A Vegan Travel Guide to Southeast Asia
If you’re heading to Southeast Asia as a vegan, you may be a little concerned. There is no need to worry though! Southeast Asia is one of the most vegan-friendly regions in the world.
Food and Drink
The Best Beers in Thailand (Changover Warning!)
If you’ve been to Thailand, you’ll know that the Thai beer market is dominated by three big names: Singha, Chang …
23 Weird Asian Foods: How Many Would You Try?
Asia is home to some of the strangest foods in the world and it’s likely you’ll end up trying some! Check out this list of the good, the bad and the downright ugly!
Thai Chili: If It’s Not Spicy, It’s Not Tasty!
Thai chili is a staple of the cuisine and really packs a punch! There are as many as 79 different types of Thai pepper and all bring a different taste element to a dish.
Cendol: Southeast Asia’s Coolest Dessert
Cendol is a sweet iced dessert which you must try if you are travelling Southeast Asia. Widely available in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, this famous dish has a long and fascinating history!
Cambodian Food: 19 Delicious Dishes You Must Try!
Cambodian or Khmer cuisine might be lesser known than that of its neighbours but there are still plenty of incredible dishes to try. Which are your favourites?
Bia Hoi: The Best Backpacker Beer in the World?
Bia Hoi is a popular Vietnamese beer for locals and backpackers alike. More than just a drink, Bia Hoi junctions represent a cultural institution.
Banh Mi: The Vietnamese Sandwich
Banh Mi is one of Vietnam’s best loved street foods. This iconic sandwich is packed with fresh ingredients and has a fascinating history.
22 Asian Desserts You NEED to Try on Your Next Trip!
Are you looking for something to satsify your sweet tooth whilst travelling in Asia? Check out this list of the best desserts from all over the continent!
34 Best Street Foods in Asia & How to Find Them!
Asian street food equals foodie heaven! Here are a list the best dishes from across the continent, as well as advice about where to find the best eats.
The 20 Best Filipino Street Food & Snacks
These Filipino snacks will keep your belly from grumbling on those jeepney journeys. Most of them are delicious but there are some choices for only the bravest of travellers!
22 Asian Drinks – How Many Have You Tried?
From Thailand’s notorious ‘Bucket’ to Malaysia’s beloved ‘Teh Tarik’ we pick the best beverages in Asia. Healthy and refreshing or devilishly alcoholic and mind-blowing! Here are the TOP 22 must try thirst quenchers! How many tipples have you tried?
Luang Prabang Cooking Class – Learning to Cook Laos Style!
A cooking class in Luang Prabang is the perfect introduction to Laotian cusine. Make sure you go with an empty stomach, this is an experience that you will need the extra room for!
Singapore Food Tour: A Food Lover’s Dream with Hello Singapore
Are you a foodie looking for a new adventure in Singapore? Consider a small group tour with the Hello Singapore tour company, where you can experience the diverse cuisine under the guidance of a local!
Kuala Lumpur Food Tour! A Taste of Traditional Malaysia
On the hunt for the taste of traditional Malaysia, writers Ellie and Will join A Chef’s Tour – a foodies dream journey through the old markets of Kuala Lumpur. Find out what local delights made their mouths water and most importantly, what they thought about Durian!
Vietnamese Street Food – 23 Must Try Dishes!
23 Must-Try Vietnamese Street Food Dishes to look out for during your adventures in the country! From the famous Bahn Mi and Pho Bo, to the not-so-famous “Bánh Tráng Nuog” AKA Vietnamese pizza!
10 Must-Try Asian Fruits + 1 Weird Fruit To Avoid!
One of the Best Things About Travelling is Trying a Variety of Weird Fruits! Discover the Tastiest, Smelliest, Biggest, Healthiest & Most Disgusting Here!
Hanoi Street Food Tour – Eat Your Way Through Vietnam’s Capital
A Hanoi street food tour is a must-do experience in Vietnam’s crazy capital, especially if you’re only in the city for a few days! A food tour is a fantastic way to sample a variety of Vietnamese street food delights, meet new travel buddies and discover more about Vietnamese culture and traditions along the way.
Kothu Roti: The Musical Sri Lankan Street Food
Clash, clang and serve! The first time I ordered a meal in Sri Lanka, I nearly fell out of my …
Eat, Stray, Love: Eating Your Way Through Ubud, Bali: A Self-Guided Food Walking Tour
If you’re looking to experience Ubud beyond the Monkey Forest, this self-guided food walking tour takes you off the beaten path into serene rice fields with quaint cafes and tasty treats dotted all along the way!
The Journey of Sri Lanka’s Choon Paan Man (Bread Man)
In most countries, the strains of music you hear wafting through the streets mean ice cream is approaching. In Sri Lanka, however, the drifting tunes of Beethoven’s Für Elise signify the coming of one thing: the choon paan man.
Useful Thai Phrases: When Ordering Food in Thailand
Watch our video filmed at a night market in Mae Sot to learn a few Thai phrases to use when ordering food. Earn smiles from the locals and maybe a bit of discount on your purchases too! From how to ask for your meal not spicy, without MSG, or tell the waiter you’re vegetarian, to how to order a beer, with or without ice, or your fruit shake without sugar – these useful Thai phrases will help you kin dee (eat well) in Thailand!
A Taste of Hanoi: Foodie and Craft Beer Tours in Vietnam’s Capital
Do you travel to eat and drink? For me, one of the most exciting things about travelling to a new country is to sample a brand new cuisine! Hanoi’s street food scene is famous worldwide, but did you know about the city’s craft beer scene? These two tours are a great way to explore the capital through your stomach!
