Thai Cooking Classes: Are They Worth It? Honest Review & Guide (2026)

Every backpacker in Thailand faces this question: should I spend 800-2,500 Baht on a cooking class when I could eat 15-50 street food meals for the same money? It is a fair question, and the travel industry gives you the usual non-answer: "It is an experience you will never forget." Which tells you nothing.

Here is what we will tell you instead: exactly what you get for your money, how classes compare across cities, which schools are worth booking and which are overpriced tourist traps, and whether you should invest your limited backpacker budget in learning to cook pad thai or just eat pad thai. We have taken classes in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Phuket. We have compared prices, formats, quality, and outcomes. This is the honest guide.

Short answer: Yes, a cooking class is worth it — once. But only if you pick the right one. Some classes are genuinely transformative. Others are glorified kitchen tours where you watch someone cook and then pretend you did it yourself. The difference is which school you choose.

What Actually Happens in a Thai Cooking Class

If you have never taken a cooking class abroad, here is what a typical Thai cooking class looks like, step by step:

Standard Half-Day Class (4-5 Hours)

1. Hotel/Hostel Pickup (30 minutes)

Most schools include pickup and drop-off in the price. A van or songthaew collects you from your accommodation between 8:30-9am (morning class) or 1-2pm (afternoon class).

2. Market Tour (45-60 minutes)

The instructor walks your group through a local fresh market, explaining Thai ingredients: galangal vs ginger, Thai basil vs holy basil vs sweet basil, different types of chilies, palm sugar, tamarind paste, coconut milk (fresh vs canned). You taste things, smell things, and learn what to look for when buying Thai ingredients back home.
This is the best part of many classes. The market tour alone teaches you more about Thai food than a week of eating at restaurants.

3. Cooking (2-3 hours)

You arrive at the cooking school (either a purpose-built kitchen or a farm setting). Each person has their own cooking station with a wok, burner, and ingredients pre-measured and laid out.
The instructor demonstrates each dish step by step, then you cook it yourself. Most classes teach 3-5 dishes.
Common dishes taught: pad thai, green/red/massaman curry (from scratch paste), tom yum soup, papaya salad, mango sticky rice, spring rolls, stir-fries.

4. Eating (30-60 minutes)

You eat everything you cooked. This is usually lunch or dinner, so the class doubles as a massive meal.

5. Recipe Book

Most schools give you a printed or digital recipe book with all the dishes you learned plus extras. Quality varies enormously — some are beautiful full-color books, some are photocopied sheets.

Standard Full-Day Class (6-8 Hours)

Same structure but more dishes (5-7), a longer market tour, and sometimes includes making curry paste from scratch with a mortar and pestle (which is harder than it looks and more satisfying than it should be). Some full-day classes include a farm tour if the school grows its own herbs and vegetables.

The Price Breakdown

Prices vary significantly by city, school type, and format. Here is what you can expect:

Price Comparison by City (2026)

| City | Half-Day | Full-Day | Budget Option | Premium Option | |------|----------|----------|---------------|----------------| | Chiang Mai | 800-1,200B | 1,000-1,500B | 600-800B | 1,500-2,000B | | Bangkok | 1,000-1,500B | 1,500-2,500B | 800-1,000B | 2,500-4,000B | | Phuket | 1,200-2,000B | 1,800-3,000B | 1,000-1,200B | 3,000-5,000B | | Koh Samui | 1,200-1,800B | 1,800-2,800B | 1,000-1,500B | 2,800-4,500B | | Koh Lanta | 1,000-1,500B | 1,500-2,200B | 800-1,000B | 2,200-3,000B | | Pai | 600-1,000B | 900-1,400B | 500-700B | 1,200-1,800B | | Krabi/Ao Nang | 1,000-1,500B | 1,500-2,500B | 800-1,200B | 2,500-3,500B |

Key takeaway: Chiang Mai and Pai are the cheapest. Bangkok is mid-range. Islands are the most expensive (island tax applies to everything, including cooking classes).

