Staycations can be so fun, but at the same time, let’s admit it: sometimes they can be just a bit, well, boring. It’s pretty much always the same: you pack your bags, check in, eat and sleep for two days, and then check out. Sure, sometimes all you want to do is nothing but rest and relax for a few days, but what about if you want all the luxuries of a weekend away at a hotel and the fun of, say, a jam-packed festival?
Enter: The upcoming Hamlet for Good festival in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown. From June 18-19, the chic ASAI Bangkok Chinatown hotel will be transformed into a hub brimming with activities related to music, wellness, food, art, and (of course) cocktails! What’s more – all net proceeds will be donated to CARE International, through the Raks Thai Foundation, which provides humanitarian assistance for victims of conflict worldwide.
Wondering just how much you can pack into a single weekend? Let us present to you the ultimate staycation itinerary.
Friday afternoon: Check into your room at ASAI Chinatown and unpack! To ensure that attendees can make the most out of everything The Hamlet for Good has to offer, ASAI Chinatown is offering event ticketholders special room rates starting at just THB1,500 (US$43) per night and which include complimentary access to the creative bar takeover (more on that in a bit!). Considering that tickets for the bar takeover are THB550 (US$14) at the door for non-guest/non-dinner ticket holders, paying a bit extra for a convenient room is already a great bargain if you ask us.
Friday evening: Since you’re in the heart of Chinatown after all, why not pretend to be a tourist for the day and explore the neighborhood? Not sure where to start? If you check out the ASAI Chinatown website, there’s a handy guide with a few suggestions for fun and interesting things to do nearby — although of course that’s by no means an exhaustive list.
Alternatively, if you’ve got some pesky last-minute work to take care of before you turn on that OOO mode for the weekend, bring your laptop down to the hotel’s tranquil outside organic garden space for a change of scenery. Want the best of both worlds and see (a bit of) Chinatown while you wrap up your last few Zoom calls? ASAI Chinatown’s also put together a list of nearby cafés and tea rooms that are so much cuter than your regular Starbucks.
Saturday morning: Grab breakfast at the onsite JAM JAM Eatery & Bar. We recommend the Chinatown Benedict which puts an extra twist on your classic hollandaise sauce, or The Skillet if you want to fill yourself up until lunchtime.
At 10am, The Hamlet kicks off with an Art Therapy workshop hosted by Peace Please, a local studio that aims to promote mental health and wellness through their workshops.
Saturday afternoon: For lunch, check out one of the many, many eateries around Chinatown, or head on over back to JAM JAM Eatery & Bar. The lunch menu covers a range of cuisines, with interesting options like the wonton pad thai or the cacao-braised pork belly.
Afterwards, you can either attend another art workshop — this one is titled Watercolour Paints, and is (as you may guess) a watercolour painting activity with renowned Thai artist Sand Suwanya.
If you’re an art aficionado but don’t feel up for participating in both workshops, another cool option to check out is the ASAI Play Art Fest, which will run until the late evening. The interactive exhibit is a collaboration with Play Art House, and will see 16 hotel rooms transformed into art spaces featuring work by 15 emerging artists. As guests wander between rooms, you’ll also be able to meet each artist and talk to them about their works, as well as have the opportunity to buy the actual pieces!
Saturday evening: The party kicks off at 6:30pm, where you’ll choose one of three dining options around the neighborhood: Thai cuisine featuring sustainably sourced ingredients at Hong Sieng Kong with Chefs Bo & Dylan and Num, an array of meat-based dishes at Patina with Chefs Paolo and Billy, or popular Thai dishes with an innovative spin at Baan Rim Naam with Chefs Joe, Sept, and Tle.
Once you’re done with whichever delicious menu you’ve opted for, a free shuttle service will bring guests back to the hotel where the party will already be in full swing, thanks to the Teens of Thailand’s bar takeover of JAM JAM Eatery & Bar. DJ trio Transport will keep the beats fun and steady all night long while you dance and drink the night away in the hotel’s vibrant courtyard.
Sunday morning: If you didn’t have too much fun last night and want to start off your Sunday feeling refreshed, make your way over to the morning yoga session hosted by Kru Jah.
Sunday afternoon: Alternatively, sleep in and nurture that hangover with Chefs Chalee Kader and Prin Polsuk’s special brunch takeover at JAM JAM Eatery & Bar. While you eat, DJ Kwoala and National Symphony Orchestra member The Cellist Flat will keep the atmosphere going with a mix of equally delightful beats.
And because this is an arts-centric festival after all, there’ll also be an ongoing live painting session by Bangkok-based artists Karina Retuert and Trey Hurst. See an original pic that you love? Guests will be able to bid on the pieces with the additional funds going towards CARE International.
Sunday evening: Wind down on the last night of your staycation, and start counting down the days until the next Hamlet for Good takeover.
You can book special room rates via www.asaihotels.com or by calling 02 220 8999.
Dinner and workshop tickets are available at www.ticketmelon.com/asaihotels/thehamletforgood2022.
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