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A street food guru, our favorite island hideaways and more… Akorn Southeast Asia Insider
Greetings from Bangkok and Akorn Southeast Asia! This month, we’ve got the inside scoop on Thailand’s best street food as we chat with our new Akorn Insider about her favorite local eats. We also reveal our Top 5 Southeast Asian island and beach retreats where you can make the most of our tropical sand, sea and sun. Our AKP Philanthropy project continues to make a difference in Myanmar and we are delighted to introduce Xavier Robles, our new Director of Sales for Southeast Asia (Latin America and Europe markets).
As always, feel free to reach out to our teams for recommendations on what to see, do and experience in Southeast Asia. Our teams are always ready to help with tailored advice to help you plan your clients’ next journey.
Thailand’s Best Street Eats with our Akorn Foodie Insider
Not all pad Thai noodles are created equal. If you’re looking for Bangkok’s best street food, then our new Akorn Insider has you covered! Having tasted her way through all the best street eats across Thailand, Chawadee Nualkhair (or “Chow”) is an undisputed street food guru who has written two books on the subject and even made an appearance on the Netflix series, Street Food. We sat down with the epicurean expert to get the low down on some of Bangkok’s best foodie secrets.
Q: What inspired you to write your first book, "Bangkok's Top 50 Street Food Stalls”?
A: Street food was the perfect way of exploring my own roots. Although I was born in Chiang Rai, Thailand, I lived in the United States since I was 18 months old. I only really discovered my own culture and language when I moved back to Bangkok at the age of 22. At first, I was fascinated by the roadside stalls and the 24-7 energy of Bangkok, but I had a hard time jumping into the street food scene as I didn't know how to order or where to go. So the purpose of the book was to help people navigate around the challenges that I myself faced when trying to eat street food.
Q: Talking about your book, how did you decide which stalls made it in and which did not?
A: I ate! I ate around the clock. I asked locals who I trusted, all over the country, about their favorite places to eat. Then I tried them ALL. There were days when I would have 3-4 meals for breakfast, 5-6 meals for lunch, and 4-5 meals for dinner. It took me about a year of research (eating) to complete the first book.
I met several inspiring people along the way. For example, I met Jay Fai back in 2010 and saw her rise to fame when her stall became Bangkok’s first Michelin-starred street food restaurant. In Sukhothai, I met a single mother of five known as Yai Krueang, whose old-fashioned noodle soup dish called khao perb attracts people from miles around. I also love Wattanapanit, who are now third-generation beef noodle vendors in Bangkok.
Q: What is your favorite Thai dish of all time and where is the best place to try it?
A: This depends on my mood, but I am usually enamored with hor mok, which is a kind of seafood custard steamed in banana leaves. The very best I have found is from a street food vendor in Phuket. In Bangkok, I am currently in love with street food grazing around Bantad Thong Road, near Centenary Park. This area is becoming a rival for Yaowarat, which is traditionally the street food hub of Bangkok. One of my favorite spots is called Elvis Suki - I love the seabass steamed in banana leaves and grilled scallops. Also, Ginger Bowl serves great Thai desserts such as chao guay, which is a kind of black jelly made from Chinese herbs.
Q: What secret place would you rather people not know about (but we’re going to let people know about it!)?
A: The last time I told people my favorite place to eat, people made a Netflix series about it and now I can't eat there anymore! That said, I love Samsara Cafe & Meal, a casual venue in a wooden house on the Chao Phraya River. It’s a great place for a nightcap after a street food crawl in Yaowarat.
Q: What do you recommend for people just starting out on their Thai food journey?
A: Try everything! It's impossible not to know what you will like unless you try it. If you are new to Thai street food, I would recommend a place like Roti-Mataba in the old town. This place makes their roti fresh and they serve it with curries or a variety of sweet toppings. Local favorites include banana and condensed milk, and, of course, chocolate.
Q: What new projects are you working on at the moment?
