Unconventional Bangkok

So you think you’ve seen and done Bangkok? Think again! See the city with fresh eyes – only with Akorn’s signature journeys! We take you beyond the floating markets and crowded temples to experience the real beating heart of the city, where you are just as likely to be seen dining at a Thai royal villa as you are to be mingling with the city’s bohemian artists.

Explore Underground Art: Gain a new perspective on Bangkok’s life, art and politics with an art curator and Akorn Insider who takes you inside an artist-led exhibition space that gives voice to the nation’s intriguing sub-cultures.

Engage with Regal Heritage: Take a peek into the private lives of Thai nobility and understand more about Thai culture from a Siam Society scholar with exclusive access to a prince’s former leisure retreat. The house is still occupied by members of the royal family and is opened by special permission to Akorn guests only.

Chow Down in Chinatown: If you’re feeling peckish, head over to Chinatown to chow down on Bangkok’s best street food. Discover popular local venues with a foodie Insider who leads you to the city’s best deep-fried fritters-seller, the most succulent peanut satay stall and a hip spot for lip-smackingly good grilled chicken skewers.

Party All Night: Elevate your evening with pre-dinner drinks on the 76th floor of the city’s newest contemporary architectural landmark, the Mahanakhon Tower, or head over to our other favorite sassy bar that is the very definition of cool kitsch - Maggie Choo’s.

For more unconventional itineraries in Bangkok or other Southeast Asian destinations, contact our team of in-the-know Destination Specialists.
Discover More Unconventional Bangkok Experiences Start Planning Your Journey

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Off the Beaten Track: Laos’ Ethical Elephant Experience

After a scenic boat ride and short trek through rice fields and lush evergreen jungle, we stop to wait. Minutes later, they appear! A small herd of Asian elephants stomp through the foliage to quench their thirst at the trickling creek and splash around in the water. We gently approach the majestic creatures with baskets full of bananas and sugar canes as ice-breakers. They lap them up with glee.

There is something truly magical about seeing these majestic creatures living freely, without chains, in this natural forest. With increased awareness around ethical and sustainable experiences with animals, this rare elephant sanctuary, just 40 minutes’ drive from Luang Prabang, Laos, is making great strides in turning the tide.

Mandalao is a conservation reserve where elephants can roam peacefully and happily with relatively little human interference. Domesticated pachyderms are typically separated from their mothers at birth and undergo a terrible process of “breaking the spirit.” At Mandalao, however, these gentle giants have been given a new lease of life, under the nurturing care of veterinarians and animal welfare specialists.  

There is no riding, no elephant shows, no tricks, no painting. Instead, what you will see is simply these marvelous creatures truly engaged and at ease in their natural element.

Ask us how you can walk with the elephants and learn more about animal conservation at Mandalao on your next journey to Laos.
Sample Laos Itinerary Start Planning Your Journey

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Our Top 5: Vietnamese Street Eats

It’s official! Vietnam has just been crowned Asia’s Leading Culinary Destination at the World Travel Awards and we couldn’t agree more! Here’s a shout out to our Top 5 favorite eats across the country, from north to south.

1. Hanoi’s Grilled Pork Delight

Charcoal-grilled pork patties served with soft, silky rice noodles with a soup like concoction of fish sauce, lemon juice and vinegar. Yum! Known as bun cha, literally “fatty pork noodles,” this specialty of Hanoi presents a unique combination of flavors and textures which you can try at our favorite local street-side spot with low tables and plastic stools or at the casual little eatery where former U.S. President Obama famously dined with the late Anthony Bourdain.

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2. Rolling Around Vietnam

Whether it’s made fresh or fried, wrapped in rice paper or rolled in rice noodles, we all love a good spring roll. But as you make your way through Vietnam, you will be amazed at the many different varieties and ways of serving this simple, yet delicious parcel of food. Each region, from north to south, has its own style, differing in the type of filling, the way of wrapping and the method of cooking. Be sure to try the goi cuon (cold rice paper rolls), deep-fried cha gio or nem nuong - a grilled meat roll which is very popular in the central region.

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3. Passionately Packed Pancakes

Part crispy and part chewy – a good banh xeo delivers an irresistible combination of textures and flavors. This type of “sizzling cake” originated in central Vietnam but is now available across the country with each kitchen delivering its own slightly different version with different fillings and condiments. Our favorite is a hot night spot in Ho Chi Minh City where the batter of rice flour, water and turmeric is poured into a hot skillet, fried until crisp and stuffed with meats, green onions, mung beans and bean sprouts. Delicious!

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4. French Fusion Favorite

A happy collision of Vietnamese flavor and French culinary technique, banh mi is Vietnam’s answer to a baguette sandwich. Forget your typical ham and cheese, these delicious, buns are perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside and come packed with a range of fillings such as Vietnamese-spiced pork sausage with cilantro, sliced cucumber and pickled carrots. Head to Hoi An for one of our all-time favorite banh mi spots near the corner of Phan Chu Trinh Street and Hoang Dieu.

