ASEAN Gastronomy Network

ASEAN Gastronomy Network

11 countries.
One living food region.

We connect people, places and foodways to turn Southeast Asia’s culinary diversity into shared knowledge, stronger local economies and regenerative journeys.

Find your way in Explore the mission
Why AGN

Food is more than a destination asset. It is a living system.

From seed, soil and sea to kitchens, markets and memories, gastronomy carries knowledge across generations. AGN brings that whole system into view—and brings the people behind it into one regional conversation.

Our shared vision
To empower ASEAN through gastronomy as a tool for sustainable tourism, cultural diplomacy, regional pride and inclusive prosperity.
01

Preserve & promote

Safeguard food heritage, ingredients, techniques and indigenous knowledge by keeping them active and valued.

02

Innovate & integrate

Turn local strengths into creative enterprises, meaningful experiences and market-ready regional stories.

03

Educate & exchange

Build capability through peer learning, youth participation, practitioner exchange and open knowledge.

04

Celebrate & connect

Show what ASEAN shares while giving every place room to express its distinct food identity.

A network built through participation

Choose how you want to take part.

AGN is designed for cities, national focal points, educators, practitioners and organisations ready to contribute—not simply observe.

For cities & destinations

Become an ASEAN Gastronomy Capital

Use a shared development pathway to understand your food system, build local capacity and prepare for regional recognition.

  • Readiness and self-assessment
  • Capacity building and expert exchange
  • Evidence, storytelling and market connection
Take the self-assessment
For practitioners & leaders

Join a learning journey

Travel with peers, learn directly from local practitioners and turn field insight into practical gastronomy programmes.

  • Place-based learning visits
  • Hands-on tour and experience design
  • Cross-border peer exchange
Register your interest
For storytellers & experts

Share knowledge across ASEAN

Contribute a foodways story, city case, method or lesson to a growing regional knowledge commons.

  • Country stories and case studies
  • Webinars, tools and working sessions
  • Research and practitioner dialogue
Propose a contribution

Photo: Andrianto Anto079 / Pexels

Proposed pilot corridorSongkhla · Penang · Pekanbaru / Riau / Batam

ASEAN Gastronomy Capitals

A title should be the outcome of transformation—not the starting point.

The proposed Capitals pathway goes beyond famous dishes and restaurants. It helps a city understand its full food ecosystem, support the people who sustain it and build a credible, evidence-based route toward recognition.

  1. 01
    Shared criteria

    Develop clear regional guidelines grounded in heritage, sustainability, inclusion and creative economy.

  2. 02
    City readiness

    Form a local network, map the food system and complete a guided self-assessment.

  3. 03
    Capacity & exchange

    Strengthen gaps through labs, mentoring, peer cities and visits by multidisciplinary experts.

  4. 04
    Recognition & continuity

    Present evidence, share progress and keep improving through a regional learning community.

Take the readiness snapshot Start a city conversation

Learning journeys

Learn with places,
not just about them.

Our learning journeys bring policy leaders, educators, tour operators, chefs and community practitioners into the same field experience. Participants return with a working concept—not only inspiration.

See the whole systemProduction, preparation, culture, hospitality and post-consumption.
Design for real valueBuild experiences that are authentic, sellable and regenerative.
Exchange as equalsShare what works across different national and local contexts.
Host or join a journey

Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 4.0; cropped

The knowledge commons

Regional knowledge should travel.

AGN turns grounded practice into usable knowledge, so one place’s learning can unlock another place’s next step.

01

Foodways stories

First-person accounts of ingredients, techniques, rituals and the people keeping them alive.

02

City casebook

Practical lessons from destinations building inclusive gastronomy ecosystems.

03

Tools & methods

Shared frameworks for mapping, experience design, storytelling and assessment.

04

Regional dialogue

Webinars and working sessions connecting policy, education, community and enterprise.

The founding table

Four countries.
One shared beginning.

AGN was initiated by the Indonesia Gastronomy Network and Thailand Gastronomy Network and is now developing with Malaysia and Lao PDR. Each country brings an equal voice and a way of working that fits its own context.

Co-initiating countryIndonesiaView country profile Co-initiating countryThailandView country profile Current memberMalaysiaView country profile Current memberLao PDRView country profile

Building toward participation across all 11 ASEAN Member States

Brunei DarussalamCambodiaIndonesiaLao PDRMalaysiaMyanmarPhilippinesSingaporeThailandTimor-LesteViet Nam
National focal pointsConvene local voices and represent each country’s strengths.
Co-steering tableShape priorities, values, programmes and shared standards.
Working groupsAdvance Capitals, capacity building, knowledge and market connection.

The invitation

Bring your place.
Bring your knowledge.
Help shape the region.

Join AGN as a national focal point, city partner, learning host, knowledge contributor or strategic ally.

Express interest

Regional foundations

2018 ASEAN Joint Declaration on Gastronomy Tourism 2026–30 ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan ASEAN Member States