How I travel - Luke Nguyen - International Traveller

Intrepid Vietnamese-Australian chef and restaurateur Luke Nguyen walks us through his ideal travel itineraries, from Tokyo to Bolivia, including his foodie favourite. Read on for inspiration…

What is your first memory of travelling?

My very first overseas trip was to Tokyo. From Narita airport, I caught a train into town and I remember struggling up the stairs from the subway with my 25-kilogram backpack. I came up to ground level and my heavy load became light as a feather; I felt like I was floating in an awesome dream. Bright flashing lights, massive LCD screens, enormous billboards, thousands of ultra-cool people zipping past me as I stood still in amazement.

What do you love about travel?

For me, travel is what keeps me inspired, motivated and alive. Travel is when I learn the most. Discovering new cultures, traditions, history and, of course, food. I find travel keeps me young.

Where are you going next?

If it’s not for work, I always love to travel to new places. The next country on my wish list is India. Now I’m sure I’ll be blown away and love it, so it will most probably turn into my next TV series.

Cities or beaches?

Why not both? In Sydney, I live in Bondi, so I have the best of both worlds. When I’m travelling, I like to hit the cities for the diversity of the food offerings and absorb the energy and buzz of the place. When I’m on holidays, I like to be near a beach, which is where I can really wind down.

What’s your dream location?

My dream location has to be Salar de Uyuni. It’s the world’s largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometres. It is located in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí in south-west Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes. I travelled there over 20 years ago and it’s still the most magical and surreal place I’ve ever been to.

Luke Nguyen’s favourite food destination?

It’s a tie between Hong Kong and Tokyo. Both cities are rich in culture and the food offerings are very diverse. From street food delights to Michelin madness.

What’s always in your carry-on?

A small MacBook thingy, Bose noise-cancelling earphones, notepad, mints, sunglasses, international SIM cards, passport wallet, business cards and an unnecessary amount of pens.

Do you have a secret for beating jetlag?

As soon as I get on the plane I switch my watch to the local time at the destination so I adapt to that time zone straightaway, even if it means not sleeping for a while.

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Your favourite hotel and why?

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, built in 1901. I never got to experience the Indochine period in Vietnam, but every time I stay at the Metropole hotel, which is usually twice a year, I get transported back to the French colonial days of Vietnam.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

My favourite restaurant has to be my cousin Laurent’s Bistro Indochine in Paris. He cooks Vietnamese French cuisine extremely well and his hospitality is so warm and sincere. It is always my first port of call when I land in Paris; a home away from home.

MORE…

Luke Nguyen’s Street Food Asia is published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $60, and is available in stores nationally.

Want to find out how other movers and shakers travel? Check out…

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

How I travel: Luke Nguyen