What Your Money Includes

For a 1,000B class, here is the value breakdown:

| Component | Estimated Value | Notes | |-----------|----------------|-------| | Market tour + education | 200-300B | Worth it as standalone food tour | | Ingredients (3-5 dishes) | 150-250B | All pre-portioned for you | | Cooking instruction (3-5 hours) | 300-500B | Professional instructor, equipment | | The meal (3-5 dishes) | 150-250B | You eat everything you cook | | Recipe book | 50-100B | Varies in quality | | Transport (pickup/dropoff) | 50-100B | Most include this | | Total component value | 900-1,500B | |

At the low end (800-1,000B), you are getting fair value. At the high end (2,500B+), you are paying for ambiance, smaller groups, and premium ingredients.

Chiang Mai: The Cooking Class Capital

Chiang Mai has more cooking schools per capita than any city in Thailand. The competition has driven quality up and prices down. If you take one cooking class in Thailand, do it in Chiang Mai.

Best Cooking Schools in Chiang Mai

1. Thai Farm Cooking School (อาศรมไทย)

Price: 1,100B (half-day), 1,300B (full-day) Format: Farm-based. You pick herbs and vegetables from the organic garden before cooking. Group size: 10-14 people Dishes: 5 dishes (half-day), 7 dishes (full-day). You choose from a menu of 15+ options. Includes: Hotel pickup, market tour (morning class only), recipe book, all ingredients, the meal.

Our take: Thai Farm Cooking School is the most popular cooking class in Chiang Mai for a reason. The farm setting is gorgeous — you cook in open-air stations surrounded by herbs and banana trees. The instructor explains not just how to cook each dish, but WHY each ingredient matters. The market tour is excellent. The downside: group sizes can be large (12-14 people), which means less individual attention. Book 2-3 days in advance during peak season.

Best for: First-timers, groups, Instagram-worthy setting

2. Mama Noi Thai Cookery School

Price: 900B (half-day), 1,200B (full-day) Format: Farm-based, more intimate than Thai Farm Cooking School Group size: 6-10 people Dishes: 5 dishes (half-day), 6-7 dishes (full-day) Includes: Hotel pickup, market tour, recipe book, the meal

Our take: Mama Noi runs one of the most charming cooking schools in Thailand. The farm is smaller and more personal. The instructors are warm, patient, and genuinely funny. The market tour is thorough — you will learn to identify 20+ Thai ingredients by sight and smell. Group sizes are smaller than Thai Farm, which means more hands-on help. The recipes are traditional and well-tested. Slightly cheaper than Thai Farm with a more intimate feel.

Best for: Solo travelers, couples, anyone who prefers smaller groups

3. Pantawan Cooking School

Price: 850B (half-day) Format: City-based kitchen, no farm. But the market tour at Somphet Market is one of the best. Group size: 6-12 people Dishes: 4-5 dishes Includes: Pickup, market tour, recipe book

Our take: If you do not want to trek out to a farm (30-40 minute drive), Pantawan is an excellent city-based option. The Somphet Market tour is detailed and the instructor pauses to let you taste ingredients. The cooking kitchen is modern and well-equipped. The disadvantage: no farm setting means less visual charm. But the cooking instruction itself is rock-solid.

Best for: People short on time, those who prefer city settings

4. Baan Thai Cookery School

Price: 1,000B (half-day) Format: City-based, traditional Thai house setting Group size: 8-12 people Dishes: 5 dishes Includes: Pickup, Warorot Market tour, recipe book

Our take: The Warorot Market tour is the highlight — this is Chiang Mai's biggest traditional market and the instructor navigates it like a pro. The cooking happens in a restored traditional Thai wooden house, which adds atmosphere. The instruction is clear and detailed. Solid mid-range option.

Best for: Anyone who wants a Warorot Market tour bundled with cooking

5. Budget Option: Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School

Price: 700-900B (half-day) Format: City garden setting Group size: 10-16 people Dishes: 5 dishes plus curry paste from scratch Includes: Pickup, market tour, recipe book

Our take: The cheapest well-reviewed cooking class in Chiang Mai. The quality is good for the price, but group sizes are larger and the instruction is faster-paced. You cook everything yourself (no demo-only sections). Good value for budget travelers who want the experience without breaking the bank.

Best for: Strict budget travelers

Chiang Mai Booking Tips

Book 1-3 days in advance during peak season (November-February). During rainy season, same-day booking is usually fine.
Morning classes include the market tour. Afternoon classes skip the market (the market closes before afternoon classes start). Always choose the morning class.
Book directly through the school's website or walk-in to avoid OTA commissions (Viator, GetYourGuide add 15-25% markup).
Ask your hostel — many have partnerships with cooking schools and can get you a small discount.

