Ethical Art: Making an Impact in Cambodia’s Creative Sphere

Discover hidden corners of Siem Reap, Cambodia and meet the ethical artisans who are putting Cambodia’s arts, fashion and design on the map. Through our close connections with local art studios and ateliers, we take our guests on an insider journey to meet traditional craft and textile artisans and designers who are preserving Cambodia’s artistic heritage and creating stunning masterpieces through sustainable and ethical means. 

This private and ethical arts experience can be tailored according to the guest’s specific interests. Learn about the delicate art of spinning silk by hand at a traditional silk weaving studio which provides opportunities and support to local women, meet a couture fashion designer whose handmade Khmer creations are also featured in Paris, and discover a local artist whose mission is to revive the nation’s rich heritage through various mediums including painting, sculpting and lacquerware.

Include this Cambodian Ethical Artisans experience in your clients’ next journey to Siem Reap or contact us to learn more about our specialized shopping experiences across Southeast Asia.

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An Undiscovered Paradise: The Myeik Archipelago

Imagine a world with over 800 pristine islands filled with crystal clear lagoons and tropical vegetation that have remained uninhabited and barely touched for thousands of years. Then travel to the southern tip of Myanmar to realize that this place actually exists!

Spanning over 400 kilometers (250 miles) of coastline, the Myeik (or Mergui) Archipelago delivers the quintessential new world experience where spectacular seascapes meet islands of dense forests, white sand beaches and blue lagoons as well as stilted villages inhabited by the native Moken people, a semi-nomadic tribe of sea gypsies and fishermen.

These picture-perfect islands, which lie just north of Thailand’s popular Phuket island, are yet to be discovered by mass tourism and offer rich rewards for the pioneering traveler. For a true tropical immersion, Akorn arranges private luxury yacht charters around the islands - the perfect home away from home in the form of a hand-crafted Indonesian seafaring vessel. Experience exotic seafood dinners with the catch of the day or enjoy a picnic on the beach in between snorkeling or swimming in the remote ocean waters.

We are excited about the opening of the archipelago’s first high-end resort later this year. Wa Ale Resort is set to become Myanmar’s most sought-after island eco-paradise offering amazing vistas from tented beach villas and treetop villas amidst a canopy of trees.

The Myeik Archipelago is accessible via daily flights from Yangon, Myanmar or Bangkok, Thailand, with a short transfer to the jetty. Contact us now to find out more about this remote paradise and how to include this in your next Southeast Asia itinerary.

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Our Top 5 Last Minute Getaways You Cannot Miss in 2018

1. Biennale Buzz in Bangkok

Be part of the inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale from 19 October 2018 to 3 February 2019.  We are excited to see the works of 75 artists from Thailand and around the world, each discussing their interpretation of the theme “Beyond Bliss”, with installations and exhibits across the city. This is a rare chance to rediscover Bangkok through the eyes of photographers, illustrators, performance artists and more.

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2. Glamping it Up in Luang Prabang

Head off the beaten path and discover the exotic wilderness of a Laotian jungle on the outskirts of Luang Prabang in Laos.  We suggest a stay at the newly opened Rosewood Luang Prabang for an extravagant luxury tent or villa experience. In the style of early colonial explorers, guests can trek through lush vegetation to meet ethnic villagers then return to the comfort of their five-star accommodation overlooking the river, enjoying the soothing sound of the waterfall flowing in the distance.

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3. Eating Your Way Through Vietnam

Spring rolls, grilled meat skewers, beef noodles, Vietnamese baguettes!  Vietnamese food offers endless variety and plenty of surprises for the taste buds!  The flavors vary from north to south, each town specializing in its own unique dish. Our guides know the best places in town to try Hanoi’s specialty pork noodles with spring rolls and Ho Chi Minh City’s pho (noodles served in a flavorful broth sensation).  Completing the full culinary circle, we also take guests to the central coast to experience the life of fishermen and learn all about rice and vegetable farming.

