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Vietnam Visa & Immigration Master Guide 2026: Comprehensive Legal & Practical Framework

May Ng — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 04:01:25 +0000

Navigating entry requirements for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has become increasingly digitized and streamlined. The rules applicable in 2026 are consolidated under Document No. 62/VBHN-VPQH, issued on March 23, 2026, which incorporates Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Law No. 51/2019/QH14, and Law No. 23/2023/QH15. Key policies, including Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP, Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, and Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP, further determine visa eligibility, exemptions, and permitted periods of stay for different categories of travelers.

For visitors, the practical question is not simply whether a visa is required, but which entry route applies to their nationality, purpose of travel, and intended length of stay. Depending on these factors, travelers may qualify for visa-free entry, apply for an electronic visa, or use a specific exemption or immigration arrangement. Understanding these distinctions can help avoid unnecessary applications, incorrect visa types, or problems at the border.

Vietnam’s entry requirements vary by nationality, travel purpose, and length of stay, making it important for travelers to understand which option applies before arrival. | Source: Vietnam Visa Online

Whether you are planning a short leisure holiday, a 90-day multi-city remote-work journey, or a longer visit connected to Vietnamese family roots as an Overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu), the appropriate entry pathway can vary considerably. Travelers seeking extended access may also consider the 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.

This verified 2026 guide explains the main entry options in practical terms, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, administrative fees, passport requirements, permitted lengths of stay, and key obligations after entering Vietnam. It also highlights important distinctions between visa exemption, e-visa entry, and longer-term exemption arrangements so that travelers can determine which option best matches their circumstances.

The guide is intended to serve as a practical roadmap from pre-travel preparation through arrival and compliance during the authorized stay. While visa approval or exemption establishes the basis for travel, visitors must still satisfy the applicable entry conditions and comply with the terms of their immigration status once in Vietnam.

Legal Framework & 2026 Immigration Policy Overview

Vietnam’s immigration system is increasingly moving toward digital processes, integrating online services to simplify procedures for foreign travelers and residents. | Source: Hai Phong news

Vietnam’s modern entry infrastructure is anchored by statutory instruments designed to balance national security with tourism and investment facilitation:

Consolidated Immigration Law: Document No. 62/VBHN-VPQH (consolidated as of March 23, 2026), serving as the foundational statute governing foreign nationals’ entry, transit, and residence.
Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP: Authorizes electronic visa (E-Visa) issuance to citizens of all countries and territories worldwide, granting up to 90 days of validity for single or multiple entries.
Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP & Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP: Formulate bilateral and unilateral visa exemptions for citizens of designated nations under broader socioeconomic and tourism development strategies.
Decree No. 82/2015/ND-CP: Regulates the issuance, extension, and management of the 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate for Overseas Vietnamese and their foreign family members.

Short-Term Visa Exemptions (14 to 45 Days)

Travelers seeking short-term entry may enter Vietnam without a pre-arranged visa, provided they meet specific nationality and documentation criteria.

Visa exemption policies allow eligible travelers from selected countries to visit Vietnam for short stays without applying for a visa in advance. | Source: Vinpearl

Unilateral 45-Day Exemption

Citizens of the following 12 countries—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland—are eligible for a visa exemption allowing stays of up to 45 days from the date of entry into Vietnam under Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP. The policy is currently in effect from March 15, 2025, through March 14, 2028. Travelers must meet Vietnam’s applicable entry requirements, including valid passport requirements. Depending on the circumstances, airlines or immigration authorities may also request evidence relating to onward or return travel.

ASEAN Bilateral Reciprocal Exemptions

Citizens holding ordinary passports issued by Southeast Asian (ASEAN) member states benefit from reciprocal agreements:

30 Days: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos.
21 Days: Philippines.
14 Days: Brunei, Myanmar.

Phu Quoc Island Special Economic Zone Exemption (30 Days)

Foreign nationals traveling directly to Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) or entering via maritime transport are permitted a visa-free stay of up to 30 days on Phu Quoc Island. Travelers transiting through mainland international hubs (such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City) remain eligible for this exemption provided they clear transit formalities strictly within designated airport zones before boarding the connecting domestic flight to Phu Quoc.

The 90-Day Electronic Visa (E-Visa) — The Standard Route

The E-Visa system acts as the primary entry channel for independent international tourists, digital nomads, and short-term business travelers.

Vietnam’s e-visa system allows eligible foreign travelers to complete applications online, from submitting personal information to receiving electronic visa results. | Source: Tuoi tre news

Key Specifications & Parameters

Eligible Nationalities: Citizens of all countries and territories worldwide.
Validity Period: Maximum of 90 days from the declared entry date.
Entry Types: Available for both Single Entry and Multiple Entries.
Authorized Ports: Accepted across all designated international border checkpoints—including international airports, land border gates, and seaports—as sanctioned by Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP.

Official Government Fees

Single Entry E-Visa: USD 25 (non-refundable statutory state fee).
Multiple Entry E-Visa: USD 50 (non-refundable statutory state fee).

Important Advisory on Third-Party Portals: Travelers must exclusively utilize official government channels. Numerous commercial intermediary sites charge excessive markup fees or imitate official design. Official applications must be processed directly through government portals utilizing the .gov.vn domain extension.

Step-by-Step Application Workflow

1. Digital Preparation: Prepare a clear, high-resolution scan of your passport data page and a recent portrait photograph (taken against a plain white background, without glasses).

2. Access Official Portal: Navigate to the official portal here.

3. Data Entry: Complete the electronic application form with precise biographical data, intended itinerary, residential address in Vietnam, and exact entry/exit checkpoints.

4. Fee Settlement: Complete payment via the secure government electronic payment gateway.

5. Tracking & Retrieval: Save your unique registration code to monitor processing status, then download and print the approved PDF E-Visa document for presentation at immigration control.

The 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate — For Viet Kieu & Family

Governed under Decree No. 82/2015/ND-CP, the 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate is designed for Overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu) and foreign nationals who are spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens or Overseas Vietnamese.

Key Entitlements & The 180-Day Rule

Certificate Validity: Valid for up to 5 years, provided the underlying passport maintains a validity span exceeding the certificate expiration by at least 6 months.
The 180-Day Stay Limit: Each individual entry grants a continuous temporary residence period of up to 180 days. Exceeding this 180-day threshold requires filing a formal temporary residence extension application (using Form NA5) via sponsoring family members through the local provincial immigration office.

Official Fees & Processing Timelines

Statutory State Fee: USD 10 when applying domestically inside Vietnam; USD 20 when applying via an overseas diplomatic mission or Vietnamese embassy, subject to local consular exchange rates and administrative handling costs.
Statutory Processing Time: Exactly 5 working days from the date of receiving a complete, compliant dossier, as stipulated under Article 7 of Decree No. 82/2015/ND-CP.

