Do UnionPay cards work on Koh Lipe?

Yes, UnionPay cards work on Koh Lipe, including those from Russian banks. But there are a couple of important "buts":

Where exactly is UnionPay accepted?

• Supermarkets (Patt Market, Market, 7-eleven) — we paid without problems, no commission was charged.
• Hotels — some accept card payments, but it's better to clarify when booking, as some only ask for cash or add a commission.
• Restaurants — about 70% of cafes on Walking Street accept cards, but not all have the UnionPay sticker. We ate at Thaidurm Restaurant — paid by card (though they added a 3% commission, more on that later).
• Travel agencies and dive centers — many work with terminals, but small shops prefer cash.

Where is it not accepted? At markets, in street food stalls, in small massage salons. And, of course, on the beach with boatmen for excursions, it's better to pay in cash — bargaining is easier.

Technical nuances: terminals here are mostly stationary, from banks like Kasikorn, Bangkok Bank, Krungsri. UnionPay works everywhere there is a logo. But everywhere except supermarkets, they add a commission of 3–5% to the bill amount (so-called merchant fee). This is not a bank commission, but the seller's desire to compensate for their acquiring expenses. Therefore, before paying, always ask: "Any extra charge for card?"

If you want not only to pay but also to withdraw cash with UnionPay — this is also possible, but with its own story. All this and much more is detailed in our big guide to Lipe Island here https://nashaplaneta.net/asia/thai/ko-lipe . And we also have a separate large article about money and cards in Thailand — there we compared all options.

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