From Australia to Wangdue: How a Bhutanese Couple Built a Business Back Home

After more than seven years in Australia, Yeshey Choden and Dawa Gyeltshen returned to Bhutan to raise their daughter and build Acho Daka, a family-focused business in Wangdue Phodrang.

Yeshey Choden and her husband, Dawa Gyeltshen, both in their 30s, returned to Bhutan in 2022 after spending more than seven years building their lives in Australia.

While many Bhutanese choose to settle overseas, the couple decided their future lay back home, a decision they say they have not regretted. Originally from Wangdue Phodrang in western Bhutan, Yeshey and Dawa said their strong ties to their hometown inspired them to return and build a business there.

Returning home to build a future

Entrepreneurship had long been part of the couple’s plan. According to Yeshey, the idea of starting a business in Bhutan had taken shape well before they left Australia, and returning home gave them the opportunity to turn that vision into reality.

The couple had secured permanent residency and bought a house in Australia, but the pull of home and their long-held ambition to build something of their own proved stronger. Leaving behind the stability they had established was not an easy decision.

For Yeshey and Dawa, returning to Bhutan also meant raising their family closer to loved ones and contributing to the community they came from. Even before moving to Australia, they had envisioned returning to Bhutan one day to establish their own business and build a future on their own terms.

Their decision was also shaped by a desire to preserve their connection to Bhutanese identity, values and culture for the next generation. Although life in Australia offered stability, they were concerned that their only daughter might grow up disconnected from her Bhutanese roots.

They waited until she was old enough to travel before making the move. Today, their four-year-old daughter is growing up in Bhutan, the home her parents chose to return to.

Acho Daka: A community space for families

The couple turned their long-held vision into reality by establishing Acho Daka in Bajo Wonjokha, Wangdue Phodrang.

What started as a modest restaurant and bar has gradually developed into a community-oriented business catering to different age groups. Today, the premises include a coffee shop, restroom facilities for travellers, an arcade, a soft play area for children and, most recently, an Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centre.

For the couple, the expansion has not been solely about growing the business. They say each new service was introduced in response to needs they observed in the community. Their aim is to create a space where families can dine, children can play and learn, and travellers can stop for a comfortable break under one roof.

The gradual transformation reflects their broader goal of running a business that serves both the local community and visitors to the area.

A name rooted in Bhutanese storytelling

There was no personal story behind the name Acho Daka. Instead, the couple chose it because of its familiarity to many Bhutanese.

Acho Daka is a character from Bhutanese folklore, remembered through stories passed down orally across generations. For Yeshey and Dawa, the name was simple, familiar and easy to remember, while also reflecting a connection to Bhutan’s storytelling traditions.

Building a loyal customer base

Although Acho Daka is located away from Bhutan’s main urban centres, the couple say customers continue to make the journey to visit the business.

Now in its fourth year, Acho Daka has developed a loyal customer base and has become a stopover for travellers and tourists exploring the Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang area.

The restaurant offers a broad menu catering to both Bhutanese and international tastes, reflecting the couple’s experience abroad while retaining local flavours.

Among its popular dishes are pork chilli and sikam salad, alongside international dishes such as creamy carbonara. The range of options attracts a mix of customers, including families, office workers, domestic travellers and international tourists passing through the Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang area.

Supporting local music and literature

Over the years, Acho Daka has developed into more than a place to eat. It also provides space for entertainment and local creative work.

On weekends, the venue hosts live music performances, giving local musicians an opportunity to perform for customers. The couple have also dedicated a corner of the restaurant to books by local authors, where writers can display and sell their work.

The initiative gives Bhutanese authors another space to reach readers while encouraging customers to discover locally produced literature.

Through these activities, Yeshey and Dawa hope Acho Daka can continue to serve as a gathering place for families while supporting local creative talent.

Finding opportunity at home

As Acho Daka continues to develop, Yeshey and Dawa hope it will remain a place where families can gather, local talent can find an audience and visitors can feel welcome.

Their experience also reflects a wider question facing many Bhutanese who have spent years overseas: whether the skills, savings and experiences gained abroad can create new possibilities after returning home.

For Yeshey and Dawa, that possibility has taken shape in Wangdue Phodrang. Today, as they watch their daughter grow up in Bhutan while continuing to develop their business, they believe returning home gave them the opportunity to build the life they had envisioned.

Address: Wonjokha Bajo, Thangu, Wangdue Phodrang 16001, Bhutan