Hello Wandering Herbivores. So, you’ve decided to take the plant-based plunge on your travels—a journey where culinary exploration is as crucial as the destination itself. From the spicy street food of Vietnam to the mountains of meat in the Philippines, here’s my vegan travel guide, navigating global cuisine in search of veggie delights:
1. Look me up before you go go
A little bit of research goes a long way to avoid first-night hanger. Have a couple of spots to eat marked on your map app or HappyCow. But, a vegan travel guide would be doing you a disservice if it didn’t advise against over-planning. You can overlook great places when rushing to a dining destination so have some places marked but be open to menu perusing.
Grab, Deliveroo, Food Panda, Just Eat….Summon local delights to your doorstep.
Some apps are not up to date with new openings, closures, opening times etc. so cross-reference to avoid Ghost restaurants.
2. Snack when the cookie crumbles
Have something in your bag for when hunger hits. Fruit and nuts, trail mix, energy bars – something more nourishing than a bag of crisps (chips) if the next veg encounter isn’t on the horizon.
The South of France was surprisingly difficult. I don’t know what I was expecting, perhaps a similar affair to Ireland? But no, Ireland it was not. But there were some SUPER supermarkets where I found hummus, olives, bread and general sandwich-forming favourites.
3. No, nein, ne, nei, tidak, non
If you only learn a few phrases in the local language let it be “no egg, no meat, no cheese” along with please and thank you. Try it in English too, because the person taking your order may have at least some basic English. A linguistic lifebuoy.
Know the wily ingredients. Fish sauce can appear as vegetarian in some parts of Thailand, bone broth is big in vegetable soups in Vietnam, and bonito (tuna) flakes season Japanese food.
4. I am vegan hear me roar
As the old saying goes, “How do you know someone is vegan? – They’ll tell you.”
Well, sometimes we have to. If meals are included with your accommodation, dropping an email to check if the menu is vegan-friendly reduces stress for all parties. If you are staying with mates, they most likely already know you’re “the vegan” but no harm in checking the food plans. Offer to cook or convert with cake.😉
I’m riddled with anxiety at the best of times so I find it hard to “cause a fuss”. Not speaking up has had some horrific consequences. Ten-day-old pig’s head in Vietnam. One day I’ll be able to tell you the full story but that day is not today. Heed this advice.
5. If it aint broke
Food is one of the best parts about travelling so I know you are going to try local cuisine. You may find traditional vegan-friendly dishes hiding in plain sight. Buddhist countries are littered with local vegan restaurants. Indonesia, the home of tempeh.
It’s gross how many Gado Gados (eggless) I ate while there. Could not get enough. Chay bánh mì in Vietnam, another addiction for me. Perime në zgarë, gorgeous grilled veg in Albania.
If there’s a Little India near you, go, go now! In Kuala Lumpur, I gorged in Little India. Indian cuisine has so many vegan-friendly dishes and many menus have a vegan section. Aloo gobi and masala dosa being two of my favourites.
6. Chill out man
The world is becoming more vegan-friendly. News is spreading, but it’s not happening overnight. So a bit of flexibility might be needed sometimes. I’m not saying order the duck, I’m saying if you need to be vegetarian for a meal once in a while so you don’t starve, don’t beat yourself up about it. Panic-stricken at a party is not my best look but as my vegan years increased I’ve learned to be kinder to myself.
But do not do dairy before a long bus journey. Your gut microbiome does not have the capacity for that catastrophe anymore.
7. #veganrecs
Instagram is full of restaurant recommendations from around the globe. When going to a new place ask around, you never know what gem has been unearthed. I share plenty on my Instagram too, wink-wink.
Insta-vegan wisdom is gold but do beware the herd. That “top 10” place in Bangkok might be a bland chain impostor. Save your taste buds and stomach from the hype with a good Google cross-check.
8. Cooking up a storm
Many hostels have basic cooking facilities so pick up some herbs and spices in the local market if yours does. Don’t go wild, just enough to get by. You can donate any extra to other travellers. They might not be the best stocked kitchens so if you have a tool or two it’s worth bringing them.
I’ve got a pocket knife-style cutlery set that I love! I’ve used it to eat cake mountainside in Ireland, conquer coconuts on Koh Lanta, and open many a beach beer. It has a sharp knife, fork, spoons, bottle opener, the works!
9. It’s all in the label
Label reading is a global sport. Translation apps are your allies; don’t let language barriers ruin your vegan vibe. I use Google Translate. When in Shanghai, China, where Google is blocked, it worked fine when Mandarin was downloaded offline. Break language barriers and snack confidently.
10. Mind your Ps and Qs
Not everyone’s got the vegan memo. Stay calm, explain your needs politely, and let kindness be your travel companion. It’s not just vegan wisdom; it’s life wisdom.
With a bit of planning (but not too much) you’ll survive in most places you go. A bag full of snacks (which should be part of everyone’s daily life anyway) will get you through more often than not and sure we’ve all had the side salad and chips for dinner. The main thing is enjoying yourself, the new sights, and not letting yourself stress on your trip of a lifetime. Go forth, eat and be happy.
Anything left out of my vegan travel guide? The comments are yours.