Pad Thai: The Forgotten History of Thailand’s National Dish
Today, Pad Thai is a popular street food dish in many parts of the country and it’s on every menu in Thai restaurants that cater to farangs (foreigners). Popular as it is, how many of you actually know the fascinating history behind the dish?
10 Must-Try Foods in Myanmar
Myanmar is not often thought of as the culinary capital of South East Asia. Yet, visitors to this fascinating country, formerly known as Burma, will not only discover authentic culture and picture perfect landscapes, but delicious food too! Backpackers will fall in love with the country and the generous and kind people who cook up some of the most amazing dishes that you have ever tasted…
Thailand Café Culture: 5 Reasons to Visit Chiang Mai if You’re a Coffee Fanatic!
What the hell is going on in Chiang Mai, Thailand? The sheer number of coffee shops in Chiang Mai is enough to overwhelm even a seasoned coffee enthusiast like myself. I thought I’d seen everything, but this took the cake! It’s easy to see why this place is referred to as the Coffee Capital of Southeast Asia…
A Healthy Habit: Fruit Winter in Chiang Mai
Every year, the beautiful northern capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai, plays host to a unique event called The Fruit Winter. A festival that’s the brainchild of US life coach and therapist, Conor McMillen, that inspires people to eat raw fruit and vegetables and practise healthy living. Traveller, Martin Higgins explains his own experience and why his body and mind thank him for keeping up his annual habit of wintering in Chiang Mai…
What’s the Story, Morning Glory? A Day at Hoi An’s Morning Glory Cooking School
Traveller Amelia Long spends a day with the Morning Glory Cooking School in Hoi An, Vietnam. Buying fresh produce from the Central Market and taking unusual ingredients back to the kitchen to cook up some tongue-tantalising dishes, she unravels the secrets of Vietnam’s unique cuisine…
Two Sisters Start Café to Help Students in Siem Reap, Cambodia: Meet Sisters Srey!
Originally from Australia, the sister-duo (aged 25 and 22), opened their fabulously popular Sister Srey Café on the riverside, near the Old Market of Siem Reap, Cambodia, in 2012. The cosy two-floor venue quickly turned into one of the most popular hang-outs in town. Best of all, though is the vision that sparked off their savvy venture – to support young Cambodian students. Is it possible to eat for a better cause? We were lucky enough to catch up with Lauren, who willingly spilled the beans (pun intended!) on how it began…
10 Great Places to Eat & Drink for a Cause in South East Asia!
Helping students learn English. Helping families gain financial independence. HIV and contraception awareness. Promoting the use of local organic vegetables. You’ve gotta eat, so why not make sure that your money is going back into the pockets of the local community. We’ve found 10 fabulous restaurants to try in South East Asia that support more than just your stomach!
Chop Chop! Make Sure you Know your Chopstick Etiquette Before you Travel
A lesson in chopstick history and etiquette for all fumbling foreigners. From Confucius to Bill Bryson, we explore the oldest, longest and unluckiest pair of chopsticks! If you’re concerned that you might starve rather than master the skill of the chopsticks, don’t fear, we’re here to help with all the chopstick dos and don’ts!
The Backpacker Beer and Curry Guide to South East Asia
It doesn’t matter which country you are travelling in South East Asia, it’d be rude not to sample the local ale and national curry. We’ve put together a beer and curry matchmaking guide for backpackers. ‘Cos let’s face it, you drink enough of the stuff!
Joma Fair Trade Coffee: Helping Communities & The Environment in Laos
Joma Bakery is leading the way in Fair Trade, organic coffee in Laos and Vietnam. Working with the Jhai Coffee Farmers Co-operative (JCFC) to cultivate the unique ‘arabica’ coffee bean, Joma is able to serve coffee that is delicious, ethical and environmentally conscious. The local ethnic groups who work in the Bolaven Plateau coffee growing area are ensured a fair sale price and the plants are grown in an eco-friendly way. Learn more about where coffee comes from in Laos and why it is important to be aware of where your food and drink comes from!
Mud, Sweat and Rice! Learning How Rice is Grown in Chiang Mai, Thailand…
As the World’s largest exporter of rice, Thailand’s country and culture revolves around this tiny pearly grain. Paddy fields dominate over half of all the arable land area and consume over 50% of the country’s labour force. Rice can also be found throughout the Thai menu, in all it’s forms and varieties. The most common type of rice grown in Thailand is Jasmine rice, known locally as ‘Hom Mali’ and it is in a paddy field full of the crop that my story begins! 20-year old student Laura Davies, on a three-month internship with S.E.A Backpacker Magazine, spends the day in a rice field learning about Asia’s most important grain…
Backpacker Video Diaries: Bug Eating in Bangkok!
It’s a backpacker rite of passage. After a couple of beers someone in your group suggests that you go and eat some grub. Literally! In carts up and down the Khao San Road in Bangkok and elsewhere in the city, you’ll see insects for sale as a tasty snack. There are crickets, silk worms, grasshoppers, beetles, cockroaches, and last but not least scorpions!
Oodles and Oooooodles of Noodles…
Big ones, fat ones, curly ones, straight ones. Noodles are a national treasure in Thailand and there are enough different types of noodle, ways of preparing them and dressing them, that you could probably eat a different kind every day for the entire year. So how do you eat yours?
South East Asia: A Rice Ingrained Culture…
For backpackers in Asia, rice forms part of a cheap meal, but to the people of Asia, especially for the very poorest, rice is not just a food. Rice equals life. In fact, nearly 7 out of 10 people, or two thirds of the world’s population depend on it for sustenance…