Essential In-Country Rules & Compliance

Temporary Residence Declaration (Thông Báo Lưu Trú)

Under Article 33 of Document No. 62/VBHN-VPQH, the management or host of any accommodation establishment (including hotels, homestays, serviced apartments, or private family hosts) is legally mandated to declare the foreign guest’s temporary residence to the local communal police station within 12 hours of arrival (or 24 hours for remote, mountainous, or border areas). Commercial lodging properties typically manage this requirement automatically upon check-in.

Temporary residence declarations are a key compliance step for foreigners in Vietnam, typically handled by hotels, homestays, and other accommodation providers upon arrival. | Source: Government News

Security Warning Regarding Fraudulent Portals

Foreign visitors should remain highly vigilant against unverified third-party websites mimicking official state channels. Authentic immigration processing portals operated by the Vietnamese government exclusively maintain the .gov.vn web domain suffix.

Directory of Official Government Portals

Official E-Visa Portal

This is the official electronic visa portal operated for Vietnam’s e-visa application process. Foreign travelers who require an e-visa should use the government portal rather than relying on similarly named commercial websites.

Visit the official Vietnam E-Visa Portal here.

Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal

This portal provides online public services administered by Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, including services and procedures related to immigration and other areas under the Ministry’s authority.

Visit the official Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal here.

5-Year Visa Exemption Portal — Consular Department

This portal is associated with Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and provides information and services relating to the five-year visa exemption certificate for eligible overseas Vietnamese and qualifying foreign spouses or children under the applicable regulations.

Visit the official 5-Year Visa Exemption Portal — Consular Department here.

National Temporary Residence Declaration System

This is the online system used for temporary residence declarations for foreigners staying in Vietnam. Accommodation providers and hosts can use the system to submit the required temporary residence information to the competent authorities.

Visit the official National Temporary Residence Declaration System here.

Electronic Identification (eID) For Foreigners In Vietnam: What You Need To Know

Anh Trang — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:23:06 +0000

From July 1, 2025, foreigners legally residing in Vietnam can apply for an electronic identification (eID) account. The account allows them to integrate essential documents, such as their passport and temporary residence card, into one digital platform. They can then use the eID account in place of these documents for various public services.

The new regulation, Decree No. 320/2026 which will take effect on September 28, 2026 makes the process much easier by eliminating some complicated procedures and requirements and introducing clear guidelines for foreigners applying for the eID account.

Here is what you need to know about this form of identification.

A One Place For All Documents In Vietnam

According to the Vietnamese government, an eID account allows foreigners to access Vietnam’s online public services through the national VNeID platform. It also allows them to store essential documents, including their passports, temporary residence cards, and driving licences, in one place and present them when accessing public services without having to carry the original documents.

You can access all documents on the VNeID platform. | Source: Vietnam News Agency

Many public services, such as vehicle registration and temporary residence registration, can be completed using the eID account instead of physical documents. However, the account cannot replace physical documents for procedures at some banks or at immigration and border-control.

Visa or work permit applications still require applicants to register in person at a police office and have not yet been integrated into VNeID. However, an eID account can replace physical documents for identity verification during these procedures.

The account can also reduce the number of in-person visits to government offices simply to present physical documents. With electronic identity verification, some procedures can be processed more quickly, making administrative processes more convenient for foreigners.

Besides the convenience it offers, the eID system also provides the government with a way to manage foreigners’ activities in Vietnam beyond immigration and border control.

Foreigners Can Apply Without The Residence Card

Under Decree No. 320/2026, foreigners only need to enter or legally reside in Vietnam to register for an eID account if they wish to do so. They will no longer be required to hold a temporary or permanent residence card.

Following the new regulation, eID accounts will be available not only to foreigners working in Vietnam but also to tourists entering the country on an e-visa and staying in Vietnam legally.

Even foreign tourists can apply for the eID account. Source: Vietnam Government Press

For foreigners under the age of 14, as well as those under guardianship or representation, the relevant procedures must be carried out with the participation of their legal representative or guardian, as required by law.

Foreigners can also request to have their eID accounts locked if they are no longer in Vietnam or no longer wish to use the account. The request must be submitted through the VNeID app. Once received, the electronic identification and authentication system will automatically record, verify and authenticate the request before locking the account.

How Can A Foreigner Apply For An eID Account?

There is currently no online application process that allows foreigners to apply for an eID account remotely or from outside Vietnam. Those who wish to register must complete the process in person at the Immigration Management Authority of the provincial or municipal police in the area where they reside.

The application process involves the following steps:

1. Visit the Immigration Management Authority

Applicants must visit the Immigration Management Authority of the provincial or municipal police in person.

2. Present a valid travel document

Applicants must present their passport or another valid international travel document.

3. Complete the application form

Applicants must fill out the Application for an Electronic Identification Account (Form TK01), providing their phone number registered in Vietnam, an email address if available, and information on any other documents they wish to integrate into their VNeID account.

4. Provide biometric information

A police officer will enter the applicant’s information into the system and collect their facial image and fingerprints for verification against the national immigration database.

5. Set up the VNeID app

Applicants will be instructed to download and install the VNeID app and provide the required information according to the instructions on the app.

6. Receive the result

The competent authority will review the application and notify applicants of the result through the VNeID app, their registered phone number, or email address.

The processing time depends on whether the applicant’s biometric data is already available in the system. It can be processed within two working days if the applicant’s facial and fingerprint data is already available, or five working days if biometric data has not yet been collected.

There is no fee for registering for an eID account through the electronic identification and authentication system or for using the account in electronic transactions.

Foreigners must visit the Immigration Management Authority to apply for the eID account. | Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam PIT 2026: Five Payroll Changes Employers Could Easily Get Wrong

Vilasia Law Firm — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:33:23 +0000

A benefit that an employer continues to provide in the same way as last year may not receive the same tax treatment this year.

From 2026, new personal income tax (PIT) rules change the treatment of many familiar payroll items. These include meal allowances, housing, night work and overtime, payments for untaken annual leave, amounts paid after an employee leaves, the 10% withholding threshold, annual tax finalisation where an individual earns additional income elsewhere, and the income ceiling for dependants. Most of these changes apply to the 2026 tax year. The VND 1.2 million meal-allowance cap is different, as it applies only from 1 July 2026.

1. The VND 1.2 Million Meal-Allowance Cap Has Its Own Start Date

Where an employer pays a mid-shift meal or lunch allowance in cash, up to VND 1.2 million per employee per month is excluded from taxable income. Any excess is subject to PIT. By contrast, meals organised by the employer through an in-house kitchen, catered meals or meal vouchers are not included in taxable income.

Employer-organised meals and cash meal allowances both support employees, but do not receive exactly the same tax treatment. | Source: Tuoi Tre

The easy mistake is timing. Unlike most new salary and wage rules, which apply throughout the 2026 tax year, the VND 1.2 million cap applies only from 1 July 2026. Employers should therefore not automatically use the new cap to recalculate the period from January to June.