Bangkok Cooking Schools

Bangkok classes are more expensive than Chiang Mai but offer unique advantages: you are cooking in the street food capital of the world, and some schools are located in historic neighborhoods that add cultural context.

Best Cooking Schools in Bangkok

1. Silom Thai Cooking School

Price: 1,200B (half-day morning), 1,000B (half-day afternoon) Format: City-based, near BTS Chong Nonsi. Morning class includes market tour. Group size: 8-14 people Dishes: 4-5 dishes (you choose from a menu) Includes: Market tour (morning only), recipe book, all dishes, cold drinks

Our take: The most consistently well-reviewed cooking class in Bangkok. The instructor is engaging and the market tour at a local wet market (not a tourist market) is genuinely educational. The afternoon class is cheaper because it skips the market tour — which is the best part. Pay the extra 200B for the morning class.

Best for: Bangkok visitors who want a reliable, well-organized class

2. Baipai Thai Cooking School

Price: 2,200-2,800B (half-day) Format: Garden setting in a quieter Bangkok neighborhood. Premium experience. Group size: 6-10 people Dishes: 4 dishes Includes: Pickup, recipe book, ingredients, the meal, professional quality

Our take: This is the premium option. The kitchen is beautiful, the ingredients are top-quality, and the instruction is detailed enough that you will actually replicate these dishes at home. The price is steep for a backpacker budget, but the quality justifies it if you are serious about learning. They also have excellent vegetarian menus.

Best for: Foodies, couples, anyone willing to spend more for quality

3. Sompong Thai Cooking School

Price: 1,200B (half-day) Format: City-based near BTS On Nut. Includes market tour at Khlong Toei Market. Group size: 8-12 people Dishes: 5 dishes Includes: Market tour, recipe book, the meal, cold drinks

Our take: The Khlong Toei Market tour is the highlight — this is Bangkok's biggest wet market and it is an intense, fascinating experience (not for the squeamish — whole animals, fish guts, and live eels). The cooking instruction is hands-on and the portion sizes are generous. Good value for Bangkok.

Best for: Adventurous travelers who want to see a real Bangkok market

4. Budget Option: Cooking with Poo (Courageous Kitchen)

Price: 1,500B (half-day) Format: Community-based class in a local neighborhood. Part of a social enterprise supporting Khlong Toei community. Group size: 8-12 people Dishes: 4-5 dishes Includes: Market tour, recipe book, cultural immersion

Our take: More expensive than Silom or Sompong, but the money goes to a social enterprise supporting the Khlong Toei slum community. The cooking is taught by local women from the neighborhood. The experience is less polished but more authentic and meaningful. If you want your money to make a difference, this is where to go.

Best for: Travelers who want cultural depth and social impact

Island Cooking Schools

Island cooking classes are the most expensive in Thailand (20-50% markup over mainland prices), but they offer unique settings — beachside kitchens, tropical gardens, and classes focused on southern Thai cuisine.

Koh Samui

Best Option: Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts (SITCA)

Price: 1,900B (half-day), 2,500B (full-day)
Format: Professional kitchen, detailed instruction, excellent for serious cooks
Group size: 6-10 people
Dishes: 4-6 dishes
Our take: The most professional cooking school outside of Bangkok. The instruction is detailed enough for someone who actually wants to cook Thai food regularly at home. Premium pricing, but premium quality.

Budget Option: Various beach-based classes

Price: 1,000-1,500B
Format: Varies — some are beachside, some in local homes
Book through: Your hostel or Airbnb Experiences (check reviews carefully)
Warning: Quality varies enormously on the islands. Read reviews before booking.

Koh Lanta

Best Option: Lanta Thai Cookery School (Time for Lime)

Price: 1,200B (half-day)
Format: Garden setting, relaxed pace
Group size: 6-12 people
Dishes: 4-5 dishes
Our take: Koh Lanta attracts a more relaxed crowd than Samui or Phuket, and the cooking class reflects that. Unhurried, friendly, and the instructor is patient with beginners. Good value for an island class.

