From fried spider to grilled bat, four of the best Southeast Asian foodie tours
For travellers ready for culinary adventure that goes beyond phad Thai and pho, tours of market stalls and roadside vendors in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Myanmar can be an eye-opener
Southeast Asia is a dream destination for foodies, boasting a kaleidoscope of flavours, cooking techniques and unique dishes that are tempting tourists to try.
Popular dishes, such as Vietnamese pho and Thailand’s phad Thai have been on the radar of global gastronomes for decades. But the more acquired tastes of other countries in the region have largely been left to locals. As intrepid travellers’ curiosity grows, this is changing as more dare to try some of the quirkier dishes on the menu.
“Food has strong connections with culture and heritage and serves as an additional way to connect travellers with a country and its people,” says Jens Thraenhart, executive director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, which is spearheading a region-wide food tourism drive.
From fried tarantula and scorpion lollipops to cow penis and half-fertilised eggs, tourists’ taste buds are being pushed to the limits. We take a look at some of the top tours exploring these intriguing eats.
Siem Reap, Cambodia