The operational issue is not only the amount. Payroll systems should distinguish a cash payment from a meal organised by the employer, because the two forms of support receive different tax treatment.

2. Employer-built Housing Is Not The Same As Rent Paid On An Employee's Behalf

A benefit arising from housing or worker accommodation built by an employer for its employees is not included in taxable income. This also covers electricity, water and related services associated with that housing.

The result is different where the employer rents accommodation from a third party or pays an employee's rent, electricity, water or related service costs. These amounts are taxable at the actual amount paid, subject to a cap of 15% of the employee's total taxable income arising at that employer, excluding the housing benefit itself.

An externally rented apartment does not become "employer-built housing" merely because the employer is named in the lease or makes the payment directly. The correct classification turns on the substance of the housing arrangement, not only how the employer accounts for or labels the benefit in payroll.

3. Night Work, Overtime and Untaken Leave Require A More Cautious Reading

Under the new wording, salary and wages for night work or overtime are exempt from PIT where the work is performed in accordance with the conditions and working-time requirements of labour law. Official Letter No. 2231/CST-TN presents this as a change from the previous rule, under which the exemption was limited to the amount paid above the normal daytime or normal-hours rate.

This is the most notable change, but also the one requiring the greatest caution in its first year. Employers should not assume that every payment labelled "overtime" is automatically exempt from PIT. Working hours, overtime conditions, payment levels and supporting records must comply with labour law. The income-paying organisation must also prepare and retain a schedule of the relevant hours and amounts paid, and produce it if requested by the tax authority.

For night work and overtime, the label on the payslip is not enough. Working hours, overtime conditions and supporting records determine the tax treatment. | Source: Kenh14.vn

The new framework also exempts wages paid for untaken annual leave, but only where the payment falls within the circumstances and amounts permitted by law. Under the Labour Code, the obligation to make such a payment arises where an employee leaves employment or loses their job without having taken all accrued annual leave. The exemption should not automatically be extended to every scheme that allows employees to exchange unused leave for cash while they remain employed.

4. VND 5 Million and VND 15 Million Are Different Tests

For an individual who does not sign a labour contract, or signs one for less than three months, the payer must withhold PIT at 10% where each payment is VND 5 million or more. The previous threshold was VND 2 million per payment. This rule also covers salary and wage payments made after the labour contract has ended.

The VND 5 million threshold is tested on a per-payment basis. It does not replace, and should not be confused with, the separate annual-finalisation rule. Additional income earned from another payer may not need to be included in the individual's annual finalisation where it does not exceed VND 15 million per month on average during the year and has already been subject to 10% withholding.

An employer making a post-termination payment must therefore determine the withholding obligation at the time of payment. Whether the individual must later include that amount in their annual finalisation is a separate question.

5. The Dependant Income Ceiling Is Higher, But The Paperwork Has Not Disappeared

A dependant is treated as having no or low income where average monthly income from all sources does not exceed VND 3 million. This is the income ceiling for qualifying as a dependant. It is not the monthly deduction available to the taxpayer.

Compared with the previous VND 1 million threshold, the change may bring more people within the rules. Examples may include parents with modest income or adult children who work part-time but earn little.

The tax authority is required first to use information available through the National Public Service Portal, tax administration systems, national databases and specialised databases. Only where those sources cannot be used must the taxpayer provide the prescribed supporting documents. The income-paying organisation nevertheless remains responsible for retaining and producing dependant records when requested.

Digitisation may reduce paperwork in some cases. It is not a reason for employers to abandon document controls.

The income ceiling for qualifying as a dependant has increased, but employers' responsibility to control and retain the supporting records remains unchanged. | Source: iStock

What Should Employers Do Before The 2026 Annual Finalisation?

Employers should take five steps:

review payroll codes for meal allowances, housing, overtime, untaken leave and post-termination payments;
distinguish clearly between benefits in kind, cash allowances and amounts paid on an employee's behalf;
strengthen time records, overtime approvals, payment schedules and the legal basis for payments for untaken leave;
update payroll systems for the VND 5 million, VND 15 million and VND 3 million thresholds; and
review returns filed during the first six months of 2026 and deal with any differences through the 2026 annual finalisation rather than automatically amending each periodic return.

The significance of this reform is not limited to tax rates or deduction amounts. The greater risk lies in classifying a payment incorrectly, applying the right rule from the wrong date, or lacking the records needed to defend the chosen tax treatment. The 2026 annual finalisation will be the first time these issues are tested together.

The Bottom Line

Employers should pay particular attention to five points:

Cash meal allowances for mid-shift meals or lunch are exempt only up to VND 1.2 million per employee per month, and the new cap applies from 1 July 2026.
Employer-built housing may be tax-exempt, while rent paid on an employee's behalf may be taxable.
The new wording on night work and overtime is broader than before, but the exemption remains closely tied to labour-law conditions and supporting records. Payment for untaken annual leave is exempt only where it complies with labour law.
The 10% withholding threshold is VND 5 million for each payment. The VND 15 million average-monthly threshold is a separate annual-finalisation test for additional income earned elsewhere.
A dependant may have average monthly income of up to VND 3 million, but employers must still maintain proper document controls.

Primary legal sources:

Decree No. 253/2026/ND-CP dated 30 June 2026, effective from 1 July 2026.
Circular No. 87/2026/TT-BTC dated 30 June 2026, effective from 1 July 2026.
The 2019 Labour Code, in particular Articles 107 and 113.3.
Official Letter No. 2231/CST-TN dated 31 July 2026 and its accompanying appendix.

Vilasia is a Vietnamese law firm specialising in M&A, venture capital, finance and competition law. The firm was named Best New Law Firm at the Vietnam Law Firm Awards 2026, organised by Asia Business Law Journal.

Where To Dine And Stay In Danang And Hoi An In 2026

Hao Tran — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 05:28:43 +0000

For years, the standard line on Central Vietnam was that you came for the beach, the Ancient Town, and the banh mi, in that order. But over the past two years, something quieter and more interesting has been happening between Danang and Hoi An: a generation of chefs, hoteliers, and architects has decided that this stretch of coastline deserves the same ambition we usually reserve for Saigon and Hanoi.

So when people ask me how I would do the Central Coast now, my answer has changed. Four nights. Two hotels. Three dinners worth planning a trip around. And one evening on the river that I think will become the signature experience of the region.

Night One: Land In Danang, Eat Immediately

The beauty of Danang is that you can be off the plane and at a dinner table within the hour, and the table is now the point. The city’s dining scene has quietly become one of the country’s most compelling, driven by individuals building something personal here rather than big hospitality groups.

