eSIMs Are the Future
The landscape of mobile connectivity is undergoing a quiet revolution. As noted by travel editor Stephen Scourfield back in May, the physical SIM card is on its way out. While Australia's latest iPhone 17 retained the nano-SIM slot, models released in the US, Japan, and 10 other countries did not, supporting only eSIM technology. This signals a global move towards fully digital connectivity, a shift that has significant implications for how we travel.
In an era where being chronically online is the norm, most travellers find the idea of going without mobile data unthinkable. A decade ago, the solution was to hunt for a local SIM upon arrival. More recently, daily roaming add-ons, like Optus's $5-per-day plan for 5GB, have become popular. However, patchy service in destinations like Vietnam can leave you stranded without Google Maps—a modern traveller's nightmare.
Setting Up the Holafly eSIM: Simplicity with a Learning Curve
Most smartphones released after 2020 are eSIM-compatible, a crucial first check for users with older devices. The process involves using your phone's dual SIM function to download a digital plan that sits alongside your Australian number. Holafly's interface simplifies the initial purchase: input your destination and trip length, and it quotes a price for unlimited data.
For a five-day Vietnam trip, the cost was $29.50, or $5.90 per day. Extending the trip to 30 days slashed the daily rate to just $3.90. Despite being tech-savvy, the initial setup felt confusing. Holafly's detailed, device-specific video guides and virtual assistant were invaluable here. The company advises installing the eSIM before departure for seamless activation upon landing.
The payoff for that setup came quickly. "When I arrived in Vietnam, I simply turned on the eSIM in my mobile settings and it connected to the local network before I was even off the plane," the trial found.
Performance in the Field: Reliability Trumps Roaming
After a quick fix to keep iMessage working with a primary number, the eSIM performed impressively. Using FaceTime Audio for calls (which runs on data), connectivity was high-speed in both the remote mountains of Yen Tu and the bustling streets of Hanoi.
This reliability proved a key advantage. Other travellers in the group relying on traditional roaming experienced patchy service, often falling back on hotel Wi-Fi. In contrast, the Holafly eSIM provided instant, constant access to maps, ride-hailing apps, and last-minute coffee shop searches. Returning home, switching back to the primary Australian number was a simple toggle in the settings.
The Cost Analysis: It's Not Just About the Daily Rate
While beating high roaming charges is a major eSIM selling point, the maths isn't always straightforward. For this five-day trip, the Optus $5-a-day roaming plan was cheaper at face value than Holafly's $5.90 daily rate.
However, the eSIM offered unlimited data and demonstrably faster, more reliable service. When compared to other major carriers, the value proposition sharpens. Telstra, for example, still charges $10 per day for roaming in over 80 destinations, and that only includes 2GB of data—a far cry from the unlimited offering and a stark reminder of the shocking four-figure bills that were once common.
The Verdict for Aussie Travellers
The first-time eSIM setup can feel tricky, but once completed, it provides a robust and user-friendly way to stay online overseas. For very short trips, a carrier's daily roaming package might still suffice. For longer getaways or destinations where reliable connectivity is crucial, however, eSIM providers like Holafly present a compelling alternative.
They offer competitive pricing, transparent unlimited data, and most importantly, reliability that can surpass traditional roaming. As the world moves inevitably towards digital SIMs, Australian travellers now have a powerful tool to avoid bill shock and stay seamlessly connected.
+ The journalist was provided a Holafly eSIM for trial purposes. This did not influence the independent review.
