After spending more than seven years in Australia, Yeshey Choden and her husband, Dawa Gyeltshen, returned to Bhutan in 2022 to build a business and raise their family closer to home.
Despite having permanent residency and a house in Australia, the couple chose to return, driven by their connection to Bhutan and a long-held ambition to become entrepreneurs. They also wanted their four-year-old daughter to grow up connected to Bhutanese culture, values and traditions.The couple established Acho Daka in Bajo Wonjokha, Wangdue Phodrang. What began as a small restaurant and bar has expanded into a community-oriented space featuring a coffee shop, traveller facilities, an arcade, a children’s soft-play area and an Early Childhood Care and Development centre.
Now in its fourth year, Acho Daka has become a popular stopover for families, travellers and tourists visiting the Punakha-Wangdue area. The restaurant serves both Bhutanese and international dishes, including pork chilli, sikam salad and carbonara.The couple also support local talent by hosting weekend live music and providing space for Bhutanese authors to display and sell their books.
For Yeshey and Dawa, the business represents more than entrepreneurship. They hope it will remain a welcoming space for families, travellers and local artists while demonstrating how skills and experience gained overseas can contribute to opportunities back home.