My first stop is Westwood. Executive chef Curtis Demyon, who opened the restaurant with co-founder Vivian Tran in 2025, cooks almost everything over a wood fire, and the menu reads like a love letter to Central Vietnam written in a West Coast accent. Wood-fired focaccia arrives with bone marrow butter. There is a pho beef tartare that should not work and absolutely does. The dry-aged ribeye, finished over the fire with Vietnamese accents, is the kind of dish that makes you recalculate what this city is capable of. Wow is the right word.

Curtis Demyon, Chef & Co-founder of Westwood. | Source: The Dot Magazine

From freshly baked focaccia to fire-finished ribeye, Westwood showcases how Da Nang’s dining scene is moving beyond tradition into a more ambitious culinary future. | Source: Westwood

Their team is globally trained with chef Curtis plying his trade in Saigon previously, helming the award-winning Elgin restaurant which was selected by Michelin Guide. He brings his know-how to Danang now.

My latest visit happened to land during a special residency by Hong Kong based chef John Nguyen, a Black Sheep Restaurants alum like Curtis himself, who spent two weeks in the kitchen working the fire alongside him on a fresh menu. I absolutely loved it, the pot pie and the ceviche above all, and I am openly lobbying for both to stay on the menu for future visits.

I hope John comes back soon.

Chef John Nguyen and his residency menu at Westwood. | Source: Black Sheep Restaurants/Westwood

If I have more than one Danang evening, and on this itinerary I do, the second belongs to Le Comptoir. Chef Olivier Corti has built a French fine dining room that has earned a Michelin Selection nod three years running, but the reason I keep coming back is the pairing of his kitchen with Myriam, the sommelier. The restaurant is built around interaction with the team, which keeps the whole evening conversational though only just enough to have privacy, and Myriam’s wine program turns dinner into something closer to a guided tour. Tell her what you like, then let her overrule you. She will be right.

Source: Danang Fantasticity

Olivier Corti (left), Founder and Executive Chef, and Myriam Moretto (right), Co-founder and Sommelier of Le Comptoir. | Source: Le Comptoir

My latest visit to Le Comptoir was a few years after the first. Since then, they’ve expanded the restaurant to also include private dining which is a perfect setting for medium sized groups.

To me, Le Comptoir is the perfect example of east meets west, and it is possibly my vote for the best restaurant in Vietnam. What makes that claim easier to defend is the bill. For the value and service it delivers, it is not pricey at all: a set menu comes in around 2 million VND ++, less than half the price of similar Michelin star venues in Vietnam, before alcohol of course.

And for the night when you want the volume turned down, there is Gu Wine Bistro, a French bistro and wine bar that feels like it was airlifted in from a Lyon side street and then relaxed by the sea air. Nice is underselling it. A bottle, a few plates, no agenda: this is where a weekend starts to feel like one.

Source: Gụ Wine Bistro

Nights One And Two: Namia, And An Evening On The Thu Bon

After dinner, I head south. The drive from Danang to Hoi An takes about forty minutes, which is short enough that the two cities function as one destination and long enough that arriving feels like a change of state.

Here I should declare a bias: I prefer to stay in Hoi An. Danang is the better base for those who prefer the city, its energy, its skyline, its beach clubs and rooftop bars. But my ideal version of this weekend sleeps by the river and lets Danang handle the dinners.

If you do go the city route, my pick is Fusion Resort & Villas Da Nang, the larger-scale counterweight to Hoi An’s cosiness: 85 villas, a 157-room tower, and the flagship Maia Spa, where general manager Mario Mendis has pushed wellness further than most, down to a red light therapy room, an innovation you do not yet expect on this coast. Danang for scale, Hoi An for something cosier. That is the shape of the trip.

Source: Fusion Resorts

My first two nights are at Namia River Retreat, on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Namia opened in late 2024 as Hoi An’s first wellness-inclusive resort, and it has since joined Small Luxury Hotels of the World, but the labels undersell what makes it work. The property understands that Hoi An’s real luxury is not thread count. It is the river: the fishermen at dawn, the light in the late afternoon, the sense that the town’s entire history flowed past this exact spot.

Source: Namia River Retreat

Which brings me to the one activity on this itinerary that sets a new bar for river activities in Hoi An: The Merchant, Namia’s new evening river cruise. Launched this year, it is a two-and-a-half-hour journey downriver toward the Ancient Town, timed to the sunset. You start with sundowners and canapes on the open upper deck, then move to a five-course dinner inspired by the Spice Route that once made Hoi An one of Asia’s great trading ports. Central coast seafood, herbs from organic farms, storytelling woven through the service. It could easily tip into theme park territory. It never does. Watching the lantern glow of the Ancient Town rise off the water while eating food that traces the trade routes that built it is the rare experience that makes the history legible. This is the evening I would build the whole trip around.

Experience The Merchant river cruise at Namia River Retreat. | Source: Tatler

Source: Tatler

Nights Three And Four: NHAAN, The New Arrival

For the second half of the stay, I switch to NHAAN Resort & Spa, the property everyone in Vietnamese hospitality has been watching this year. Opened in August in Cam Thanh village, along the Co Co River between the Ancient Town and Cua Dai Beach, it is the first Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Vietnam.

NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. | Source: Hilton

Two things set it apart. The first is the architecture. NHAAN was designed by Vo Trong Nghia, the Vietnamese architect who has done more than anyone to define a national language of green building, and his biophilic approach runs through all 174 rooms: local stone, timber, organic textures, and craft details that nod to the 500-year woodworking legacy of nearby Kim Bong Carpentry Village. The name itself combines nha, home, and an, peace, and the property takes the promise seriously.

The second is rhythm. Where Namia is about the river, NHAAN is about slowing your pulse: a rooftop spa, an infinity pool, a yoga deck, lantern-making and pottery workshops, and bicycles for disappearing into the rice paddies of Cam Thanh. After two nights of ambitious dinners and a river cruise, this is precisely the gear change the back half of a long weekend needs.

Why This Itinerary, And Why Now?

A split stay across two hotels for four nights sounds indulgent until you realize what it actually gives you: two entirely different readings of the same place. Namia gives you Hoi An as a river town, alive with commerce and history. NHAAN gives you Hoi An as a sanctuary, designed by one of our best architects for the way people actually want to rest now. Danang, thirty minutes up the coast, supplies the dinners that neither city could have offered five years ago.

That is the real story here. The Central Coast is no longer a place where great hospitality occasionally happens. It is a place where chefs like Curtis Demyon and Olivier Corti choose to plant flags, where a homegrown resort launches a river cruise polished enough to anchor a trip, and where a global brand makes its Vietnam debut with a local architect’s vision rather than a template. Four nights is enough to see all of it. Barely.

Come hungry, book the cruise, and let Myriam pick the wine.

Beyond "Vietnamese Mochi": The Ancient, Savory Soul Of Bánh Giầy

Vũ Anh — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:56:42 +0000

Everyone talks about Japanese mochi. But Vietnam has a version that might be even better.

