From Street Legends to World-Class Tables

Chef Pam – Bangkok’s Culinary Luminary

In the constellation of Bangkok’s gastronomic stars, few shine as brightly as Chef Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij, whose ascent has become emblematic of the city’s new culinary era. Chef Pam, the driving force behind Potong, has not only transformed Thai-Chinese heritage into a globally celebrated fine-dining experience, but also earned the title of The World’s Best Female Chef 2025, a groundbreaking accolade that marks her as the first Asian and Thai chef ever to receive this honour.

Potong itself is more than a restaurant; it is a narrative woven through space and flavor. Set within a beautifully restored ancestral building that once housed her family’s Chinese herbal medicine pharmacy, the multi-course tasting menu is guided by Chef Pam’s “five elements and five senses” philosophy, each dish a thoughtful interplay of salt, acid, spice, texture and the Maillard reaction that captivates all the senses.

Her journey, from the Culinary Institute of America to training under globally renowned chefs, and back to Bangkok to shape her own visionary path, mirrors the evolution of the city’s culinary identity itself. Beyond accolades, Pam actively champions the next generation through initiatives like her Women For Women scholarship and internship programme, fostering opportunities for rising talent in Thailand’s culinary arts.

Potong’s prominence on the world stage, ranked among both Asia’s and the world’s best, and Chef Pam’s personal accolades speak not only to her exceptional talent, but also to the creative daring and cultural confidence now pulsating through Bangkok’s gastronomic soul.

 

The post Bangkok, Where Every Meal Becomes an Experience first appeared on Smiling Albino.

The post Phuket Old Town Gastronomic Adventure first appeared on Smiling Albino.

In Vietnam, two things that play an active part in everyday life are scooters and food. To create the ultimate combination of the two, we’ve crafted a Danang Foodie Adventure. This Smiling Albino signature experience is a highlight of many of our guests’ travels to Vietnam. 

On this day out in central Vietnam, we experience the Danang like a local. And there’s no better way to achieve this than to get on a scooter. Don’t worry – you don’t have to drive! Relax from the pillion position while our expert chauffeurs take you through this cool town.

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[cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”l1ynotrxiq” type=”h4″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”left” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Noodles![/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text]

Our first stop is to get a special noodle dish that hails from Danang’s Quang Nam Da Nang Province.  This regional delicacy is normally served with pork and shrimp (together). It’s eaten with a crispy rice paper pancake called bánh tráng, key ingredients include lots of fresh vegetables and peanuts which gives it a unique taste to some other noodle dishes.

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Driving to Danang it’s impossible to miss this famous coastline. To add a bit of variety to our day of central Vietnamese delicacies we head to the coast to check out China Beach.

This coastline is 30km long and you could walk from the base of Monkey Mountain, located on the northern edge of Danang, all the way south to the ancient city of Hoi An. While we’re waiting for some of the food to digest, we can get some fun as well as take some time to check out the local fisherman and their basket boats. Unique to Vietnam, these unique coracle shaped boats have been used for years for fishing.

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When we talk about everyday Vietnamese life in relation to food, the nuances of a country certainly add a great character. A street food adventure of Vietnam wouldn’t be possible without some tiny chairs and an outdoor stove! Most shops don’t have permits to have their tables all the way out into the street – tiny plastic furniture is a way for vendors to quickly pack up and clear out when needed!

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Next on the menu is a fun “do it yourself” type pork dish. Bánh Cuốn Thịt Nướng are wet pieces of rice paper (or pancake) rolled with grilled pork and is a common dish in central of Vietnam. You get all the mixers and build your own specifically to your own liking. They are served on a tray consisting of a stack of wet rice papers, skewers of charcoal grilled pork, a dish of fresh herbs and vegetables, and a peanut sauce as a dip. What you need to do is roll it, dip it and enjoy! 

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Hoi An deep-fried Hoang Thanh is the crispy signature in the town. The hot shrimp dumplings are topped with a kind of slightly sour and spicy sauce consisting of shrimp, char siu pork, and crispy vegetables.

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While Bánh mì is known for its origins in Saigon, it’s a true Vietnamese staple that you’ll find being enjoyed all over Vietnam. Similar to a French baguette sandwich, the special Vietnamese twist is that it’s made with some rice flour. And no Vietnamese street food tour could be complete without sampling this local favorite!

No matter what time of day, this delicious snack is found in even city in Vietnam. Featuring a plethora of variations from chicken to pork, egg, and more, there is a bánh mì for each day of the week. Our suggestion is to be adventurous and try the bánh mì đặc biệt, also know as the “cart special”.

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Beautiful to look and, and tasty to eat, Bánh Vạc, also known as “White Rose“, a name stemming from Vietnam’s Indochina history. This glutinous dumpling is filled with ground shrimp, garlic, spring onion, lemongrass, and spices. Traditional to Central Vietnam, the dish is served with a dipping sauce made from shrimp broth.

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The last stop on our foodie adventure takes us to the famous town of Hoi An, just a 20-minute drive from Danang. Here, the delicacy is Cao Lầu.

Noodles for this dish are all made by the same family. Want to know the recipe? You can only find out by marrying into the family. The secret ingredient has lasted generations, and while many will try to reverse engineer or copy it, it’s never been duplicated. It’s believed that the unique taste and texture is achieved by using water from an undisclosed ancient Cham well.