Phuket

Best Option: Phuket Thai Cooking Academy

Price: 1,500B (half-day)
Format: Modern kitchen, professional setup
Group size: 8-14 people
Dishes: 5 dishes
Our take: Solid but not exceptional. Phuket cooking classes tend to be more expensive with larger groups (tourist volume is higher). If you are choosing between Phuket and Chiang Mai, save it for Chiang Mai.

Pai

Budget Option: Pai Cookery School

Price: 600-800B (half-day)
Format: Relaxed, garden setting, small groups
Group size: 4-8 people
Dishes: 4-5 dishes
Our take: The cheapest cooking class in Thailand that is still good. The small group size means more individual attention. The vibe is pure Pai — laid-back, friendly, no rush. If you are passing through Pai and want a budget-friendly class, this is it.

Cooking Class Comparison Table

| School | City | Price | Group Size | Market Tour | Setting | Rating | |--------|------|-------|------------|-------------|---------|--------| | Thai Farm | Chiang Mai | 1,100B | 10-14 | Yes (AM) | Farm | Excellent | | Mama Noi | Chiang Mai | 900B | 6-10 | Yes | Farm | Excellent | | Pantawan | Chiang Mai | 850B | 6-12 | Yes | City | Very Good | | Baan Thai | Chiang Mai | 1,000B | 8-12 | Yes | Heritage house | Very Good | | Asia Scenic | Chiang Mai | 700B | 10-16 | Yes (AM) | Garden | Good | | Silom Thai | Bangkok | 1,200B | 8-14 | Yes (AM) | City | Excellent | | Baipai | Bangkok | 2,500B | 6-10 | No | Garden | Premium | | Sompong | Bangkok | 1,200B | 8-12 | Yes | City | Very Good | | SITCA | Koh Samui | 1,900B | 6-10 | No | Kitchen | Excellent | | Time for Lime | Koh Lanta | 1,200B | 6-12 | Varies | Garden | Very Good | | Pai Cookery | Pai | 600B | 4-8 | Yes | Garden | Good |

Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking Classes

Nearly every cooking school in Thailand offers vegetarian and vegan menus. Here is what to expect:

What Changes for Vegetarian Classes

Protein swaps: Tofu and mushrooms replace meat in stir-fries and curries
Curry paste: Standard curry paste is vegetarian by default (chilies, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, shallots, shrimp paste). Vegan versions substitute shrimp paste with soy sauce or miso.
Fish sauce replacement: Soy sauce or mushroom sauce substituted for nam pla (fish sauce)
Common vegetarian dishes taught: Green curry with tofu, pad thai with tofu, tom kha with mushrooms, vegetable spring rolls, papaya salad (without dried shrimp), mango sticky rice

Best Schools for Vegetarian/Vegan

Mama Noi (Chiang Mai) — Extensive vegan menu, very accommodating
Baipai (Bangkok) — Dedicated vegetarian class available
Thai Farm (Chiang Mai) — Vegetarian options available, need to specify when booking
Silom Thai (Bangkok) — Vegetarian menu available on request

Important: Always specify "vegetarian" or "vegan" when booking, not on the day of the class. Most schools need advance notice to adjust their market shopping list.

Group vs Private Classes

Group Classes (Standard)

Price: 600-2,500B per person
Group size: 6-16 people
Pros: Cheaper, social (meet other travelers), fun group energy
Cons: Less individual attention, pace dictated by slowest person, less flexibility on dishes
Best for: Solo travelers, budget travelers, social travelers

Private Classes

Price: 2,000-5,000B per person (or 3,000-8,000B per couple)
Group size: 1-4 people
Pros: Complete customization (choose exactly what you cook), dedicated instructor, your pace, more detailed instruction
Cons: 2-3x the price, less social
Best for: Serious cooks, couples wanting a special experience, dietary restrictions that need full customization

Our Recommendation

Take a group class. The social element is half the fun — you are cooking alongside backpackers from five different countries, someone inevitably sets something on fire, and you all eat together afterwards. The money saved can buy you 10 more street food meals.

The exception: if you have serious allergies or specific dietary needs that a group class cannot accommodate, a private class is worth the premium.

The Honest Verdict: Is It Worth Your Money?

