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Back from Bali, Our Top Bangkok Markets and a Railway Journey… Akorn Southeast Asia Insider
With Southeast Asia now fully open for travel with no testing requirements, it is a great time to visit. You can stay up to date with the latest entry requirements here, for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Singapore.
This month, 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 our philanthropy project. As always, our teams remain ready to assist with creating a custom itinerary for your clients in Southeast Asia. Feel free to reach out to us anytime for recommendations and advice from the ground.
Just Back: Nia and Nat Spill the Beans on Bali
“The unique and thriving culture, arts, people and nature – there are so many reasons to love Bali. The hills, rice terraces and waterfalls are all magical!”
Nia Donovan, our Head of Regional Sales for Southeast Asia, was inspired by her recent trip to Bali. With her keen interest in music, Nia had a chance to immerse in the world of Balinese Gamelan music, a tradition our Akorn guide happened to know a lot about since he and his brother play some of the old-world instruments, such as the xylophone and the flute.
An avid nature lover, Nia also loved the chance to escape to Munduk Moding Plantation, a boutique retreat surrounded by waterfalls and coffee plantations in the remote northern part of Bali where the air is crisp and fresh and the scenery breathtaking.
On the same trip, Nat Suntorntarawong, our Destination Specialist, was amazed by Ubud - the nature, traditions and lifestyle - and particularly loved the Sacred Monkey Forest, “Walking along the paved path towards the sacred Padangtegal temple, under the canopy of tall nutmeg trees, you can truly feel the energy of this place which was built by Hindu worshippers centuries ago.”
Insider tips:
Nia: To truly experience Bali, you need at least one week, although 10-12 days is even better. You can split your time between different parts of the island, from the nature of the north to the spiritual heart of Ubud and laidback beaches in the south. And make time for the music and dance, these are such important aspects of life in Bali.
Nat: Of course, you have to start the day with a nasi goreng - my all-time favorite Balinese dish - rice with a combination of meats and vegetables! For surfers, the best time to go is between July and August and Canggu Beach is the hippest spot, with no shortage of good waves for beginners and beyond, as well as a contemporary village lifestyle with several nice cafés.
With Laos now open for travel, and the recent launch of the nation’s first high-speed railway, there has never been a better time to explore this unique slice of Southeast Asia. Reaching speeds of up to 160 kilometers (99 miles) per hour, the new high-speed train line makes travel to remote parts of the country faster and more convenient, connecting the main cities of Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, and continuing north into China.
Taking advantage of this new mode of travel, our team has put together a new 10-day Rural Laos Explorer journey which takes guests further into the mountains and countryside to discover the true heart of Laos.
Beginning in the heritage city of Vientiane, the journey includes a four-wheel-drive adventure in remote mountains and ethnic communities, with time to relax in the healing hot springs surrounded by endless rice fields of Muang La in northern Laos. Stepping off the train in Luang Prabang, guests experience waterfalls and Buddhist blessings before taking a flight south to Champasak for biking and boat excursions in the 4,000 islands of the Mekong River.
Find out more about our Rural Laos Explorer journey or contact us for more tailored advice for your clients’ next travel in Laos.
Whether you are looking for an antique clock or a delicate Thai silk scarf, a floral bouquet or handmade ceramics, Bangkok’s markets have it all! From food to fashion, traditional crafts and local designer knick knacks – Bangkok’s bazaars have something for everyone. Each market has its own character and vibe, so to help you make the most of shopping in the city, here is a guide to our Top 5 Markets of Bangkok.
1. Chatuchak: Everything and More!
Of course, on the top of many Bangkok shopping lists is Chatuchak Market, a vast 35-acre plot of land filled with over 1,000 stalls selling everything from furniture and home décor to books, antiques, handicrafts, art, clothing and even plants and pets. Head here to update your wardrobe with the latest Thai accessories or peruse a variety of decorative items for your home. The market is huge, so we recommend focusing on one or two sections that pique your interest. Your Akorn guide can help direct you to the areas where you are most likely to find the types of items you are looking for.
