Asia is the least standardised continent for plugs. The same journey can take you through British, American, European, Indian and Japanese sockets, sometimes within one country.
South-East Asia
- Thailand — A, B, C and the Thai Type O, at 220 V / 50 Hz. Most hotel sockets are hybrids that accept American and European plugs alike.
- Vietnam — A, B, C and F at 220 V. Expect a mix, especially in older buildings.
- Indonesia — C and F at 230 V. Bali and Java are the same.
- Malaysia, Singapore — British G at 230–240 V, with older M sockets in some buildings.
- Philippines — American A and B plugs, but at 220 V / 60 Hz. The plugs fit; the voltage does not match North America.
- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar — a genuine mix of A, C and G, with no reliable national standard.
East Asia
- Japan — Type A (and B) at 100 V, with 50 Hz in the east and 60 Hz in the west.
- China — Type I (Australian-style, inverted) and A at 220 V. European plugs do not fit.
- South Korea — C and F at 220 V / 60 Hz. European adapters work; the frequency is 60 Hz.
- Taiwan — A and B at 110 V / 60 Hz, like North America.
- Hong Kong, Macau — British G at 220 V, with older D and M sockets surviving.
South Asia
- India — Type D and M at 230 V, with C fitting loosely in many sockets. A European Europlug often "works" but is not earthed.
- Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh — D and G dominant, M and C also found.
- Pakistan — D, M, C and G in various combinations.
The three rules that cover most of it
- Carry a universal adapter with A, C, G and I pins. That covers Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and India.
- Add a dedicated Type D and Type M adapter if you are going to India or South Africa-adjacent countries — universal adapters fit these poorly.
- Check the voltage, not just the shape. Asia has 100 V, 110 V, 220 V and 230 V grids, and the Philippines pairs American plugs with 220 V.