At least, that is the pitch currently making the rounds on social media. One recent post introduces the discovery with a familiar internet formula: POV: You found best mochi... but in Vietnam. The description then gets to the surprise: soft, chewy sticky rice wrapped around savory Vietnamese pork sausage.

Whether you type the traditional bánh giầy or search for 'Vietnamese mochi,' the internet points to the exact same destination: two pillowy discs of pounded sticky rice sandwiching a thick slice of savory pork sausage.

This iconic staple is known as bánh giầy kẹp giò in the North, or bánh dày kẹp chả in Southern parlance.

To Vietnamese people, there is nothing particularly mysterious about it. Bánh giầy is a traditional glutinous rice cake, usually white, round and flat, made by cooking sticky rice and pounding it until it becomes smooth and elastic. The savory version is commonly eaten with giò lụa, Vietnam’s steamed pork sausage, tucked between two pieces of the cake.

The traditional glutinous rice cake is is commonly eaten with giò lụa, Vietnam’s steamed pork sausage. | Source: Yểng Quán

To the global algorithm, it is a viral plot twist. To anyone raised in Vietnam, it is simply breakfast.

The Craft And Texture Of An Everyday Breakfast

Sticky rice with pork sausage is neither a modern fusion experiment nor a secret hidden gem. It is an unpretentious morning staple grabbed from a street vendor, unwrapped from a slick banana leaf, and eaten on the move.

The comparison to Japanese mochi is understandable; both share an East Asian lineage of pounded sticky rice. But authentic bánh giầy is not made by whisking glutinous rice flour with water into a modern dough. It is forged through rhythmic physical labor. Hot, cooked sticky rice (lúa nếp) is pounded relentlessly in a mortar until the individual grains collapse into a smooth, springy, uniform mass.

Traditional, unadorned bánh giầy. | Source: Báo Sức khỏe & Đời sống

Compared to mochi, a proper bánh giầy offers a noticeably thicker, firmer bite with a toothsome, resilient chew. The rice cake itself remains intentionally quiet, carrying only the subtle, clean sweetness of the grain and the herbaceous aroma of the warm banana leaf on which it sits.

When paired with a thick slab of giò lụa (or cinnamon-scented chả quế and savory pork floss), the result is a masterclass in balance. The soft canvas of the rice absorbs the savory, garlic-and-peppery snap of the meat, with a little grains of salt and pepper in a quiet harmony.

From Ancient Cosmology To The Morning Rush

Calling bánh giầy “Vietnamese mochi” works as a convenient shortcut, but it strips away thousands of years of cultural memory.

In Vietnamese mythology, bánh giầy sits at the origin of the nation’s culinary identity. Legend holds that during the reign of the Sixth Hùng King, Prince Lang Liêu created two simple rice cakes to prove his filial devotion: bánh chưng, a square green cake symbolizing the Earth, and bánh giầy, a pristine, round white dome representing the Sky.

An illustration depicting Prince Lang Liêu and his wife presenting the humble rice cakes that would define Vietnamese culinary heritage for millennia. | Source: Illustration by Vũ Đình Tuấn

While bánh chưng remains the sacred centerpiece of the Lunar New Year feast, bánh giầy seamlessly integrated into everyday life, transitioning over centuries from an ancient cosmological symbol into an accessible street food sold on nearly every city block.

The Traps, Utility, And Future of Food Translation

The internet loves a shortcut, and framing native delicacies as the "Vietnamese version" of a globally recognizable food has become a ubiquitous habit:

Bánh tráng nướng becomes "Vietnamese Pizza"
Bánh xèo gets dubbed a "Vietnamese Taco"
Bánh giầy becomes "Vietnamese Mochi"

These comparative lenses act as cognitive scaffolding. For a first-time eater, hearing the word "mochi" immediately sets an expectation for what the food will feel like in the mouth: soft, elastic, and delightfully chewy.

The downside, of course, is that indigenous food culture gets reframed entirely around someone else’s vocabulary. Bánh giầy was not created to answer Japan’s mochi, nor does it seek to copy it. It evolved independently in the river deltas of Vietnam, shaped by regional rice varieties, ancestral preservation techniques, and local butchery traditions.

Yet this trend points to a broader, ongoing shift in global food culture where food discovery is driven less by traditional flavor profiles and far more by texture. Across East and Southeast Asia, there is a long-standing appreciation for foods with a springy, elastic, pleasantly chewy bite, often described as “QQ” in Taiwanese and Chinese food culture. Mochi, boba, tangyuan and glutinous rice cakes all tap into this same textural pleasure.

Vietnam has no shortage of it. Its long tradition of working with glutinous rice, or lúa nếp, has produced an entire repertoire of soft, sticky and satisfyingly chewy foods, many of which are only now being introduced to international audiences through the familiar language of mochi.

We saw this exact dynamic play out with bánh ram ít. The Central Vietnamese classic from Huế, a pillow-soft glutinous rice dumpling stuffed with savory pork and shrimp, balanced atop a crisp, golden fried rice wafer, ignited social media feeds across North America and Europe. International food creators tagged it as a "savory fried mochi," transfixed by the ASMR crunch-and-chew contrast.

If this global "mochi lens" continues to serve as an entryway for international diners, bánh giầy and bánh ram ít are merely the opening acts. Vietnam’s sticky rice heritage (lúa nếp) is vast, regional, and endlessly inventive.

It leaves us asking: which humble sticky rice creation will be the next to be "discovered" by the algorithm?

Chè trôi nước / Bánh ngào: Visually the closest traditional cousins to mochi with silky, elastic glutinous rice spheres filled with velvety mung bean, swimming in a warm, fragrant pool of golden ginger syrup and coconut cream (or steeped in dark, glowing sugarcane molasses in Central regions).

The elastic glutinous rice spheres filled with velvety mung bean, swimming in a warm, fragrant pool of golden ginger syrup. | Source: Báo Lâm Đồng

Bánh ít lá gai: Central Vietnam’s glossy, jet-black delicacy, crafted from finely milled glutinous rice pounded with the herbaceous extract of ramie leaves, wrapped around sweet mung bean or toasted coconut.
Bánh khúc: Bắc Ninh’s legendary crescent-shaped delicacy—emerald-green pockets of elastic glutinous dough kneaded with wild cudweed (lá khúc), hand-pinched around a savory core of peppery mung bean, rich pork, and crunchy wood ear mushrooms.

Northern Vietnam’s iconic half-moon cudweed dumpling. | Source: Tạp chí Người Hà Nội

None of these dishes need to be rebranded as "ginger mochi," "black mochi," or "herbal mochi to prove their culinary worth. But if those familiar hooks encourage an international audience to take that first bite, they serve a clear purpose: a gateway that invites the world to look past the translation, unwrap the leaf, and savor the distinct, ancient soul of Vietnamese cuisine on its own terms.