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4. A Spiritual Renewal in an Ancient Land

What better way to prepare for the new year than to embrace a moment of quiet reflection at one of Southeast Asia’s magnificent temples. Temples are the center of life and tradition and guests can take part in a ritual blessing ceremony, find inner peace through private meditation with monks and listen to the melodic and deeply spiritual sound of novices chanting in the evening.

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5. Sun, Sand and Seafood Bliss

Take time out to walk barefoot across soft golden sands while being serenaded by the sound of gently lapping waves.  Southeast Asia is home to many of the best beaches in the world where families enjoy quality time playing in the inviting tropical waters and tasting local delights plucked directly from the sea, while honeymooners are whisked away for a romantic tryst on a private island. The islands of Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia enjoy ideal weather from November to December and, with the anticipated launch of Alila Villas Koh Russey and Six Senses Krabey Island later this year, there has never been a better time to visit!

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Inside Vietnam with U.S. Veteran Chuck Searcy

Since serving in the Vietnam War, U.S. Veteran, Chuck Searcy, returned to Vietnam to support post-war recovery efforts. His work shines the light on the ongoing issue of unexploded bombs and mines that affects the lives of local residents even to this day, over forty years after the end of the war.  We sit down with the former U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst to find out more about his life’s work and passion for Vietnam.

Q: Where are you from and how long have you lived in Hanoi?

A: I am from Georgia in southern United States.  I came to Hanoi in 1995 with a three-year commitment to work on a rehabilitation project, but three years turned into 23 years – very quickly and unexpectedly!

Q: Can you share a bit about your background and your involvement in the Vietnam war?

A: My first ticket here was courtesy of the U.S. government in 1967, specifically the U.S. Army where I was trained as a military intelligence analyst.  I was assigned to the Combined Intelligence Center, Vietnam (CICV) in Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City).  Along with other soldiers in my unit, I soon became very disillusioned about the war, and, after returning to the U.S., I joined the anti-war movement as a member of the Vietnam Veterans of the War. 

I came back to Vietnam as a tourist in 1992, with an old Army buddy, and was overwhelmed by the warm welcome from the Vietnamese.  There was a total absence of any anger or hostility toward us, two former Americans soldiers.  I wanted to come back and somehow help in the country’s recovery, so I returned in 1995 with the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) to help set up a disability program at two hospitals in Hanoi. There, I gradually became aware of the terrible legacies of the war, which are still causing harm today: unexploded bombs and mines that have killed and injured over 100,000 people since the end of the war; and Agent Orange, which has caused terrible medical problems and much suffering for not only American veterans but an estimated three million Vietnamese. 

Q: Please tell us about the work you are doing to renew Vietnam

A: To help deal with the ongoing problems left behind by the war, Project RENEW was launched in 2001 in Quang Tri Province, along the old DMZ.  Today I am still involved as an international advisor, in a team effort to make Vietnam safe from remaining war munitions and to help the families still dealing with the aftermath of Agent Orange.  The U.S. dropped more than eight million tons of ordnance on Vietnam, more than the total bombs dropped on Europe and the Pacific in World War II.  Therefore, we cannot remove all the bombs and mines because there are simply too many, but we can help the people to live without fear.

We have adopted a two-track approach: (1) educate the children, farmers and villagers about how to identify explosive ordnances and how to react; and (2) respond with trained and equipped teams of professional de-miners who are always on standby, like a fire department, to respond to calls from local residents. The team is onsite within one or two hours to evacuate the residents and safely explode the device.  Last year, 42 years since the end of the war, we received 700 calls and destroyed more than 7,000 bombs. This continues to happen three to five times a day, or more. 

Q: Are there ways for interested travelers to help support these projects in Vietnam?

A: Sure! Travelers can visit Project RENEW at the DMZ and old battlefield sites, where it is possible to go to a demolition site with one of our de-mining teams. However, those who don’t have time in their schedule to visit the site can find ways to contribute through our website. Some 1,800 amputees who lost legs or arms due to wartime explosives have been fitted with new prosthetic limbs through a mobile outreach program, providing technical and rehabilitative support to victims in isolated mountainous areas and rural villages.

