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SINGAPORE, April 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda has revealed that Chiang Mai has emerged as the top destination in Asia for culinary activities, based on activities booked on Agoda from January to March this year. For travelers eager to explore cooking classes, Bangkok, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi round out the top five, underscoring the appeal of Thailand and Vietnam as culinary hubs in Asia.
It's clear that food-forward activities are increasingly driving travel decisions. Agoda's 2026 Travel Outlook Report highlights that culinary experiences have climbed into the top three motivators for Asian travelers, jumping from sixth place last year. Cooking classes, in particular, offer a unique way to immerse oneself in a destination's culture, providing hands-on experiences that bring local traditions and flavors to life.
Here are the top five destinations for culinary enthusiasts, as identified by Agoda:
1. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Travelerscan engage in a hands-on culinary course in a local home and learn about traditional Thai ingredients through a guided tour of an organic farm. Before cooking, select fresh eggs or learn a unique coconut scraping technique. Travelers can discover authentic northern Thai specialties such as Khao Soi (coconut curry noodles) and Kaeng Hang Lei (ginger-tamarind pork curry).
2. Bangkok, Thailand
In the bustling district of Silom, travelers can participate in cooking classes led by expert instructors. These sessions include market visits to select fresh ingredients and lessons on preparing iconic dishes such as Tom Yum, Pad Thai, and various curries. Each day of the week features a different set menu, allowing participants to explore a wide range of Thai flavors and take-home recipes to recreate their favorite dishes.
3. Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An offers an exciting blend of cultural and culinary experiences for the food-lover and adventurer alike. At Cam Thanh coconut water village, travelers can enjoy a basket boat ride through the Bay Mau Nipa forest and discover traditional crab fishing methods. The experience provides a unique glimpse into the countryside and daily life of central Vietnam, with opportunities to master Vietnamese cuisine under the guidance of skilled local chefs.
4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
In the heart of the city, travelers can partake in a 3-course cooking class to prepare classic Vietnamese dishes, each menu carefully curated to highlight the unique flavors and cultural heritage of Vietnam. Those that prefer a specialty drink can opt for the egg coffee class, celebrating Vietnam's renowned coffee culture. Travelers can also take a day trip to the Mekong Delta to explore local villages and sample regional specialties, including a workshop to learn how to make coconut candies.
5. Hanoi, Vietnam
Participants will prepare dishes like Pho bo (beef noodle soup), Bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), and Nem ran (fried spring rolls), enjoying their creations alongside classmates and sampling local rice wine. The experience includes a cookbook and certificate, allowing travelers to take home a piece of Hanoi's culinary heritage.
Krishna Rathi, Associate Vice President at Agoda, shared, "Culinary experiences are a gateway to understanding a culture, and at Agoda, we are thrilled to connect travelers with these enriching opportunities. In Asia, Thailand and Vietnam stand out as culinary hubs, with rich flavors and an exciting selection of immersive experiences to choose from. Agoda makes it easy to book a wide range of activities alongside flights and accommodations for a seamless connected trip."
Travelers seeking unique experiences can browse over 300,000 activities, along with more than 6 million holiday properties and over 130,000 flight routes, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda's mobile app or visit Agoda.com for more.
SINGAPORE, April 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda has revealed that Chiang Mai has emerged as the top destination in Asia for culinary activities, based on activities booked on Agoda from January to March this year. For travelers eager to explore cooking classes, Bangkok, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi round out the top five, underscoring the appeal of Thailand and Vietnam as culinary hubs in Asia.
It's clear that food-forward activities are increasingly driving travel decisions. Agoda's 2026 Travel Outlook Report highlights that culinary experiences have climbed into the top three motivators for Asian travelers, jumping from sixth place last year. Cooking classes, in particular, offer a unique way to immerse oneself in a destination's culture, providing hands-on experiences that bring local traditions and flavors to life.
Here are the top five destinations for culinary enthusiasts, as identified by Agoda:
1. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Travelerscan engage in a hands-on culinary course in a local home and learn about traditional Thai ingredients through a guided tour of an organic farm. Before cooking, select fresh eggs or learn a unique coconut scraping technique. Travelers can discover authentic northern Thai specialties such as Khao Soi (coconut curry noodles) and Kaeng Hang Lei (ginger-tamarind pork curry).
2. Bangkok, Thailand
In the bustling district of Silom, travelers can participate in cooking classes led by expert instructors. These sessions include market visits to select fresh ingredients and lessons on preparing iconic dishes such as Tom Yum, Pad Thai, and various curries. Each day of the week features a different set menu, allowing participants to explore a wide range of Thai flavors and take-home recipes to recreate their favorite dishes.
3. Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An offers an exciting blend of cultural and culinary experiences for the food-lover and adventurer alike. At Cam Thanh coconut water village, travelers can enjoy a basket boat ride through the Bay Mau Nipa forest and discover traditional crab fishing methods. The experience provides a unique glimpse into the countryside and daily life of central Vietnam, with opportunities to master Vietnamese cuisine under the guidance of skilled local chefs.
4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
In the heart of the city, travelers can partake in a 3-course cooking class to prepare classic Vietnamese dishes, each menu carefully curated to highlight the unique flavors and cultural heritage of Vietnam. Those that prefer a specialty drink can opt for the egg coffee class, celebrating Vietnam's renowned coffee culture. Travelers can also take a day trip to the Mekong Delta to explore local villages and sample regional specialties, including a workshop to learn how to make coconut candies.