A Trojan Horse In A Banana Leaf

Yet, across this entire spectrum of Vietnamese sticky rice delicacies, bánh giầy remains the ultimate pioneer, the humble classic that started this whole conversation.

There is a brilliant irony in this specific, minimalist dish becoming a global social media phenomenon. Algorithm-driven food culture thrives on visual subversion, and bánh giầy kẹp giò is built for the reveal: a smooth, pristine white cake that promises a sweet dessert, only to deliver the dense, savory snap of peppery pork sausage.

Vietnam’s timeless sticky rice cake, waiting to be enjoyed as it has been for generations. | Source: Viethavvh/Wikipedia

The "Vietnamese mochi" label may be a convenient Trojan horse, but bánh giầy requires no foreign vocabulary to justify its magic. If a viral trend is what it takes for us to pause and appreciate this humble street-food classic, then it is a bite well worth taking.

Nguyệt Phục Minh - A Poetic Tribute To The Moon’s Timeless Cycle At JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon

Cao Vy — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:50:50 +0000

The moon doesn't become full in a single night. Before reaching its brightest form, it passes through quiet moments of emergence, growth, and transformation.

That journey is the inspiration behind Nguyệt Phục Minh, JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon's 2026 Mid-Autumn collection. Through three editions - Thanh Nguyệt, Ánh Nguyệt, and Minh Nguyệt, the collection interprets different phases of the moon through colour, craftsmanship, and flavour. Together, they celebrate one of the season's most enduring traditions: gathering around the table, reconnecting with loved ones, and marking the Mid-Autumn Festival with thoughtful gifts and shared memories.

This version reads more naturally in English and aligns with Vietcetera International's editorial voice: descriptive, understated, and story-driven rather than sounding like a translated press release.

Inspired by the moon’s first appearance above the horizon, Thanh Nguyệt pairs a soft colour palette with minimalist design, capturing the quiet elegance of the Mid-Autumn season’s earliest moonlit nights.

If Thanh Nguyệt marks the moon’s first gentle appearance, Ánh Nguyệt captures the moment its light begins to embrace the autumn sky. Elegant tones and contemporary design strike a harmonious balance between heritage and modernity, echoing the moon’s quiet ability to bring people together. Every gift becomes more than a gesture - it becomes a heartfelt expression of appreciation shared among family, friends and business partners alike.

Ánh Nguyệt captures the moonlight as it spreads across the autumn sky through a contemporary design that gracefully balances tradition and modernity.

Both Thanh Nguyệt and Ánh Nguyệt feature four 180-gram mooncakes showcasing signature Mid-Autumn flavours: Golden Salted Egg Mung Bean (Less Sweet), Lotus Seed (Less Sweet), Deluxe Mixed Nuts & Ham, and Premium Scallop. Each flavour reflects a dialogue between cherished Mid-Autumn traditions and contemporary craftsmanship. Carefully handcrafted by the hotel’s pastry artisans, the mooncakes preserve familiar flavours while introducing refined new dimensions through meticulous techniques, offering an experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Both editions are priced at VND 1,688,000+ per box.

Thanh Nguyệt and Ánh Nguyệt each feature four handcrafted 180-gram mooncakes, bringing together beloved Mid-Autumn flavours with contemporary pastry craftsmanship.

Completing the collection is Minh Nguyệt, the most distinguished expression of Nguyệt Phục Minh. Inspired by the timeless symbol of the full moon, the luxurious gift box is presented in an elegant jade green and crafted with an intricate multi-layer design. Each layer unfolds like another stage of the moon’s journey, gradually revealing the full moon - a lasting symbol of reunion, abundance and life’s most treasured moments.

The collection’s luxury box, Minh Nguyệt is distinguished by its elegant jade-green palette and intricately layered design, inspired by the timeless beauty of the full moon and the spirit of reunion.

Designed for distinguished gifting and meaningful celebrations, Minh Nguyệt presents eight 100-gram mooncakes accompanied by two selections of premium tea. Alongside the collection’s signature flavors, this exclusive edition introduces refined creations including Premium Bird’s Nest, Black Sesame, Lotus Seed & Pandan, and Flaxseed, complemented by carefully selected Tie Guan Yin and Premium Shan Tuyet Tea. Like the collection itself, every flavor reflects the meeting of tradition and innovation, elevated through exceptional pastry craftsmanship. Minh Nguyệt is priced at VND 2,888,000+.

More than a Mid-Autumn gift, Nguyệt Phục Minh is an invitation to pause, reconnect and celebrate the moments that matter most with those we hold dear.

To mark the collection’s launch, guests can enjoy 10% off on pre-orders placed between 1 July and 15 September 2026, alongside 10% off for Marriott Bonvoy members and 15% off for Club Marriott members. For corporate gifting, large-volume orders or bespoke gifting requests, JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon offers thoughtfully personalised solutions tailored to every occasion.

This Mid-Autumn Festival, Nguyệt Phục Minh is more than a gift to be exchanged - it is an invitation to celebrate reunion and create lasting memories beneath the glow of the harvest moon. For purchases or further information, please contact +84 914 296 754, jw.mooncake@marriott.com or visit our Mooncake website via this link.

About JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon
JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon is a luxury urban retreat in the heart of the city, imbued with local charm, where guests can fully enjoy moments of serenity, meaningful connections, and memorable experiences. The property comprises a 21-story hotel with 305 elegantly appointed rooms and a 31-story serviced residence tower offering 260 premium one- to three-bedroom apartments, all with panoramic city views. The hotel is directly connected to the renowned mPlaza Saigon and is adjacent to high-end shopping centers and cultural landmarks in central Ho Chi Minh City, such as the Saigon Central Post Office, Nguyễn Văn Bình Book Street, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Class A office buildings, and is only 6 km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon features more than 1,200 m² of elegant meeting and event space, suitable for a wide range of occasions. Leisure amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and Spa by JW with seven treatment rooms. Four distinct restaurants offer diverse culinary experiences, supported by a team of professional and highly experienced chefs, ensuring every guest enjoys a world-class dining experience.

Stay updated on the latest activities via the hotel’s Facebook and Instagram pages, or visit marriott.com/sgnjs for the latest information. For more details, please visit our website.

About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is a brand within the luxury portfolio of Marriott International, encompassing distinctive hotels and resorts around the world. The JW Marriott brand pays tribute to the founder of Marriott International, J. Willard “J.W.” Marriott, who consistently prioritized holistic happiness as a way to care for others better. Inspired by his approach to life and rooted in the pursuit of holistic well-being, JW Marriott hotels offer a sanctuary for guests through uniquely designed programs and services that encourage them to fully embrace each moment, cultivate mindfulness, nurture the body, and restore the spirit. Today, there are nearly 125 JW Marriott hotels in 40 countries and territories worldwide, serving discerning travelers who seek experiences that foster meaningful connections and enrich the soul. JW Marriott proudly participates in Marriott Bonvoy®, Marriott International’s global travel program. The program provides members with an exclusive portfolio of global brands, unique experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and benefits including free nights and Elite status privileges. To enroll for free or learn more about the program, please visit the link.