Just across the road from Chatuchak Market, Or Tor Kor is the destination for Bangkok’s premium fresh produce. Along with the vast array of local fruits, vegetables and snacks on offer, the market also sells organic vegetables and other items by the Royal Project, a Thai royal family initiative that helps improve the lives and livelihoods of hill tribe farmers. This is a great place to pick up fresh seasonal fruits or try some of the Thai sweets such as coconut milk puddings or palm sugar candies.
Set within stilted wooden pavilions beside a small canal, Klong Lad Mayom is a very local experience, brimming with Thai desserts, grilled meats, noodles and tasty treats, all made for a typically Thai crowd. See how the locals spend their weekends as you wander through the maze of stalls and sample some of the snacks or tasty seafood that take your fancy. You can also take a longtail boat to explore traditional Thai houses and canal-side life nearby.
Open 24 hours, seven days a week, Bangkok’s famous Flower Market is a hive of colorful marigolds, orchids, jasmine and a variety of other sweet-scented blooms, sourced from all over Thailand. The market was owned by the granddaughter of a Thai King and has enjoyed an illustrious history that spans several centuries. Learn how floral arrangements that are made here are used as offerings to temples, and why not stop by for a coffee at one of our favorite little cafés around the corner.
Located in the backstreets of old Yaowarat district, Sampeng Market is a vibrant wholesale market with a variety of souvenirs, stationery and other trinkets. This busy laneway is where many local shop owners source their wares and you can try your bargaining skills with the vendors. Cross the street to find a variety of colorful textiles, from fine silks to cottons and everything in between at Pahurat Market. Also known as Little India, the market also offers fragrant spices and crafted leather goods made by a mostly Sikh community.
Contact us to find out how to include any or all of these markets on your next Thailand journey with Akorn.
Our AKP Philanthropy team is proud to share that 16 families and communities in Siem Reap now have access to safe, clean water thanks to the amazing efforts of Year 5 students at Bangkok Patana School. The 9-10-year-olds took part in an event to “Walk for Water” and raised enough funds to build 16 water wells, changing the lives of people in need across the border.
“It is so important that the children see how their time and effort is really making a difference,” Julie, a teacher at the school remarked, “and this was honestly the highlight of my year!”
In a country where 30% of the population do not have access to clean water, people, particularly in remote areas, may resort to drinking from unsanitary water sources such as rivers and lakes, which can cause typhoid, cholera, dysentery and other preventable diseases. In Cambodia, waterborne illnesses are the second leading cause of death for children under five. AKP Philanthropy is working to change that through the Cambodia Clean Water Project, which has helped bring fresh, bacteria-free water to more than 24,000 people since the project began in 2008.
A contribution of US $500 builds one well. Contact us to find out how you can get involved or learn more about our philanthropy projects around the world.
• Southeast Asian countries are fully open for travel with no testing required, plus Thailand will no longer require Thailand Passes from 1 July 2022. More details on current entry requirements here: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Singapore.
• Bangkok is gearing up for the 3rd edition of Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) with installations, exhibitions and performances to appear at various venues around the city from October 2022 to February 2023.
• Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island has welcomed two new luxury hotel openings with Regent Phu Quoc and Sailing Club Signature Resort Phu Quoc.
• Maya Bay, off the coast of Phuket, reopened to tourists earlier this year and is scheduled to close temporarily again from August to September 2022 for marine rehabilitation.
• The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi is closed for annual maintenance from 13 June to 15 Aug 2022.
• The chef duo behind the now closed Bo.Lan restaurant in Bangkok have returned with The Food Trust, an innovative cooking school-grocer-café concept highlighting small-scale farmers and food producers in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
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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 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.
We share our new Wellness and Spirituality of Bali journey, our favorite must-dos in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Top 5 ways to bring in the New Year in Thailand. Catch up with Jean-Baptiste Richard, our new Regional Managing Director for Southeast Asia, and learn how travelers can make an impact in Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang through AKP Philanthropy.