5. Hanoi, Vietnam
Participants will prepare dishes like Pho bo (beef noodle soup), Bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), and Nem ran (fried spring rolls), enjoying their creations alongside classmates and sampling local rice wine. The experience includes a cookbook and certificate, allowing travelers to take home a piece of Hanoi's culinary heritage.
Krishna Rathi, Associate Vice President at Agoda, shared, "Culinary experiences are a gateway to understanding a culture, and at Agoda, we are thrilled to connect travelers with these enriching opportunities. In Asia, Thailand and Vietnam stand out as culinary hubs, with rich flavors and an exciting selection of immersive experiences to choose from. Agoda makes it easy to book a wide range of activities alongside flights and accommodations for a seamless connected trip."
Travelers seeking unique experiences can browse over 300,000 activities, along with more than 6 million holiday properties and over 130,000 flight routes, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda's mobile app or visit Agoda.com for more.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Agoda Names Chiang Mai Asia's Premier Culinary Destination
TAIPEI, April 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asian Sports and Leisure Online Exhibition 2026 (ASLE 2026) will officially open on April 16, 2026, offering global buyers a one-stop sourcing platform to connect with verified Asian suppliers across the sports, fitness, and leisure industries. Running until August 31, 2026, the exhibition adopts a hybrid online and offline integration model, providing nearly five months of continuous sourcing opportunities and business engagement.
The exhibition focuses on connecting Asian suppliers with global importers and exporters, streamlining cross-border procurement processes, enhancing supply-demand matching efficiency, and enabling businesses to expand into international markets more effectively.
Since its debut in 2022, ASLE, co-organized by AsianNet and TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com), has consistently attracted high-quality international buyers. With strong performance in precise matchmaking, inquiry conversion, and actual order generation, it has become one of Asia's most representative online B2B trade exhibitions.
Global Exhibition Synergy and Expanded Scale
The 2026 edition will feature a significant scale upgrade and run concurrently with several leading international exhibitions, including the FIBO Germany International Fitness and Wellness Expo, Techtextil Frankfurt, the Outdoor Retailer and Outdoor Design and Innovation Expo in the USA, ISPO USA, and the India International Sports Goods Expo.
By aligning with global exhibition schedules and integrating cross-platform resources, ASLE 2026 consolidates international buyer traffic and enables procurement professionals to efficiently complete supplier selection, product comparison, and sourcing decisions. This approach significantly shortens decision-making cycles and improves procurement accuracy.
Centered on high-efficiency matching, targeted traffic, and conversion-driven results, the exhibition establishes a comprehensive B2B business connection ecosystem. It enhances exhibitors' global exposure, improves inquiry quality, and effectively drives order conversion and market expansion.
Showcasing Verified Suppliers and Diverse Product Categories
ASLE 2026 will feature a strong lineup of leading Asian manufacturers, demonstrating the depth and innovation of the region's sports and leisure industry. Participating companies include JIH KAO ENTERPRISE, FLYWELL INTERNATIONAL, YI CHI HSIUNG, and HSIN HAO HEALTH MATERIALS.
These suppliers will showcase a wide range of products, including fitness equipment, sports gear, functional textiles, outdoor and camping products, and health-related solutions, providing buyers with diverse sourcing options across multiple categories.
ASLE 2026 highlights core sports categories such as Sports and Game Equipment, Sport Ball Equipment and Gear, Fitness and Body Building, Skateboarding and Skating Equipment, and Water Sports Equipment and Supply. The exhibition also features sports accessories, sportswear, and technical textiles, as well as lifestyle segments including Outdoor and Camping Recreation, Sporting and Travel Goods, and Indoor Games and Leisure. Health and Wellness and health food products further extend the exhibition's cross-industry integration.
By integrating technological innovation with practical applications, ASLE 2026 provides a high-efficiency B2B sourcing environment that enables global buyers and industry partners to expand markets, accelerate procurement decisions, and establish long-term business relationships.
Digital Features Enhancing Efficient Sourcing
The Asian Sports and Leisure Online Exhibition 2026 introduces a range of advanced digital features, including dedicated exhibitor pages, e-catalogs, and integrated online exhibition interfaces. Fully integrated with the TradeAsia platform, these tools significantly enhance supplier visibility and maximize sourcing efficiency.
In addition, the exhibition incorporates an efficient business matching mechanism, enabling buyers to quickly identify suitable suppliers based on their sourcing needs. International buyers can access the exhibition anytime, explore detailed supplier information, and utilize online inquiry functions to accelerate procurement decision-making.
This hybrid model effectively eliminates time and geographical barriers while delivering a cost-efficient and results-driven global sourcing experience.
Start Sourcing Now
Explore suppliers, discover products, and send inquiries directly through the official exhibition platform:
https://www.e-tradeasia.com/online-show/44/Asian-Sports-and-Leisure-Online-Exhibition-2026.html
About TradeAsia
TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com) is a leading B2B international trade platform dedicated to delivering high-efficiency, conversion-driven business matching services. The platform connects millions of members, over 600,000 suppliers, and extensive up-to-date product listings, forming a highly active global supply-demand network.
In addition, TradeAsia has established strategic partnerships with hundreds of trade organizations and exhibition entities worldwide, integrating both online and offline marketing resources to maximize international exposure. Exhibitors benefit from stable, high-quality buyer traffic and expanded global reach, enhancing brand visibility and increasing conversion opportunities.
Media Contact
Doreen Chen
Marketing Manager, TradeAsia
Email: service@etradeasia.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Asian Sports and Leisure Online Exhibition 2026: Connecting Global Buyers with the Future of Sports and Leisure