YES, Take a Cooking Class If:

You enjoy cooking at home and want to recreate Thai dishes authentically. The market tour alone teaches you how to identify ingredients that most Thai cookbooks assume you already know.
You have never been to a Thai fresh market. The guided market tour is worth half the class fee by itself. Walking through a Thai market alone can be overwhelming. With an instructor, it becomes a food education.
You want a half-day activity. A cooking class fills 4-5 hours, includes a meal, and gives you a break from temple-hopping and beach-sitting. As a cost-per-hour activity, it is comparable to a snorkeling trip or a guided trek.
You are traveling as a couple. Cooking together is genuinely romantic and more memorable than another temple visit. This is one activity that couples consistently rate as a trip highlight.
You want to take something home. Unlike souvenirs that collect dust, cooking skills last. The recipe book from a good class becomes a working reference for years.

SKIP the Cooking Class If:

You are on an ultra-tight budget (under 500B/day) and every Baht counts. At 800-1,200B, a cooking class is 1.5-2 days of food budget. If that money means the difference between eating well and going hungry, eat the street food instead.
You never cook at home. Be honest with yourself. If your kitchen at home is purely decorative, you will enjoy the class in the moment but never use the recipes. Save the money for experiences you will actually build on.
You are in Thailand for less than 5 days. With limited time, eating at legendary street food stalls teaches you more about Thai food culture than cooking in a tourist kitchen. Prioritize eating over cooking.
You have already taken one. One cooking class in Thailand is a great experience. Two is repetitive. The dishes overlap heavily between schools. Unless you took a northern Thai class and want to try southern Thai, save your money.

The Budget Math

Is a 1,000B cooking class worth it compared to 1,000B of street food?

| Option | What You Get | |--------|-------------| | 1,000B cooking class | Market tour + 4-5 dishes you cook + recipe book + 4-5 hours of instruction + transport | | 1,000B street food | 20-25 individual street food meals over 3-4 days |

Both are valid uses of money. The class gives you education and a unique experience. The street food gives you quantity and variety. If you can afford both, do both. If you can only choose one, choose based on what you value more: learning or eating.

DIY Alternative: Learn from YouTube + Market

If you want to learn Thai cooking but cannot justify the price, here is the free alternative:

Step 1: Market Visit (Free)

Go to any Thai fresh market (Warorot in Chiang Mai, Or Tor Kor in Bangkok, any local morning market). Walk through slowly. Look at the ingredients. Take photos. Ask vendors the names of things — most will happily tell you.

Step 2: YouTube Channels (Free)

The best Thai cooking YouTube channels for beginners:

Pailin's Kitchen (Hot Thai Kitchen) — Thai-Canadian chef, clear instructions, excellent for home cooks. Recipes work with Western supermarket ingredients.
Mark Wiens — More travel-food than cooking instruction, but his Thai food videos show techniques and ingredients clearly.
Pai's Kitchen — Short, no-nonsense recipe videos focused on Thai street food classics.

Step 3: Cook at Your Hostel (Cost: Ingredients Only)

Many hostels in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and the islands have shared kitchens. Buy ingredients at a local market (50-100B for a full dish) and follow a YouTube recipe. Total cost: under 100B per dish.

What You Miss Without a Class

The market tour with an expert guide explaining each ingredient
The hands-on correction from an instructor (wok technique matters)
The equipment (most people do not have a proper wok burner at their hostel)
The social experience of cooking with other travelers
The confidence boost of knowing you CAN make Thai food from scratch

The DIY approach gives you 60% of the knowledge at 10% of the cost. The class gives you 100% of the experience at a fixed price. Both work.

What You Will Actually Learn (and What You Will Not)

What a Cooking Class Teaches Well

How to make curry paste from scratch. This is the single most valuable skill. Once you understand the mortar-and-pestle process, you can make any Thai curry. Most people have never pounded a fresh curry paste — it is physical work and deeply satisfying.
Ingredient identification. Galangal vs ginger. Thai basil vs holy basil vs sweet basil. Palm sugar vs white sugar. Kaffir lime leaves vs regular lime. These distinctions are critical and hard to learn from books.
Wok technique. How to heat the wok, when to add oil, how to toss, when to add each ingredient. Timing is everything in Thai stir-fries.
Balancing flavors. Thai cooking is about the balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy. A good instructor teaches you to taste and adjust, not just follow a recipe mechanically.
Curry coconut milk technique. Cracking the coconut cream first (letting it split in the wok before adding paste) is the foundation of every Thai curry. Most home cooks get this wrong.

