ASIA FOODIE CAPITALS DESTINATIONS


accommodation, overseas transfers, a Travelsphere tour manager and local guides. travelsphere.co.uk


w CHIANG MAI, THAILAND No list would be complete without Thailand, where chunky pad thais, sweet-spicy curries and fresh, bursting spring rolls bring food lovers flocking. Among its key spots is northern city Chiang Mai, where the cuisine takes inspiration from Myanmar, Laos and China; think mild spices, jackfruit dishes and local specialities such as gaeng hang lay – a Burmese-style curry made with tamarind, pork and shrimp. The real draw, though, is the


five-star restaurants in favour of mixing with the locals.” Book it: Urban Adventures’ three- hour Hong Kong Kowloon Food Safari starts at $51, including a guide (food costs extra). urbanadventures.com


w KERALA, INDIA Whether it’s a crispy samosa, a crepe-like dosa or a rich, spicy tikka, India knows how to do food, with every region offering its own unique flavours. Among the real standouts, though, is the southeastern state of Kerala, where coconut


curries, sweet chutneys and fresh seafood dishes are served alongside its idyllic backwaters. It’s the spice plantations for which the region is best known, however, and tours such as Cox & Kings’ Spice Lands of Kerala take guests out to see them. Travelsphere’s Kerala – Flavours of Southern India adds various other culinary experiences, including a cookery demonstration by a local chef. Book it: Travelsphere’s 10-day Kerala – Flavours of Southern India itinerary costs from £1,599 including all flights, half-board


array of cooking classes on offer, providing visitors with the chance to see how these dishes are put together – and you the opportunity to bag some extra commission. Book it: Gold Medal can add a half-day cookery lesson, costing from £26, to a twin-centre pairing Bangkok and Chiang Mai. goldmedal.com


w HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM Be it a baguette-style banh mi or a bowl of steaming pho, Vietnam has firmly established itself as


Best of the rest


Macao: Named a Unesco ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ for 2018, Macao is fast becoming the next big thing, with Portuguese-inspired specialities meeting traditional Chinese dishes, and a swathe of restaurants recently opening in foodie haven Taipa Village.


Penang, Malaysia: Hawker stalls are the key draw here, with Chinese and Malay fusions found across the city, alongside traditional dishes such as Penang assam laksa – mackerel, tamarind and chilli blended into a noodle soup.


LEFT: Celebrity chef Luke Nguyen


Siem Reap, Cambodia: Fish curries with coconut give Khmer cuisine appeal, and one of the best places to sample it is Siem Reap, where you’ll find ‘Road 60’ – a long street lined with food vendors, picnickers and a fun fair, which InsideAsia visits on its 11-day Culinary Cambodia trip.


a foodie haven thanks to its French-meets-Asian influences and focus on local ingredients. Capital city Hanoi has plenty


to offer, with street-side joints lining heaving alleys. But for the ultimate adventure, look no further than Ho Chi Minh City, which is home to a plethora of street eats as well as high-end spots such as Vietnam House, a fine-dining restaurant owned by celebrity chef and APT ambassador Luke Nguyen. Clients on APT’s Luke Nguyen’s


Vietnam and Mekong River Cruise visit the restaurant as part of their trip – while spending two days with the chef, visiting people’s homes and taking part in a cooking class – before boarding the ship for a cruise to Siem Reap. Wendy Wu Tours, meanwhile,


offers a culinary-focused adventure through the country on its Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery trip, taking clients to villages and family homes, and adding a Vespa tour that takes in Ho Chi Minh City’s key food spots. Book it: APT’s 16-day Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam and Mekong River Cruise costs from £6,490 per person, based on twin-share accommodation, departing November 29. aptouring.co.uk


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PICTURE: MACAO GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE


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