For the modern Indian traveller, the ultimate souvenir is not a triviality or a postcard, but the recollection of an excellent meal. We are now experiencing a fast shift in the travel business: it is no longer about sightseeing, but about taste-seeking.
India is a culinary nightmare, and it is natural to turn elsewhere in search of such soulfulness. The good old suitcases with instant noodles are getting cloudy. Modern-day travellers desire to sit in the same place as the locals, smell the woodfire, and understand the history of the recipe. Food tourism abroad gets you closer; you are not a spectator, but rather a modernizing of the world table
Thailand is the gold standard for Indian foodies, with all the familiar notes: heat, citrus, and aromatics. It is a place where you have 24-hour food, and there is a story on every street corner.
Head straight to Yaowarat (Chinatown). The streets become an open-air giant restaurant as the sun goes down. To have a life-altering experience, taste the crab omelettes myth at Jay Fai, the most renowned Michelin street food stand in the world, or the crispy pork at Guay Jub Mr Joe.
Explore Khao Soi (creamy coconut curry noodles). The Khao Soi Lam Duan is a historical location that has been refining this dish over the decades, and the flavour is rich, comforting, and quintessentially Northern Thai.
When one wants to be in the Thai royal style, Baannai offers a beautiful colonial atmosphere where they serve forgotten royal Thai recipes that show Thai food is as delicate as it is spicy.
Vietnam is a lighter herb-based comparison that is very refreshing. It is an art of how such simple ingredients (lemongrass, mint, and lime) can be so tasty and addictive, with interesting culinary travel destinations.
You have not experienced Vietnam fully until you sit on a small plastic stool at Bun Cha Huong Lien. This restaurant made Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama famous for enjoying cold noodles and grilled pork. Head down to an alley to the Cafe Giang, where they do their own version of the Egg Coffee, a frothy, creamy treat that is like tiramisu in liquid form.
This ancient town is home to the world’s only authentic Cao Lau noodles. Go to Morning Glory Original and experience how the usual street food is elevated to a new, advanced level with fresh products from local organic farms.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the food scene is evolving rapidly. Anan Saigon is a must-visit, offering “Cuisine Mới” (new cuisine) that reimagines classic flavours in a contemporary, high-end way.
The closest bridge between two cultures is food. When you go to eat at a place, you do not just visit a nation, you swallow its own history and heart. Be it a spicy papaya salad at a Bangkok market or a piping bowl of Pho at a Hanoi alley, these food-based vacations will not leave you soon after you have used them, unlike a photograph.
At Travassa Holidays, we don’t just book your flights; we curate your flavours. Your next journey should be one you can taste.
