Gone are the days of pulling out a map from your backpack during a family road trip or hailing a cab, only to have to explain where you’re heading in a foreign language. Apps have completely changed the way we travel, and there seem to be new ones popping up every day. If you’re planning a trip to Asia soon, South China Morning Post has helped us to round up the latest apps to help make your vacation as relaxing and worry-free as possible.
Read on below for a the list of phone apps you have to download while traveling through Vietnam, Thailand, China and more. If you’re still full of wanderlust, take a look at 13 of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
Tubudd
With Vietnam becoming a hotspot travel destination recently, Tubudd founder Vu Thái An noticed that a lot of visitors were mostly going to "touristy" locations during their trips. She wanted people to know that there was more to Vietnam than what was buzzy online, so she created an app to provide a more local experience.
Tubudd is an online buddy system that connects travelers to locals who can show them around the city on a tour. Users can search based on budget, location and interests and book tours ahead of time. The app currently has the strongest presence and the most selection in Vietnam, but also offers services worldwide in select cities such as Tokyo, Siem Riep, Vienna and Barcelona.
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HeyCars
With the rise of car booking apps such a Uber and Grab, HeyCars was created as an even more advanced version of transport arrangement. Instead of waiting to hail a taxi or hoping that there’s going to be Wi-Fi at the airport, the app provides a service that allows you to book chauffeur services ahead of time.
Not only that but you can book a driver for a full or half-day and even for the entirety of your trip. Travelers can choose from a range of budget to luxury vehicles and also private coaches for up to 53 people. The app is currently available in 50 countries worldwide.
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HandiGo
HandiGo calls itself the "pocket concierge." Aimed to make traveling easier in Thailand, the app allows users to communicate with hotels, travel operators and more directly.
For example, if you book with a hotel that uses the app, you can ask the hotel to help you book tours, make restaurant reservations and even order meals. There’s an in-app chat messenger with a translator, so you can speak to hotel staff directly or call using Wi-Fi services to reduce long-distance fees. HandiGo is currently available in Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
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Qiantech
It was only a matter of time before augmented reality made its way into traveling. Qiantech has partnered with a selection of tourist attractions and travel companies to add an enhanced experience for tourists via AR.
Through the app, users can scan QR codes and access guided tours, photos and videos. There are also AR souvenirs and postcards that you can keep in the app that can re-tell the stories behind the images. For now, the app is only available in China.
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