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5. The Classic Noodle Soup

Of course, no list of Vietnamese food is complete without pho (pronounced "fer”). Rice noodles typically served with a steaming, aromatic broth and thinly sliced rare beef that cooks in the bowl before your eyes. Although Hanoi is credited as the birthplace of this dish, we prefer the southern Vietnamese version which is served with a variety of garnishes and condiments such as hoisin sauce, Thai basil, lime, green onions and cilantro.

Taste all of these and more on our culinary journey through Vietnam or contact us for a custom itinerary to discover more enticing flavors, from north to south.
View More of Our Top 5 Lists

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Textile Treasures: An Insider’s Perspective of Fiber Art in Southeast Asia

From the mountains of Laos to the villages of Indonesia and across Southeast Asia, Dr. Linda S. McIntosh has spent the better part of two decades curating, researching, cataloguing and writing about Southeast Asia’s many diverse fabric arts and traditions. We had the rare opportunity to chat with the half-Lao, half-American textiles specialist about the culture of fabric arts in this region.

Q: How did you first become involved in Southeast Asian textiles?

A: My mother, now retired, was a talented weaver from Laos and she taught me the basics when I was a child. I became intrigued not only by the beauty of the cloth itself, but in what it represented to society. Lao-style weaving is what connected my mother with my grandmother and other female relatives.

Although the textile traditions of Southeast Asia are diverse, there are numerous parallels. When I first began working at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington, Seattle, I was amazed by their collection of Indonesian textiles. Then about 18 years ago, I began formally studying handwoven Indonesian cloth and developed a greater appreciation for the art.

Q: What is the importance of textiles in Indonesian and Southeast Asian culture?

A: UNESCO recognizes Indonesian batik as an intangible cultural heritage, reflecting the importance of traditional cloth in present-day Indonesia. With over 300 ethnic groups, the breadth of designs, techniques and materials used as well as the dyes and formats utilized by this country's diverse population lends itself to a treasure trove of fiber art. Traditional textiles continue to play important roles in ceremonies such as weddings and funerals and serve as national, regional and ethnic identity markers.

Q:  How do you source the various pieces for your exhibitions?

A: I love taking out textiles to study and, of course, admire - searching for old and noteworthy examples for a private collection or museum display. When curating an exhibit, museum and private collections are the primary sources for textiles. However, I also carry out field research, visiting weavers in their communities. Occasionally, these visits will reveal examples appropriate for display.

Q: Where will we find you eating, shopping and hanging out in Bali?

A: Even when I am not working, I am often with, or near weavers! The weavers and dyers of Surya Indigo in North Bali are like family. The master weaver is also an excellent cook. I like to visit Tenganan Pegeringsingan Village, home of the geringsing double ikat textile, especially during festivals. Try out Bali Asli for a memorable eating experience. When in Ubud, I enjoy visiting Threads of Life, Tradisi Textiles, and Kuluk Gallery.

Bali is home to creative chefs and the Ubud Food Festival. Try one of Locavore's locations or Mosaic. Casa Luna and Ibu Oka's Babi Guling are classics. Snorkeling is also a joy in North and East Bali as well as neighboring islands such as Nusa Penida.

Q: What’s coming up in the world of Southeast Asian textiles?

A: I just completed a proposal for a textile festival in Indonesia to highlight the many different textiles traditions there. I also recently wrote a book on Indonesian Textiles and Jewelry, an essay on Timor textiles for the Ethnographic Museum of Lisbon and an essay on Southeast Asian looms for the Chinese National Silk Museum.

Now, I am beginning a proposal to produce a catalogue for the textile collection of the 10,000 Moko Museum, Alor Regency, Indonesia and will speak at the upcoming Borneo International Bead Conference, the 7th ASEAN Textile Conference and two lectures at the Victoria & Albert Museum in March 2020.

Linda McIntosh curated the extensive Tilleke & Gibbins Collection which is housed in the firm’s law offices in Bangkok and splits her time between Bali, Indonesia and Luang Prabang, Laos. Discover more about Southeast Asian textiles with her on your next Akorn journey.
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Introducing Miles Gravett, Country Manager for Akorn Vietnam

We are delighted to introduce Miles as our new Country Manager for Vietnam. Originally from Los Angeles, Miles developed a love for travel at a young age and experienced his first life-changing adventure in Asia over 20 years ago when he traveled across the pacific to Thailand, Nepal and Tibet. Since then, the avid explorer has lived and worked in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand and beyond. Miles’ travel industry journey started on the ground, as a tour leader before he quickly expanded into sales and marketing, product development and operations. With his tireless passion and determination, Miles is already making great strides to steer the team in Vietnam towards even greater heights of success.
Contact Miles

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More INSIDER News from Around the Region

● The date for Thailand’s Royal Barge Procession, the final part of the Thai King’s Coronation Ceremony, has been moved to the new date of 12 December 2019.

● Vietnam Airlines just launched two new routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Phuket, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.

● Myanmar has extended visas on arrival to six new countries - Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Russia.

● On 11 November 2019, Thailand will light up for the annual Loy Krathong festival where people gather along rivers and lakes with floating candles.

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