The vegetarian festival officially starts today, the 1st October, and runs until around the 9th October. I have heard a lot of people asking about what actually happens during this festival! The main festivities and ceremonies happen in Phuket, so what actually happens in Chiang Mai?
1. Thai Vegetarian Restaurants are open later and have free food.
Thai style local vegetarian restaurants which serve only Thai food and usually buffet style typically close fairly early. During the festival these stores will stay open later than normal and some will even have free food. They will be a lot busier than usual and in some of them you may even have to queue for your food. The Vegetarian Society of Chiang Mai is open every day from 6.00 AM until 2:00 PM including Saturday and Sunday (they are normally closed on these days.) Juices are 1 BAHT instead of 10 BAHT and they also have somtam for 1 BAHT per dish and many other dishes. As always, everything is 100% vegan. You need to wash your own dishes before you leave.
2. There are stalls set up around the city selling only vegan food – sometimes for free.
I have seen stalls at local temples in and outside of the centre, as well as on the sides of the road. Maya mall has a huge area with stalls set up every evening from 4PM until 10 PM. All the other shopping centres will have vegan markets on such as Central Festival, Airport Plaza and local markets. Some temples offer vegan food for free.
3. Chain Stores will have ready-made take away vegan food.
7-Eleven, Tesco Lotus, S N P Bakery, Black Canyon Cafe and other chain stores will have special jey menus and pre-packed ready to eat jey food. This has begun already since about one week ago and you can probably expect it to last until the end of the month. (Just be warned that although convenient this food is certainly not the healthiest.)
The Pizza Company are even offering vegan pizza with vegan cheese on it!
4. Amrita Garden will be holding a festival on the 8th and 9th October, the last two days of the festival.
5. The Edge Gastropub is a brand new vegan and vegetarian restaurant who are holding a soft opening party on the 9th October, and will be open normally after that. We are very excited about this opening.
6. Non veg places will sell vegan food.
Your local market will have special vegan food stalls and regular restaurants will offer vegan food in their menu. Personally, I urge you to support the restaurants that actually serve vegan food all year round where possible.
Eat well and enjoy your festival! It's a very convenient month for us this month!
For more information on the festival nationwide see this link: http://www.tatnews.org/events/thailands-annual-vegetarian-festival-2016/
For the YouTube video I made from the festival last year see this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCVp_hUwy48
Dee x
