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TrainsWhy Unionpay is the best option for travel in 2026
In 2026, most Russian Visa and Mastercard cards don't work abroad. The only mass-market option for non-cash payments is Unionpay cards, issued by Russian Agricultural Bank (RSHB) and a smaller bank called ATB. We've traveled with such a card for several months across Asia and can say for sure: it works reliably, if you know a few nuances. In this article, we won't repeat generic advice – we'll jump straight to practical instructions: how to top up, how to pay, and how to withdraw money while losing as little as possible.
Our experience: over the past six months, we've used Unionpay cards in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Egypt. The card works in most stores, but in about 10% of cases there are glitches – the terminal simply doesn't support this payment system. You need to be prepared for this and always have cash on hand.
How to top up a yuan card: two working methods
We recommend opening a yuan-denominated card (rather than ruble, dollar, or euro) – it turns out to be the most cost-effective for payments. But first, you need to get yuan onto it. Here are two methods we've tested on ourselves.
Via the bank's app – fast, but slightly more expensive
This is the simplest method: in the RSHB mobile app, you buy yuan for rubles at the bank's internal rate and immediately top up your card. Everything takes a couple of minutes, even if you're standing in line at a supermarket. The bank's rate is slightly higher than the exchange rate, but you get an instant transaction and don't have to worry about volatility. We often use this method for small purchases – it's convenient and straightforward. For larger expenses, we try to buy currency on the exchange in advance.
Via a brokerage account – cheaper, but takes longer
If you're willing to go the extra mile, open a brokerage account in the "Svoi Investitsii" app (formerly RSHB-broker). There, you buy yuan at the exchange rate – it's usually 2-3% lower than at the bank. But there are nuances: purchases are in lots of 1000 yuan (or individually, but with a slightly worse rate), and after buying, you need to wait up to two days for the currency to be credited to your card. During that time, the rate can change – either in your favor or against you. We use this method when we're planning large expenses in advance and aren't afraid of rate fluctuations.
Example of rate differences (July 2026):
- In the bank's app: 11.28 rub/yuan
- On the exchange via broker: 11.038 rub/yuan
The difference – more than 2%, which for large amounts translates to significant savings.
Tip: if you don't want to deal with a broker, top up through the app – a 2% loss isn't critical for average spending, and the convenience is worth it.
How to pay with your card to avoid overpaying
When you pay with a yuan card abroad, only one conversion happens: from the purchase currency (e.g., Thai baht) to yuan. If you had a ruble card, the conversion would be double – first to yuan, then to rubles, which eats up more percentage. In practice, a yuan card gives you about a 2% advantage over a ruble card when paying. So our advice: always use the yuan card for purchases, topped up by either method.
Note: Some sources recommend choosing to charge in local currency at the terminal rather than in rubles – this is called "declining conversion" (DCC). In practice, we've never encountered this option when paying with a Unionpay card abroad. Apparently, it's more relevant for other payment systems. So just pay as usual – the terminal will charge the correct amount in local currency.
Important feature: PIN code in Malaysia
In Malaysia, local ATMs and terminals expect a 6-digit PIN. Russian cards have a 4-digit PIN. The solution is simple: add two zeros at the end. For example, if your PIN is 1234, enter 123400. We've tested this at MayBank and CIMB ATMs – it works without issues. Remember this hack so you don't panic at the ATM.
How to withdraw cash with minimal fees
Cash withdrawals are the most expensive option, so you need to be especially careful here. In 2026, RSHB's withdrawal fees have increased even for cards issued earlier under old rates. Current conditions: for a yuan card – 4% of the amount (minimum 70 yuan), for a ruble card – 1.5% of the amount (minimum 250 USD). Plus, the ATM abroad often charges its own fee (in Thailand, it's 200-220 baht per transaction, in Vietnam – about 30-50 thousand dong).
It's very important to understand: withdrawing small amounts is unprofitable because of the fixed minimum fee. The larger the withdrawal amount, the smaller the fee percentage relative to the total amount. Optimally, withdraw 20,000-50,000 rubles at a time – then RSHB's fee becomes less noticeable, and the ATM's fixed fee's share also decreases.
Also important: if you have a yuan card topped up via broker, the withdrawal gives you a better rate than topping up through the app (about 2% difference in favor of the broker). But if you're not confident about the rate, use the app – the loss isn't catastrophic.
Hack for Malaysia: at MayBank and CIMB ATMs, there's no ATM fee at all. We've checked this many times – money is withdrawn without extra charges. But avoid Euronet ATMs – their fees are predatory.