Q: What is one thing you would like to share with travelers who are considering a trip to Vietnam?

A: Come!  This is a country with a sweeping history of tragedy and war and outside aggression, which the Vietnamese people consistently fought and eventually overcame, time after time, over centuries. It is also a place of stunning natural beauty, of people who are close to the land and the water, a nation of mountains and verdant rice fields which have sustained them for thousands of years.  The people are Vietnam’s greatest strength.  They are strong and confident, but gentle and embracing.  They welcome strangers as friends but are a force to be reckoned with when threatened. Their lives are tapestries of grace and beauty, dignity, gentle humanity and fierce determination to protect their land and their families. They are inclusive, not exclusive, and foreigners often find themselves in the unexpected embrace of the people and culture here, as family, more than friends.

Discover more about Vietnam’s recent history from an insider’s perspective and arrange a private chat with Chuck Searcy for your client’s next trip to Hanoi. Contact us now to find out more!

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Giving Back to Our Community: Building on Education in Siem Reap

Through the generous support of our guests, our philanthropy partner, AKP, has been able to contribute to the construction of two elementary school buildings near Siem Reap, Cambodia. The students and teachers recently celebrated the start of the construction, which marks an important step in strengthening the foundation of education in this developing country. 

Construction began at Beng School and Tapang School earlier this year and the students enjoyed the chance to take part in filling the foundation, when their school schedule allowed. When completed, the new buildings will provide the students with new classrooms that are sturdier than their existing wooden structures. They are also designed to improve the safety and security of students, protecting them from the heat and rain. Classes will no longer be cancelled due to heavy rains dripping through leaking tin roofs and each classroom will be equipped with new desks and chairs, which were lacking in the previous school environments.

We look forward to seeing the continued development and progress of the students when the new school buildings open early next year.

AKP supports several projects throughout Southeast Asia. Contact us to discover how to include philanthropic experiences in your guests’ next journey.

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The Inside Scoop from Around the Region

• The Pegu Club, a Yangon legacy and Victorian-style gentlemen's club of the late 19th century, is re-opening as an event space in late 2018.

• Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is now in soft opening with the official launch set for later this month.

• Cambodia’s new island destination, Six Senses Krabey Island, will open on 1 December 2018 and is now available for booking through Akorn.

• Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon will be under restoration from mid-September 2018 to end of March 2019. Although the main stupa will be obstructed from view, the complex will remain open and visitors can still enjoy a local life experience while seeing the pagoda covered in bamboo scaffolding.

• Vietnam will celebrate its 73rd National Day on 2 September 2018 with fireworks along Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City as well as art performances, a photo exhibition and a cycling tournament.

A word from our guests:

“THANK-YOU from Carole, Daniel and myself for making our holiday in Myanmar such a wonderful experience, one that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. The guides we had in Myanmar… were very polite and knowledgeable of their respective cities and we greatly enjoyed their company. Suffice to say our holiday was magical and exceeded our expectations. Overall we all had a wonderful holiday and thanks for organizing it!”.

- Stuart S. of the United Kingdom

Plan Your Journey Now

For more information about anything you have seen in this newsletter, contact us now:
Thailand  |  Cambodia  |  Laos  |  Myanmar  |  Vietnam

Check out our archive for more Insider news, ideas and travel information:

THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia July 2018: Where to go during Southeast Asia’s Green Season, Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam, Favorite Eats, Cultural Festivals, an Insider Interview with the Founders of Laos Buffalo Dairy, plus News from the Region

THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia June 2018: Family Fun Experiences, a New Chartered Cruise on the Mekong, our Top 5 Shopping in Southeast Asia, an Exclusive Interview about Art & the Secretariat in Yangon, A Traveler's Tale and News from the Region

THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia May 2018: Hoi An Lantern Festival, Photographic Journeys in Southeast Asia, our Top 5 Must See UNESCO Sites, an Exclusive Interview with Nicholas Downing, General Manager of The Siam, and Special Offers from Rosewood Luang Prabang & Phnom Penh

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