Chiang Mai, Thailand is the kind of place where you plan for a short trip, realize it’s amazing, then make plans to return for a longer stay. You can see in the video why and if it’s your first time, here’s what I recommend you try.

Where To Stay

There are a lot of hotels in Chiang Mai but if you want something central and cozy, Wannamas is a good choice. It’s near the Saturday and Sunday markets, has a home vibe and servers breakfast daily.

Get Coffee And Go

Akha Ama Coffee sources all of their beans from local farms around Chiang Mai. The food is strong and the drinks creative – try the mana mana, a blend of strong espresso, honey, and orange.

As your caffeine buzz kicks in you can walk a few minutes to the nearby Wat Phra Singh. It’s a beautiful complex of several temples with large open spaces, statues, and monks often engaged in meditation. There are plenty of temples in Chiang Mai and in town this is one of the most central. Admission is free to the site, the main temple has a small charge. A short car ride away is Wat Chedi Luang.

Getting Around

To avoid the heat during the day your best bet is to use the Grab app. It’s a local ride sharing service that let’s you pay by car, see how much a ride will cost, and choose from cars to tuk tuks. There’s even an option for electric vehicles if available and overall much more convenient than hailing a cab on the street.

Highlights And Food

There are temples and then there is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This large temple complex sits on a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai and is one of the most interesting, peaceful, and idyllic places that shouldn’t be missed. You can arrange a ride through your hotel or take public transportation up – with the ride being around 30-40 minutes from town. Be prepared to walk when you are at Doi Suthep and plan to stay at least 90 minutes, there is so much to experience here.

There are also some amazing places to eat from street food to the healthiest local Chiang Mai dishes you can find. Don’t neglect visiting Chiang Mai during a trip to Thailand and for some extra fun, plan your trip around Songkran.

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Not only is vegetarian food widely consumed in Laos, in Vientiane there are places where you’ll miss the local flavors by not visiting one of these restaurants. From vegan nuns to the friendliest chef you’ll meet, these are the best vegetarian and vegan places to eat in Vientiane.

1. For Fancy CoCo & Co

This is a very modern vegan cafe that’s open for breakfast and lunch. Don’t let the looks fool you though the portions are big and the food tasty at CoCo & Co. It’s on the pricier side for Vientiane but likely a place you’ll swing by on more than one occasion for its laid back atmosphere and central location.

2. Vegetarian Master RUMA Restaurant

Every weekday a group of Vietnamese nuns serves up a vegan buffet as part of their Buddhist beliefs. As one tray gets finished and new one, with a completely new dish replaces it. For about $3 you can eat as much as you want and the food is incredible, one of the best hidden gems in Vientiane. Open only for limited lunch hours.

3. Reunion Vegan Cafe

For those of you looking for traditional Lao cuisine that’s plant based but not lacking in any of the spice or flavors, Reunion Vegan Cafe is the spot. Large portions and a very local atmosphere, a large meal will run you about $6. The menu is seemingly endless but make sure to try the laab salad, a Laotian classic.

4. White Lotus Restaurant

This place is weird because you never know what the kitchen is cooking up or how long you’ll wait. When the stars align though the chef has a flavorful take on Laotian staples but the staff and owner are the reason to visit. Through a translator app they’ll talk with you and it’s a local experience not to be missed.

For other travels in Southeast Asia there are great vegetarian street foods to eat in Hanoi and vegan restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.

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The capital of Laos, Vientiane is often a hoping off spot for visitors headed to the northern mountains of Luang Prabang or perhaps Vang Vieng. Vientiane’s central location in Laos with tempting destinations close by makes it a place most travelers quickly get in and out of. Don’t be fooled though there is a lot to see in town, here’s how to plan 24 hours in Vientiane.

Accommodation

There’s two type of stays in Vientiane. The first is a more resort type of experience and many of those pricier hotels can be found along the Mekong waterfront but are not very close to town. (Roughly a 40 minute walk or 15 minute car drive, depending on the highly variable traffic.) For shorter stays in Vientiane though it’s best to stay near the city center in a place like the Salana Boutique Hotel. You can watch my full review in the video below.

Temple Hop

Vientiane is a city of temples, most of which are within walking distance within a short radius. There’s the oldest, Wat Si Saket or the colorful Wat Ho Phra Keo. A short walk from the latter is Wat Si Saket, nearby to a Cafe Sinouk where you can cool off and try some locally harvested coffee from Laos. In case you haven’t seen enough temples (make sure you go inside for the impressive art, sculptures, and architecture) Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan is also nearby.

A bit of a further drive (about a 20 minute car ride using the Loca ride sharing app) is Pha That Luang. There’s no much to see inside but rather it’s the large gold structure that is the main attraction. Bring your camera, sunscreen, and stay hydrated during your visit.

Enjoy A Buffet Run By Nuns

One of the most interesting places I stumbled upon is called Vegetarian in the Golden Age or Vegetarian Master Ruma Restaurant. Most days of the week there’s a highly varied vegan buffet offered for roughly $3 by Vietnamese nuns. As part of their Buddhist beliefs, they are strict vegetarians and the food is a tasty blend of Vietnamese and Lao flavors. Most of the dishes are replaced with completely new ones so arrive hungry. There is quite a selection and whether you’re omnivore or not, you won’t miss out on any flavor.