It is very satisfying to have the real, original dish in the place of its inception, however, Cao Lầu is so popular, there are some restaurants in Saigon that will get the ingredients shipped in fresh daily so you can enjoy this unique dish in different parts of Vietnam.

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As the day winds down, guests can continue to explore Hoi An, or can eat on! Flexibility is our middle name and we cater to your taste buds, desires, and cravings!

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Check out a video we made in Vietnam that captures some of these experiences in real life, with a few moments from Hoi An and Hanoi included as well.

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Fancy a journey through Vietnam that also includes an adventure of the taste buds?  We’ve designed a route through one of Central Vietnam’s largest cities that delves deeply into cultural and gastronomical experiences with a little bit of adrenaline sprinkled on top.  Our Danang food tour focuses on getting close to all things Vietnamese. This day is designed for the food and adventure lovers that we host here in Southeast Asia.

Start planning by contacting us at mahouts@smilingalbino.com today.

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The post An Insider Look at our Danang Foodie Adventure first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Vietnam is a popular destination for many adventurous tourists to enjoy street food, pagodas and beautiful landscapes. One other distinct experience is the Bia Hoi beer which predominantly can be found along the narrow streets of Hanoi. Bia Hoi is a fast produced and light beer made of rice, malt and sugar, often served more or less directly at the street. Bia Hoi is not just the beer itself, it’s also a social concept and experience which includes beer and food, consumed by all social groups under simple circumstances. It’s a tradition that many deals and contracts are sealed during long dinners with food and plenty of beer.

Booming Microbrewery and Bia Hoi Culture

Beer is not only a symbol here, it is also a bearer of culture and a symbol for the new Vietnam, a country that takes in new influences but values local culture. There are about 45 microbreweries in Vietnam, whereof 35 are making Czech inspired beer and the other 10 are influenced by German beer culture. Compared with Bia Hoi and international bottled beers, these beers contain much more malt and hops and are therefore much more full bodied and tasty. Vietnam has a long history with the former allies Czechoslovakia and East Germany and the biggest diasporas are in today’s Czech Republic and Germany. Most of today’s brewers have lived in Czech Republic and brought beer traditions and knowledge with them back to Vietnam.

They brought the ingredients and knowledge of how to make the beer, but even if recipes and ingredients are the same, local water and weather are important to the taste. After a few years many brewers realized that taste references depend on where in the world you are and in particular the local food. So some small changes have been made to adopt the beer after local culture and demand. The result? Amazing beers, well balanced and tasty. Every brewery is making their own beer and variations are not only between breweries but also differing throughout the year depending on yeasting and storage temperatures. The beers are unique and alive, a result of experience and local conditions.

Following the Beer Trail in Vietnam

There is a brewery in every holiday location, but they are easy to miss because of all the other beer establishments in the country. Worldwide Vietnam is known for its beer consumption which is estimated at about 42 litres of beer a year per person. With almost 90 million people you realize that the microbreweries represent less than 1 % of beer consumption. As known today, there are 26 microbreweries in Hanoi, 12 in Ho Chi Minh City and then 7 more throughout Vietnam. You can find a microbrewery in almost every popular travel destination, like in Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Da Lat and also the coastal city of Hai Phong which can be visited on the way back from your holiday at the astonishing Halong Bay. On the way back from Halong Bay to Hanoi, make a short stop in the city of Hai Duong, famous for its diamond polishers, and visit the local microbrewery to enjoy two tasty beers before you tackle the culinary challenges in the city.

Hidden Treasures

The few foreign visitors in search of Bia Hoi that have found their way to one of the microbreweries are taken by surprise when they realize that the beers here in Vietnam are much better than many beers at home. The amount of malt is higher than in normal lagers and the hops is carefully added at different times of the beer making process. The breweries are quite small and only a few of them have a web presence and try to reach out to a big crowd. In a city like Hanoi, with 26 microbreweries, each one of them gathers only local attention with occasionally a few expats and tourists.

The interest for beer in Vietnam is huge but also more modest than in Europe and North America where the hype for special beers is strong and microbreweries are popping up everywhere. It has almost gone too far to the point where, in some pubs, it’s impossible to order a regular beer.

Focus on Making Good Beer before Making Money

The brewers in Vietnam invest a lot of time and effort in making good beer. Importing both hops and malt from Czech Republic and Germany requires planning but most importantly; a strong dedication and passion for beer. The microbreweries are there, but not easy to find, so it’s up to the customers to find their way to them. The price of a glass of beer at the breweries is about 35,000 VND, less than 2 USD, despite all the hours creating it and knowledge that is behind the wonderful beer you hold in your hand.

The future is… not so bright, its yellow, semi-bright and with a thick foam on it, full flavors from hops and malt and locally produced. Keep an eye on this beer culture happening in Vietnam and put some effort into finding these dedicated beer makers. Don’t miss this culinary experience!
Do you want some Bia Hoi? If you are a beer aficionado, and traveller contact Smiling Albino, we can expertly plan your touring around Bia Hoi highlights and even Microbrewery visits throughout Vietnam.

Credits

Written by: Jonathan Gharbi | Jonathan Gharbi is a Swedish beer blogger who lives in Hanoi and travels Vietnam in his search for microbreweries. Read his blog here: www.beervn.com

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The post Bia Hoi: All About Vietnam Beer Culture first appeared on Smiling Albino.