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Southeast Asia Eases Restrictions, Private Islands and More from Akorn Southeast Asia
As we welcome guests back to Southeast Asia, we share a few words about what our guests and advisors say about traveling with Akorn now. We also chat with Donald Wong, General Manager of Song Saa Private Island, join in a moment of silence for Indonesia’s upcoming Nyepi festival and discover our Top 5 Foodie Finds in Southeast Asia, from coffee to pepper and hill tribe vegetables.
“We Had Angkor Wat to Ourselves!”…and Other Recent Feedback From Our Travelers
Recently, Southeast Asia has been reopening borders and our teams at Akorn Southeast Asia have been delighted to welcome guests back to our amazing part of the world. The challenges of today’s travel landscape are rewarded with truly exceptional experiences. Imagine wandering through ancient cities and relaxing on sun-kissed beaches where there are hardly any other tourists around!
Over the last few months, we have helped travelers from around the world explore our region, guiding their advisors through current entry requirements and new processes in this new world of travel. Here are a few words from our travel advisor partners about their client’s recent travel experiences with Akorn in Southeast Asia.
“I truly loved working with Nat (in Bangkok). He was on it. Very helpful and quick to respond. And honestly, this trip probably wouldn’t have happened without him. I am so thankful. Working with great partners like you makes all the difference.”L.D., Smartflyer
“Clients are back, safe and very much happy. In their words the trip was amazing and they are very thankful for the commitment of the whole team. It was a beautiful and unforgettable trip!”A.R., Teresa Perez Tours
“My clients loved their tuk tuk adventure in Chiang Mai and everything about their tour yesterday. They are now enjoying the pool and having a relaxing day at the resort.” B.S., Brownell
"Thank you for being the best partners! I am so happy to work with you and to rely on your great professionalism while my clients are traveling."J.A., L’Hedonist
Sustainability and Community: A Chat with Donald Wong of Song Saa Private Island
A carefree paradise with private villas and spectacular ocean vistas, Song Saa Private Island offers barefoot luxury just 45 minutes by speedboat off of Cambodia’s coast. Throughout the pandemic, the resort remained open and never waivered in its commitment to supporting the local community and conservation projects – a promise which defines the brand’s enduring legacy. As Cambodia’s borders reopen, we sat down with General Manager, Donald Wong, to find out what makes the island so special and what’s new in 2022.
Q: You have quite an impressive background with several prestigious hotel brands such as Aman, The Siam and Mandarin Oriental – everywhere from Bhutan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Laos. What eventually drew you to this part of Cambodia and what do you love most about island life at Song Saa?
A: The Brand DNA of Song Saa is like no other. The drawcard for me was a chance to make a difference with the Song Saa Foundation which is focused on conservation and community. The protection of the marine reserve around the island is helping to bring back coral and fish stock, and I wanted to contribute to the conservation of Mother Earth.
Q: How does the Cambodian Coast compare to those of neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam?
A: Although the Cambodian Coast is constantly evolving, it retains some of its original and natural charm. Towns and provinces like Kampot or Kep attract local and foreign visitors with their original French architecture and I find these places to be atmospheric and mesmerizing. There are surprises to be found in Kep, for example, where there are small boutique hotels and a national park which is easily explored by bicycle. We are also fortunate to be one of the first Southeast Asian destinations to open its borders, so a trickle of international guests are returning which is very positive for all in the local tourism sector.
Q: Can you tell us more about the community and conservation projects happening at Song Saa Private Island and how they have impacted the local community?
A: Most recently, I have been taking time out as General Manager to teach at a local school in Prek Svay, a village on the island of Koh Rong which is just 10 minutes away from Song Saa. This experience has given me a sense of belonging to the community and brings hope to the future of Cambodia. My time there involves reading story books and incorporating English lessons into my curriculum.
Song Saa Foundation also built a Community Center in the village where children can go in the afternoon to learn to read, write, paint or practice their English conversation. The local village women work with Song Saa Foundation to pick up and sort plastic waste before it is sent to the mainland and we have a “Pack for Purpose” program where guests can bring used children’s books, clothing and pens and donate them to the children at the school.
Our Foundation’s efforts have a positive impact not only for the children of the village but also to the wider community. If there is an emergency during the night, our Resident Doctor is on hand and, if necessary, we can arrange transportation via our speedboat to the mainland at no cost to the patient.
Q: How did you navigate through the last few years when international travel took a pause and we shifted to a “new normal”?
A: During the pandemic, we had to re-think our business model. As there were no planes in the air both domestically and internationally, we targeted the Cambodian domestic market within driving distance. This worked in our favor as we never closed the island and our local guests had a chance to explore their own backyard. Our efforts paid off as more and more locals and expats were yearning to escape with family and friends after months of lockdowns and isolation. Song Saa Private Island offered space to breathe, a sanitized and clean environment and, most of all, privacy.
Through all of this, COVID-19 training for our staff was a priority to keep the island safe and our Resident Doctor conducts Rapid Tests for each guest at our Port Lounge prior to boarding.
Q: Now that Cambodia has reopened, what is one thing that travelers should not miss when exploring this amazing country?
A: Visiting Siem Reap now and walking around Angkor Wat without any tourists is a dream. To stand back and marvel at the carvings on the walls and be fixated by the Apsara dancers, you will feel like you’ve just re-discovered the temple like the French explorer Henri Mouhot did before you.
Q: What new and exciting things can we expect from Song Saa in 2022?