A: My first cookbook is expected to be out in spring of next year. It’s called "Real Thai Cooking," published by Tuttle and I hope it will inspire people to get into the kitchen and experience real Thai food at home.
Join Chow for a foodie adventure in Bangkok, tasting the city’s best eats – from classic Thai salads to noodles and desserts – on a private excursion tailored to your individual tastes and preferences. Contact us to find out how you can add this unique experience to your next Akorn journey in Thailand.
Our Top 5: Unforgettable Island Hideaways in Southeast Asia
From dreamy overwater bungalows to lavish ocean view villas or a Vietnamese pavilion surrounded by tropical jungle foliage – whatever your dream, Southeast Asia has the island for you! Plan the ultimate honeymoon, spend quality time with your multi-generational family or simply escape for some much-needed R&R at our Top 5 island hideaways in Southeast Asia.
1. Soneva Kiri, Thailand
Located in an almost untouched corner of Koh Kood Island, Soneva Kiri is an immersive tropical island playground complete with its own outdoor cinema, observatory for stargazing, a wine cellar with over 350 labels and seafood barbecues, burgers and sandwiches served with cocktails and smoothies at the beach bar. Offering private yacht excursions, waterfall treks and wellness experiences, the resort is accessible only by the hotel’s private plane and speedboat service which takes you from Bangkok to the island in just over 90 minutes. The one- to five-bedroom villas are ideal for couples or families, and kids will love the creative workshops and cultural activities at The Eco Den as well as the decadent Ice Cream Parlor with 60 ice-cream and sorbet flavors served throughout the day.
Home to world-class surf breaks and surrounded by nature, Nihi Sumba is a seductive haven on the remote shores of Sumba Island. Complete with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean, the resort celebrates the stories and heritage of the Sumbanese, the island’s residents, who live in humble villages and engage in traditional crafts. Spend your days horseback riding on the beach, paddleboarding in the Wanukaka River or relaxing on a river boat cruise. For added pampering, we recommend a Spa Safari which includes trekking to a village for a fresh coconut juice and breakfast overlooking the coastline followed by a rejuvenating massage, body wrap or scrub.
With overwater bungalows surrounded by pristine, sapphire seas, as well as jungle villas on land, Song Saa Private Island is a carefree paradise in the heart of the Cambodian Riviera. Go snorkeling or kayaking in open seas or simply unwind and watch the world go by from your villa which comes with a private pool and breathtaking sunrise or sunset views. Song Saa Private Island supports the local community through medical care and education programs and helps protect ocean habitats for the preservation of fish, invertebrates and coastal birds. We recommend starting the day with a morning yoga session and ending with a sunset movie with popcorn, ice cream and a selection of drinks at the al fresco cinema.
Surrounded by limestone karsts and spectacular seascapes, Six Senses Yao Noi is one of our favorite retreats in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay. Designed to resemble lavish treehouses with rustic wooden accents and thatched roofs, the villas come with private pools framed by tropical greenery. A 45-minute speedboat ride takes you direct to the resort from either Phuket or Krabi. During the day, go snorkeling in the bay or hop on a bike to explore the island’s nature trails and rubber tree plantations. Return to the resort for traditional wellness experiences at the hillside spa village with its Thai-inspired longhouse and treatment salas.
Ok, technically not an island, but this amazing hideaway overlooking Vinh Hy Bay in Central Vietnam has everything you need for a secluded escape – lush jungles colliding with sparkling sea waters, contemporary Vietnamese pavilions and pool villas backed by verdant mountains and a private beach. Offering opportunities to go trekking in the protected wilderness nearby or snorkeling amid colorful coral in the bay, Amanoi is just a 75-minute drive from Cam Ranh Airport, which is connected by direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang. We love chilling by the pool with drinks and snacks from the beach bar followed by dining at the hilltop restaurant, which serves Vietnamese flavors with sweeping views of the dramatic coastline.
Contact us for more ideas and recommendations for an unforgettable island or beach retreat and start planning your next journey in Southeast Asia, the Akorn way!
