Travel Stories
How To Maintain A Herbivore Diet On The Move
by Minh Nguyen
November 2018
‘What do you often eat when you travel’?
-‘Food, of course’
‘But how? I mean you’re a vegetarian’
-‘Right. And I’m also egg-free/dairy-free…..’
Eating Vegan while travelling! The conversation goes on and on with curious questions on how I ‘survive’ being vegan while travelling abroad. Come on! If travelling is a pleasure and food is an essential part of adventures it should be a joy too. Vegan travel need not be difficult because there are always ways to stick with the veg diet while travelling abroad. Here are some of my vegan travel tips on how to enjoy being a herbivore while travelling abroad.
-‘Food, of course’
‘But how? I mean you’re a vegetarian’
-‘Right. And I’m also egg-free/dairy-free…..’
Eating Vegan while travelling! The conversation goes on and on with curious questions on how I ‘survive’ being vegan while travelling abroad. Come on! If travelling is a pleasure and food is an essential part of adventures it should be a joy too. Vegan travel need not be difficult because there are always ways to stick with the veg diet while travelling abroad. Here are some of my vegan travel tips on how to enjoy being a herbivore while travelling abroad.
1. Track Down The Vegetarian/Vegan RestaurantI do this when I travel to cities since most of restaurants, if not all, in big cities serve vegetarian/vegan options. Happycow.com is by far the best source for finding veg food around the world. Visit the website or get your phone geared up with the mobile app version especially handy for long term travelling. 
Local fruit market in Phnom Penh
3. Be A Good GuestOn my travels, occasionally, I stay with my Couchsurfing hosts or meet up with locals in the place I am travelling in. They often show me around and have taken me to local restaurants with great food. Due to my herbivore diet I am unable to eat many of the foods recommended by my hosts. However, before we meet I usually inform them I am a vegan to avoid misunderstanding or awkward situations. Luckily, they all are happy to recommend or take me to vegetarian/vegan places that usually surpass my expectations. |
2. Check Out Local Food MarketsI find Vegan food hunt at local markets extremely fun. You would be surprised by the things offered there: fresh fruits, traditional food and drinks, and many other treats with a more reasonable price than in restaurants. This even applies when you travel to remote or rural areas. Another option is grabbing some plain breads or quick meals at a convenience or grocery store. Simple as that! 
Quick meal grabbed at a convenience store
Vegan meal in Melaka with my host family
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4. Learn/Write Down Local Phrases For Vegetarian/Vegan EatsLearning a few phrases in the place you are travelling to is always a good idea. It shows your interest in the location you are travelling in, and really helps out when you have any problem with directions or food. I found this useful when I travelled to Cambodia and Myanmar.
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5. Be A Flexible VeganDespite how carefully you prepare, there will always be unexpected situations while you travel. For herbivore travellers, there will be an occasion where you accidentally eat what you shouldn’t. Once I found I was eating chicken in the spring rolls that were promised to be vegan. Another time, it was meat in the dipping source that I thought was vegan. So take them as experiences, be flexible and enjoy learning what it means to be vegan somewhere new.
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