A: Apart from implementing our new COVID-19 practices and procedures, we are taking this time to renovate and refresh the resort. We are unveiling a “new” five-star luxury resort island that is still winning awards such as Best Resort in Asia and, most recently, a “Green Award” for our efforts in sustainability and conservation. Song Saa Private Island is here to make a difference to our guests and most of all to act as a caretaker of our environment and local community.
Our Top 5: Favorite Foodie Finds in Southeast Asia
One of our favorite ways to travel is to taste our way through each destination, discovering local specialties and learning about different food traditions. Here in Southeast Asia, we enjoy a rich diversity of agricultural products and boast some of the world’s finest harvests. Nothing beats fresh, farm to table produce so here we have put together some of our favorite foodie experiences where you can get the best locally-made produce direct from the source.
1. Fruits of the Royal Project, Thailand
From strawberries to cabbages, peaches, plums and persimmons, the highlands of northern Thailand are filled with small community-run farms, fields and plantations. Since 1969, the Royal Project Foundation has been supporting hill tribe farmers through sustainable agricultural projects and Akorn guests can meet some of the farmers and taste their produce while exploring the sloping plains, creeks and mountain valleys on the outskirts of Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle.
Whenever we are in Laos, we never miss an opportunity to stop by for a bowl of irresistible khao pun noodles. A staple of the local Lao diet, these long strands of soft, white noodles are made from fermented rice which is ground, mixed with water and shaped into thin, round strips. Experience the whole crop to bowl process with Akorn at a local farm in Luang Prabang where you can meet a local farmer, learn about rice harvesting and take part in making these fresh, authentic noodles which are served with bamboo shoots, herbs and a delicious hot broth.
Stronger, bolder and thicker than your regular brew, Vietnamese coffee is known for its deep, intense flavors. As the second-largest coffee growing nation in the world, Vietnam has a rich and robust coffee culture, from the highlands of Dalat in Central Vietnam where the beans are grown and harvested to artisanal roasters and chic coffee houses in downtown Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Uncover the story of coffee in Vietnam and find your favorite brew, whether it’s a local iced coffee served strong and sweet or perhaps an egg coffee, a Hanoian specialty where egg is used as a substitute for milk.
Spicy with a hint of sweetness, Cambodia’s Kampot pepper is considered one of the world’s best peppercorns. Nestled in the foothills of the Elephant Mountains, Kampot’s soil is rich in quartz and, combined with the cool climate, is ideal for pepper cultivation. Traditional pepper growing wisdom was passed down from generation to generation since the 13th century but was almost lost during the time of the Khmer Rouge. Now thriving once again, we love to take a stroll through the scenic plantations to learn more about the unique flavor profile of the local peppercorns and of course, we can never say no to a succulent Kampot pepper crab which is a local specialty in the nearby town of Kep.
The world’s largest producers of nutmeg, mace, cloves and a myriad of other spices can be found here in the stunning Maluku islands of East Indonesia. The native crops of this small archipelago were not grown in any other part of the world, sparking great interest from Europeans in the 16th century. Learn more about the history of the spice trade and explore cinnamon, coffee, cocoa and fruit plantations on a luxury yacht voyage amid these picture-perfect Indonesian islands.
A day for reflection and spiritual renewal, Nyepi is an annual Hindu festival in late February or early March, that can be traced as far back as 78 A.D. Known as the “Day of Silence”, the event marks the New Year according to the Saka calendar and people spend the day cleansing their mind, body and soul through fasting and meditation.
As the name suggests, the day is observed quietly and any noise-making activities are restricted such as talking, eating, traveling, working and even lighting fires. The result is a complete day of silence where the streets and beaches of Bali become serene and peaceful. This is the perfect time to re-examine your life’s journey and make meaningful changes for the coming year.
Various rituals are performed during the week leading up to Nyepi including a purification ritual and a bonfire to cast out demons and evil spirits. The day after Nyepi is known as Ngembak Geni, “Relighting the Fire”, which is when families and friends gather and ask for forgiveness from one another.
An interesting insight into Indonesia’s deep-rooted spiritual traditions, this festival takes place annually and this year falls on 3 March 2022. While it may be difficult for you to join us here in Bali right now, we hope that you take the opportunity to observe a moment of silence in your own life and reflect on your own spiritual life path.
On 4 February 2022, Indonesia opened to fully vaccinated travelers from all countries, however, a hotel quarantine still applies. Discussions to remove quarantine are being considered.
Thailand: The popular "Test and Go" program has returned as of 1 February, and now available for all nationalities. Starting 1 March 2022, Thailand will also remove the Day 5 PCR test requirement. Read more
Singapore: Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) has been simplified with ART tests replacing on-arrival PCR tests and travel history within VTL countries reduced from 14 days to 7 days. Read more
Cambodia: Cambodia has been welcoming visitors from all nationalities since November 2021 and online e-visas are now available. Read more
Laos: Laos announced reopening in January 2022, however, Some details remain unclear and Akorn Southeast Asia suggests waiting for further official updates. Read more
Indonesia: The island of Bali is open to travelers from all nationalities but a two-night quarantine in a “Bubble Hotel” is still required for boosted travelers. These rules may be eased over the coming months and Singapore Airlines has already resumed direct flights. Read more
Vietnam: Vietnam’s Ministry of Tourism is discussing plans to reopen the country on 15 March 2022 to prepare the country for the Southeast Asia Games taking place in May. Stay tuned for further updates. Read more
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Please note: The above information was correct at time of writing. However, the situation remains fluid and details change regularly. We recommend that travelers always check travel advisories both in your home country and the destination you are traveling to before you book and before travel.
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Looking for more INSIDER news, ideas and travel information?
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