$830M In IPOs Signals New Momentum For Capital Flows In Vietnam

Genesia Ventures — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:09:46 +0000

Grab Backs EBOOST To Expand Nationwide EV Charging Network

EBOOST has secured a strategic investment from Grab to accelerate the expansion of its electric vehicle (EV) charging network across Vietnam, marking a significant milestone for both the company and the country's EV infrastructure. With more than 2,500 charging points already in operation, EBOOST plans to leverage Grab's investment and ecosystem to scale its nationwide network while supporting the broader adoption of electric mobility.

Since April 2026, EBOOST's charging network has been integrated into the EV Charging feature on the Grab Driver app. | Source: CafeAuto

The partnership builds on the existing integration of EBOOST's charging network into the Grab Driver app, allowing driver-partners to locate charging stations, start charging sessions, and complete payments within a single platform. The next phase will extend these services to electric motorbike driver-partners by connecting thousands of additional charging points. By combining EBOOST's charging infrastructure and proprietary technology with Grab's extensive driver network, the collaboration is expected to improve charger utilisation, generate more recurring demand, and expand access to EV charging more efficiently as Vietnam's electric mobility ecosystem continues to grow.

Taylor's Education Expands Vietnam Ecosystem Through SenTia School

Taylor’s Education Group is expanding its footprint in Vietnam through a new partnership with Hanoi-based Sentia School, reinforcing its strategy to build an integrated education platform spanning both K-12 and higher education. Building on its existing presence through British University Vietnam (BUV), the group aims to strengthen learning pathways between school and university while leveraging shared resources and expertise in teacher development.

The football field at SenTia School in Hanoi. | Source: Mathnasium

Vietnam remains one of Taylor’s key growth markets, supported by a young population, rising household incomes, and growing demand for bilingual and private education. The group is also exploring further expansion into Ho Chi Minh City and other emerging urban centres as international investment and demand for high-quality education continue to increase. By combining established local institutions with a broader regional education ecosystem, Taylor’s aims to strengthen academic quality, improve resource sharing, and create more seamless learning pathways while scaling sustainably to meet the evolving needs of Vietnamese families.

EQuest Invests US$40 Million In Education Complex In Bac Ninh

KKR-backed EQuest has partnered with Phu My Hung to invest approximately US$40 million in a new K-12 education complex in Hong Hac City, expanding its presence in Vietnam's fast-growing private education market. Covering more than 22,000 square metres, the integrated kindergarten and K-12 campus is designed to serve around 2,500 students. It will combine Vietnam's national curriculum with the Cambridge pathway, alongside programmes in STEM, AI, robotics, arts, and life skills, with the first intake expected in the 2028–2029 academic year.

Representatives of Phu My Hung, EQuest, and related partners at the strategic partnership signing ceremony and model apartment launch on July 18. | Source: Phu My Hung

The project also extends EQuest's partnership with Phu My Hung from southern to northern Vietnam, supporting the company's broader expansion strategy. The investment reflects rising demand for high-quality, future-oriented education and demonstrates how established education providers are scaling through strategic partnerships that combine local market expertise with international curricula. Backed by growing interest from global investors and sustained demand driven by economic growth and workforce development, Vietnam's private education sector continues to present long-term opportunities for both strategic and financial investors.

Japanese Firms Deepen Partnerships With Vietnamese Startups

Vietnam's startup ecosystem is attracting growing interest from Japanese venture capital firms and corporations, supported by the country's young digital population, strong engineering talent, and strategic position as a gateway to the ASEAN market. Beyond providing capital, Japanese investors are increasingly seeking strategic partnerships, particularly in high-growth sectors such as fintech, AI, logistics, healthcare, and education.

The Demo Day event, held in Hanoi in May 2026, helped foster long-term partnerships between Vietnamese startups and Japanese corporations, investors, and technology partners. | Source: VnEconomy

As investment priorities evolve, Vietnamese startups are expected to meet higher standards in corporate governance, transparency, business synergies, and cross-border expansion to attract Japanese partners. At the same time, the growing presence of Japanese corporations reflects the increasing maturity and international connectivity of Vietnam's startup ecosystem, offering founders not only funding but also access to industry expertise, business networks, and regional market opportunities that can support long-term, sustainable growth.

Vietnam's IPO Market Reaches Nearly US$7 Billion In Market Capitalisation In H1 2026

Vietnam's IPO market staged a strong recovery in the first half of 2026, with four new listings raising more than US$830 million and reaching a combined market capitalisation of US$6.93 billion. The rebound was supported by regulatory reforms and a stronger pipeline of large-scale offerings, including the upcoming blockbuster IPO of Dien May Xanh, signalling renewed confidence in Vietnam's capital markets and improving conditions for companies pursuing long-term growth.

Headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) on Vo Van Kiet Boulevard. | Source: Tuoi Tre News

The market's momentum is expected to strengthen further following Vietnam's upgrade from FTSE Frontier Market to FTSE Secondary Emerging Market status, a move that could attract greater foreign investor participation, improve market liquidity, and raise the country's visibility among global investors. As the market increasingly favours larger and more mature businesses, continued regulatory improvements and broader international participation could also create a more viable exit environment for high-growth companies, supporting healthier capital formation and reinforcing Vietnam's position within the regional investment landscape.

Genesia Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm operating in Japan and Southeast Asia, with a strong belief in the long-term potential of Vietnam’s digital economy. Beyond providing capital, the fund actively supports startups through strategic guidance and connections to a broader regional network.

Annie Nguyễn’s Journey To The Big World: From A Windowless Warehouse To Deloitte & Home Again

Thanh Trúc — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 03:57:00 +0000

The morning sun in Saigon is already heavy, pressing a humid 30 degrees against the glass. At 10:00 AM, the office Wi-Fi is acting up, turning our Google Meet connection into a series of pixelated pauses. On the other side of the screen, where it is just past midnight in Washington D.C., Annie Nguyễn sits in a brightly lit room. The video freezes every so often, and her voice occasionally drops into a robotic cadence before catching up again.

There is an irony in this fragile digital link. For the past eleven years, Annie has built a life in the United States around uncertainty—student visas, OPT extensions, and H1B lotteries. Now, at nearly thirty, she is preparing to leave it all behind and return to Vietnam permanently this September.

Annie Nguyễn at Drexel University, where a homesick teenager slowly learned to build a life on her own. | Source: Provided

For Vietcetera’s Study Abroad series, we sat down with Annie to talk about what happens when the perfect, high-achieving plan falls apart, and how a year of relentless silence, a windowless warehouse, and a stack of heavy boxes became the unexpected turning point that led her back to herself.