AKP Philanthropy Continues to Deliver Safe Water in Myanmar
Our AKP Philanthropy team continues to support communities in need, and we are proud to share that our clean water initiative in Myanmar has expanded to include a small village of farmers and hat makers on the Ayeyarwady River.
AKP Philanthropy has been working with Sin Kyun village since 2014, providing funding to build a teachers’ living quarters in order to improve access to education in the village. Now, the villagers are able to benefit from safe, clean drinking water with the placement of two LifeStraw community water filters right in their village, one at the elementary school and one at the junior high school.
The water filters remove 99.99% of bacteria from any water source, which means that water from the rain or river can be transformed into clean, safe and potable water. This reduces the health risks associated with using water sourced from the village’s makeshift waterholes or rainwater that has been inadequately filtered.
In late 2021, our team installed 12 water filters in six villages near Inle Lake. This brings the total to 14 LifeStraw community filters across Myanmar, impacting the lives of approximately 12,300 people.
In addition, and thanks to generous contributions from our guests, AKP Philanthropy was also able to provide much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to rural areas of Myanmar, including CIC Level III equipment to villagers in Mong Kung and Bogalay Townships.
Meet our New Director of Sales (Latin America and Europe Markets)
We are delighted to welcome Xavier Robles as our new Director of Sales, Southeast Asia (Latin America and Europe markets). Xavier joined our Akorn family in August 2022. Born and raised in Barcelona, Xavier speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese and has always had a passion for travel. Having lived and worked in various parts of Southeast Asia since 2009, Xavier brings a wealth of destination knowledge as well as over two decades of industry experience ranging from sales to product, operations and general management.
From the backstreets of Bangkok’s Yaowarat district to Singapore’s modern metropolis and Hanoi’s historical quarter, Xavier is always exploring hidden local areas where he can discover new boutique shops, galleries, parks and eateries. When it comes to food, Xavier’s ideal day starts with a bowl of Vietnamese pho noodles for breakfast followed by Thai papaya salad for lunch and a dinner of Singaporean chili crab.
Now based in Bangkok, Xavier is looking forward to connecting and collaborating with our key partners across Latin America and Europe. He is always ready with recommendations and advice for your client’s next journey so feel free to reach out via the link below.
• Hoi An (Vietnam), Ubud (Indonesia), Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Siem Reap (Cambodia) were named among the 25 Best Cities in the World by Travel + Leisure readers in 2022, and we couldn’t agree more!
• Sorn, the celebrated southern Thai fine-dining restaurant in Bangkok, has debuted on this year’s 50 Best Restaurants list at #39, making it the highest-ranking restaurant in Thailand.
• Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways has launched a new route, offering direct flights between Hanoi, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia.
• Laos Airlines will relaunch more regional flight routes from 1 November 2022, including flights between Luang Prabang and Siem Reap.
• From 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2023, Thailand will extend the tourist visa exemption period, allowing travelers to stay in the country for up to 45 days (previously 30 days). Visas on Arrival will be extended from 15 days to 30 days.
• From August 2022, travelers boarding a domestic flight in Indonesia are required to have either a Covid-19 booster shot (taken 14 days in advance) or a PCR test (within 3 days of the flight). This does not affect international entry requirements. For more details, click here.
Southeast Asian countries are fully open for travel with no testing or quarantine requirements. More details on current entry requirements here: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Singapore
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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?
We share an update about our team’s recent trip to Bali as well as a new way to discover Laos with the recently launched high-speed railway. We also reveal our Top 5 Markets of Bangkok and learn how a school in Thailand has helped change lives in Cambodia with the help of AKP Philanthropy.
We reveal some of our favorite experiences across Indonesia, and our Top 5 Adrenaline-Pumping Adventures in Southeast Asia, from countryside adventures to jungle explorations. We also chat with the man behind Chiang Rai’s most exciting dining destination, Chef Kong of Locus Native Food Lab, and we welcome Robert Rankin as our Country Manager for Vietnam.
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.