Cost comparison: card vs cash – real numbers from our trips
We've compiled a table with real calculations made in Thailand in July 2026 (we later verified them in other countries – the results matched). Here you can see how many baht you get from 10,000 rubles using different methods, and how much each option loses compared to the most profitable one.
| Transaction method | Amount in rubles | Baht received | Actual rate (baht/rub) | Loss from best option, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card payment / yuan card (top-up via broker) | 10 000 | 4 422 | 0,4422 | 0,00% |
| Card payment / yuan card (top-up via app) | 10 000 | 4 327 | 0,4327 | 2,15% |
| ATM withdrawal / yuan card (broker), amount 20 000 rub | 20 000 | 8 491 (without ATM fee of 200 baht) | 0,4245 | 3,87% |
| Cash exchange of dollars at real rate | 10 000 | 4 240 | 0,4240 | 4,12% |
| Cash exchange of euros | 10 000 | 4 187 | 0,4187 | 5,31% |
| ATM withdrawal / ruble card, amount 20 000 rub | 20 000 | 8 158 (without ATM fee) | 0,4079 | 7,76% |
| ATM withdrawal / yuan card (app), amount 10 000 rub | 10 000 | 3 985 | 0,3985 | 9,88% |
What we see:
- The most profitable option is paying with a yuan card topped up via broker – but this requires planning.
- Paying with a yuan card topped up via app is almost as good and much more convenient (only 2.15% loss). We choose this for everyday spending.
- Cash withdrawals always lose to card payments (because of fees), but if you need cash, it's better to do it with a yuan card topped up via broker, and in larger amounts.
- Cash dollars or euros give a decent rate, but still lose to card payments. Plus, you have to carry them, exchange them, and risk counterfeits.
Where we tried Unionpay: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Egypt
We tested the card in seven countries popular with tourists. Here are brief takeaways:
- Thailand – Unionpay is accepted in almost all malls, supermarkets, and hotels. ATMs with support are everywhere, ATM fee is fixed – 200–220 baht. No issues.
- Vietnam – the card worked in major cities and resort areas (Nha Trang, Phu Quoc). In small shops, it's better to have cash. ATMs often charge 30–50 thousand dong per transaction.
- Indonesia (Bali) – Unionpay is accepted in hotels, restaurants, and large supermarkets. In street shops – rarely. ATMs with the Unionpay logo exist but aren't everywhere, fee about 20–25 thousand rupiah.
- Malaysia – card payments are rare, mainly in chain supermarkets and duty-free. But cash withdrawals work great. Key hack: use MayBank and CIMB ATMs – they don't charge a fee. And don't forget the 6-digit PIN.
- Philippines – the card worked in hotels and major malls in Manila and Cebu. ATMs with Unionpay exist but not everywhere. ATM fee – about 200-250 pesos.
- Sri Lanka – the card worked in hotels, malls, and some restaurants. ATMs with Unionpay are available at the airport and in major cities, fee about 300–400 rupees.
- Egypt – in resort areas (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh), the card is accepted at hotels and large stores. ATMs with Unionpay exist, fee about 30-40 Egyptian pounds.
Overall, in these countries, we didn't encounter systemic failures when the terminal or ATM supported the system. The only thing – in remote areas, it's better to have cash on hand.
What to do if the card doesn't work – backup options
Never rely on just one card. Even if Unionpay works reliably, there's always a risk of technical issues or sudden restrictions. We always carry:
- Cash dollars or euros – in case the card fails at an ATM.
- A MIR card (it works in some countries, but the range is limited).
- A backup crypto account (USDT) – for transfers via P2P exchanges if things get really tight.
But the main advice – have cash for the first week, until you've verified that the card works properly.
Important! The sanctions situation changes fast. A card that worked yesterday might stop working tomorrow. Always have a backup plan – we always carry cash for the entire duration of the trip.
Bottom line: our key takeaways
Let's sum it up:
- Open a yuan Unionpay card – it gives you the best rate for payments.
- For everyday purchases, top it up through the bank's app – it's fast and convenient, and the 2% loss isn't critical.
- For larger expenses, use a brokerage account – save another couple of percent.
- Withdraw cash in larger amounts (from 20,000 rubles equivalent) – this reduces the share of fixed fees.
- In Malaysia, remember to add two zeros to your PIN and use MayBank and CIMB ATMs.
- Don't forget about alternatives: cash dollars/euros and backup cards.
Our experience shows that Unionpay is a great tool for traveling in Asia if you use it wisely. Use our insights and save your money.
If you want to learn more about which currency to choose for your card and why we recommend yuan, read our detailed breakdown – here's the link to the full guide.