COPE Center

In the afternoon you should visit the COPE Visitor Centre. COPE is a center for medical rehabilitation and education about the effects of cluster bombs. Since the Vietnam War, Laos remains the most bombed country in the world and small unexploded ordinances are still injuring and killing thousands per year. You can learn more about this history and help with a donation by buying something at the gift shop.

As the hot sun of the day begins to set, make your way to the waterfront where Vientiane comes alive. There’s a carnival atmosphere, clothing stands, shopping, and a lot of street food to be found. For quick bites hang around the clothes vendors but for a more relaxed sit down, enjoy some seafood or a hot pot by the water. There’s often live music which makes for a great way to end your day in Vientiane.

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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is an incredible place to eat with so much variety and food on every corner. The abundance of food can be a blessing and a curse because finding the best, cleanest, and cheapest local street foods can be daunting. Having spent a lot of time exploring Ho Chi Minh City I can recommend these spots for the cheapest, tastiest, and most iconic of Saigon’s street foods.

All of the dishes below can be modified for vegetarians, some for vegans, and are flexible for a variety of palates. You can watch the food being prepared in the video above and read on.

All Day Breakfast

• One of Vietnam’s most beloved street foods, bánh xèo is a massive fried pancake omelette that can be eaten at any time of day or night. Cost is roughly $3.20 and this place makes some of the best.

Stews And Soups

• Vegans will love Bún bò Huế Chay for its selection of traditional Vietnamese foods with meat substitutions that are made from whole foods. Two dollars gets you a massive bowl of vegan beef noodles and before you leave, check the kitchen to see what’s on display for the daily menu.
• Boiling hot clams, cheese topped scallops, and plenty of crab stew, get a very authentic night out with seafood in Ho Chi Minh City and eat a meal typically made for a group at only $5.90. This nighttime spot is right here.

Get Sweet

• This grilled sticky rice and banana (Chuối Nếp Nướng) might be the best thing ever. It’s popular for a reason and they sell over a thousand per night. Enjoy a few for only 80 cents.
• Avacado longan (a local fruit) ice cream with shaved coconut and ground peanuts is the perfect cure for a hot day. You can find Kem bơ near the flower market. Cost, 80 cents.
• Baked potato puffs sprinkled with sugar and drizzled chocolate Khoai lang bong bóng is the snack you can’t stop eating. Find it here and get a handful for 80 U.S. cents.

Perfect Spot For Pizza

• Ho Chi Minh City has a different take on pizza and Bánh tráng nướng chay is worth all 80 cents. Incredible taste and unbelievable price.
• Next door there’s a place selling kumquat tea that’s feuding with pizza place. The video above has the story and a cup of Trà tắc is only 80 cents.

Of course this isn’t it for Ho Chi Minh City. There’s also a massive selection of vegan foods in Ho Chi Minh City and plenty of places to explore in Saigon for inexpensive and incredibly tasty food.

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It may not be common knowledge but a fair number of Buddhist practitioners in Vietnam go vegan twice a month as part of their particular belief system. Because of this a surprising number of vegan restaurants can be found throughout bustling Vietnam, especially near Buddhist temples.

So whether you eat meat or not you can experience local Ho Chi Minh food favorites but street food and sit down. You can watch the video above and read on for some of my favorite spots.

Sit Down Secrets

• Vegan Family Restaurant – Located in a quiet corner outside of a Buddhist temple, for starters try the gỏi củ hủ dừa (crunchy pickled coconut, pickled carrots with daikon, fresh herbs, and mint. Topped with vegan fish sauce vinaigrette (fermented pinapple juice) and crispy fried shallots. Main course, try the cà ri dê (curry made from shiitake mushroom, bell pepper, and coconut milk.)
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• Bột chiên Bàn Cờ – By the side of the road but sit down and enjoy bột chiên (Vegetarian option with eggs, fried rice flour cake, marinated in soy sauce and rice vinegar. Topped with chopped turnips and green onions with shredded papaya.)
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• Chè Hiển Khánh – It’s never too late for cold sweet soup, a Ho Chi Minh favorite. Chè hạt sen (iced lotus seed soup with longan, lychee, shredded white mushrooms, chestnuts, and tapioca).
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On The Streets

• Mrs Diep Che Dessert – Amazing street food stall serving dessert. Order the chè khoai môn (taro with tapioca and coconut milk) and be happy.
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• Vo Van Tan – Pick a short stool to sit on and order some amazing noodles. Bún thịt nướng (Grilled marinated seitan served atop vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, carrots, seasoning and a savory vegan fish sauce.) To drink, try nước mía (sugarcane with durian).
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• Cao Thang – Incredible sticky rice selection not to be missed. Must order bánh tráng kẹp xôi đậu xanh (grilled rice paper filled with sticky rice and mung bean paste (đậu xanh). Served with shredded coconut and sesame seeds).
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At many of these vegan places you can mix and match dishes, ingredients, and tweak to your particular preferences. For those of you heading north, be sure to check out Hanoi’s best vegetarian restaurants.

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