Being vegan can be difficult, especially when travelling, as local vendors and certain country cultures aren’t exactly perfectly aligned with the beliefs of cuisine. However, there’s been a shift in demand, as more and more communities and individuals are becoming more conscious of their eating habits. To accompany this, more and more vegan-oriented businesses are cropping up all over Thailand and in fact, Koh Samui.

Veganism in Thailand

As a country, Thailand has had experience in dealing with vegan diets – the Buddhist monks that roam the country are often vegan, and one can say that several hotspots around Koh Samui and other parts of Thailand are quite conscious and receptive toward its vegan guests, which can be seen in the country cuisine. Thai food rarely contains cow’s milk or cheese but does have a fair amount of fish sauce and egg involved.

Image via pxhere

Street Food and Night Markets

Street food is a part of Thai life – an irremovable way of being, even.  It’s quite a common sight to see the sizzle of grills on the side of the road, and families queuing up to grab a treat from a local food vendor’s stall. From staples like fried rice and pad Thai, many stalls will serve a specialization such as sweet potato balls and spring rolls, things that you wouldn’t have trouble finding in many restaurants in Koh Samui. Yet, the tastes are as different as day or night.

Festivals and Celebrations

The Thai Vegetarian Festival, or Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is a vegan festival held for nine days, on the eve of the ninth month (by Chinese calendars), filled with flavourful food exclusively vegan. However, it’s not the most shocking part of the festival, due to the sight of sword-pierced cheeks, a common thing to see during this carnival-like event.

Establishments and Ways to Try Vegan

In some ways, the healthiest way to eat is certainly to cook it yourself – that way, you can control what way your food is prepared and what exactly you’ll be eating. The produce available in Koh Samui is fresh, and features readily available greens and roots, and local Thai cuisine is healthy! Additionally, there are many classes to teach one how to prepare vegan Thai cuisine. However, if you don’t have the liberty to cook your food yourself, you can always look at your local luxury resort accommodation, such as the Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, which you can request for vegan options in dining.