What a Cooking Class Does Not Teach

How to cook for large groups. You are cooking single portions. Street food vendors cooking for hundreds have completely different techniques.
Advanced dishes. Classes stick to popular tourist-friendly dishes (pad thai, green curry, tom yum). You will not learn regional specialties like laab moo tod, gaeng hung lay, or kaeng tai pla.
Restaurant-speed cooking. Street food vendors operate at speeds that require years of practice. A 4-hour class does not replace a decade of experience.
Southern or Isaan cuisine. Most classes focus on central Thai dishes regardless of where you take the class. If you specifically want northern Thai (Chiang Mai) or southern Thai (Phuket), ask the school in advance if they teach regional dishes.

Practical Tips for Your Class

Before the Class

Book 1-3 days in advance during peak season (November-February). Off-season, same-day is usually fine.
Specify dietary requirements when booking (vegetarian, vegan, allergies, halal). Schools need time to adjust.
Choose the morning class — it includes the market tour, which afternoon classes skip.
Eat a light breakfast. You will cook and eat 3-5 full dishes during the class. You need stomach room.
Wear comfortable clothes you do not mind getting splattered. Cooking involves oil, turmeric, and chili paste — none of which come out of white clothing.

During the Class

Ask questions. Instructors love curious students. "Why this ingredient?" and "What if I cannot find this at home?" are great questions.
Take photos and videos of each step. The recipe book is helpful, but a 10-second video of the wok technique is worth more.
Do not be afraid to taste as you go. Thai cooking is about adjusting flavors. Taste the curry paste. Taste the soup. Add more lime, more fish sauce, more sugar until it tastes right to you.
Talk to the other students. Cooking classes are great for meeting people. You might make travel friends for the rest of your trip.

After the Class

Try the recipes within 2 weeks while the muscle memory is fresh. The longer you wait, the less you remember.
Buy Thai ingredients at home from an Asian grocery store. Most ingredients (curry paste, coconut milk, fish sauce, palm sugar) are available at any Asian supermarket worldwide.
Start with the curry paste. If you learn to make one thing from scratch, make it the curry paste. Everything else flows from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I join a class if I cannot cook at all?

Yes. Classes are designed for complete beginners. The ingredients are pre-measured, the instructions are step-by-step, and the instructor is there to help. You cannot fail.

What if I have food allergies?

Notify the school when booking. Most can accommodate nut allergies, gluten-free, shellfish allergies, and egg-free with advance notice. Severe allergies require a private class for safety.

Do I need to speak Thai?

No. All tourist-oriented cooking classes are taught in English. Some schools also offer classes in Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean — check their website.

Can kids join?

Most schools accept children aged 8+ when accompanied by a parent. Some have dedicated family classes. Ask when booking.

How far in advance should I book?

Peak season (November-February): 2-5 days in advance
Shoulder season (March-May, October): 1-2 days
Rainy season (June-September): Same day is usually fine

Is one class enough?

For most travelers, yes. If you want to go deeper, take a second class in a different city (e.g., one in Chiang Mai focusing on northern dishes, one in Phuket focusing on southern). But two classes in the same city will have significant dish overlap.

The Bottom Line

A Thai cooking class costs 800-1,500 Baht — roughly the same as 3-5 street food meals, a half-day snorkeling trip, or 2-3 nights of hostel accommodation. For that money, you get a food education, a hands-on cultural experience, a huge meal, and skills you can use for the rest of your life.

If you can afford it, take one. In Chiang Mai. In the morning. At a farm-based school. With the market tour.

And then go back to the night market that evening and eat everything you just learned to make — this time appreciating exactly how much skill and effort goes into a 50 Baht plate of pad thai.

Related Guides

Best Street Food in Bangkok — What to eat after your Bangkok cooking class
Chiang Mai on a Budget — How to eat well in Chiang Mai for under 100B per meal
Thai Food Guide for Beginners — What to order when everything on the menu is unfamiliar
Street Food Ordering Guide — Thai phrases for ordering at street stalls
Vegetarian and Vegan Thailand — Plant-based eating across the country