Eleven years in the U.S. is a long time to build a life. You’ve achieved the corporate milestone many dream of at Deloitte, yet you are preparing to return to Vietnam. What led to this decision?

It really came down to a realization about what kind of life I wanted to live. As an international student in the U.S., you live under a chronic cloud of insecurity. No matter how hard you work, you are always at the mercy of factors beyond your control—visa restrictions, company restructurings, layoffs, and the pure luck of the H1B lottery.

When my H1B lottery didn't work out, my employer actually offered to relocate me to Europe permanently. It was an incredibly supportive gesture, but it forced me to pause and think. I was looking at moving to another foreign country where I had no family, starting over yet again. It felt like trading one temporary solution for another. I’m nearly 30 now. I realized I didn’t want to spend my limited energy waiting for a foreign government to decide if I could stay.

Moving back to Vietnam means leaving my U.S. comfort zone, but it gives me a sense of permanence. I am a Vietnamese citizen. I don't have to worry about getting kicked out of my own country.

You grew up with a lot of educational privilege, attending international schools in Vietnam since first grade before moving to the U.S. How did that background shape your expectations for yourself?

I’ve always been highly aware of the privilege I had. My parents invested heavily in me from day one. Because of that, I carried an immense amount of pressure, but most of it actually came from myself. I deeply wanted to make my parents proud and prove that their investment was worth it.

In Vietnamese culture, and especially in traditional Northern families like mine, there is a strong expectation of high achievement. Success to me back then was very linear: graduate, transition smoothly into a prestigious corporate job, and become financially independent. In my family, the expectation was that once you graduate, you stand on your own two feet. I wanted to show them I could do that.

We often hear about the romanticized version of moving abroad at 18, but your transition from Saigon to the U.S. was far from seamless. What was the reality of that sudden independence?

It was honestly traumatic. In Vietnam, I had attended the British International School (BIS) since first grade and grew up very sheltered—I was basically a "princess" at home. When I landed in the U.S., the sudden isolation hit me hard. My older brother was there, but he was busy with his own work, leaving me completely on my own.

For the first month, I cried every single day. I was so homesick that I would stay on the phone with my mother for hours, and the moment she went to sleep, I would call my nanny back in Vietnam just to hear a familiar voice. It got so bad that my dad finally bought me a plane ticket back to Vietnam that December, just three months after I arrived. But after spending a few weeks at home, when I flew back to the U.S. in January 2016, something in me shifted. I realized I couldn't keep running away. I had to learn to stand on my own two feet, throw myself into my studies, and actually build a life. That painful first year was the first time I actually had to grow up.

For a while, it felt like everything was finally falling into place. During my undergrad at Drexel, I completed three internships, including one in Singapore, and finished a semester early. By graduation, I genuinely believed I had done everything right and that the path ahead was clear.

But graduating in 2020 changed everything.

What was that period like for you?

It completely upended everything I had planned. When COVID-19 hit, there was no graduation ceremony, no celebration. Instead, I entered a job market that had completely shut down. I applied for jobs for an entire year and didn't get a single interview or response.

Out of sheer panic, I decided to cram for the GMAT and apply for an Wharton MBA, including at MIT, just for the sake of having a backup plan. But I was so stressed out and exhausted that I didn't score well. During the interview, they looked right through me and basically said, "It seems like you aren't sure what you actually want to pursue. It is best if you get a year or two of real work experience first."

Getting rejected from MIT and other programs was a massive reality check. It forced me to realize they were right: I wasn't ready.I was only running toward these degrees to escape the shame of my unemployment.

Rejection is hard, but what hurt most wasn't the silence on LinkedIn. It was feeling like I was letting my family down.. My parents had invested so much in my education, and going back to Vietnam without a job never felt like an option—not just because of what they expected, but because I expected the same of myself. The problem was that the job market had completely frozen. It was hard for my family to fully grasp what that looked like from where they were, and just as hard for me to explain it. Looking back, I know they wanted me to keep pushing forward. At the time, though, I felt incredibly lonely and lost.

In the middle of that stressful year, you took a job at a small supply warehouse. Tell us about that transition.

Honestly, I was desperate for any work.

My older brother helped me get a role at a tiny barber supply company with only four or five employees. I was hired as a salesperson making $18 an hour with no health insurance, no benefits, nothing. It was a physical, in-person job during the height of the pandemic, six days a week. The warehouse was cramped, and I barely saw the sun. I would go home with terrible back pain from carrying heavy boxes of travel kits.

Annie with her brother, who helped her land the warehouse job that would unexpectedly shape her career. | Source: Provided

But that warehouse ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me. Because it was so small, I didn't just sell; I watched how we imported goods from China, managed inventory fees, and coordinated with international distributors.

My marketing degree suddenly felt very abstract, but this physical warehouse felt real. I realized: This is supply chain. This is global operations. That warehouse sparked my genuine career passion. Marketing went right out the door, and I finally knew what I wanted to build my career on.

Once you discovered that passion, your academic and corporate trajectory took off rapidly. How did you navigate that climb?

Once I knew what I wanted, there was no looking back. I applied for a Master’s in International Business at George Washington University. I loved the coursework so much that I immediately pursued a second STEM-designated master's in Finance to extend my time in the U.S. It was during that second degree that the offers from Deloitte and even Tesla started coming in.

How did your parents react when you finally got that corporate validation?

(Laughs) It is actually a very funny story. When the Deloitte offer came, I immediately called my mom. She didn't know the company name and somehow thought I was telling her I got a job at a big pig farm! She asked, "Why are you working for a pig farm after all this education?"

Annie's Deloitte name badge, marking one of the career milestones she had long worked toward. | Source: Provided

Once my dad explained what Deloitte actually was, she was ecstatic. She finally started sharing my achievements with everyone. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted. I was so glad I could finally give them that pride.

Looking past the impressive credentials, who is Annie Nguyễn as a person today? How did eleven years of navigating this instability change how you define your own worth?

For a long time, I defined myself by external expectations and the heavy, self-imposed pressure to make my parents' massive investment in me "worth it". I used to constantly compare myself to others, especially on social media, wondering why my peers seemed to have smoother paths.

But these eleven years taught me that I am much more resilient than any corporate title or visa status could ever represent. I learned that I thrive on real-world experience rather than abstract theory. More importantly, I stopped asking "Why is this happening to me?" and started asking, "What is this obstacle trying to teach me".

Years of working alongside people from different backgrounds reshaped how Annie defined success. | Source: Provided

For many, landing Deloitte and receiving a relocation offer to Europe would be the ultimate "making the most of study abroad" moment. Why is choosing Vietnam your true payoff?

When we talk about studying abroad, we often talk about it as a duty to make the most of the opportunities our parents gave us. But the deeper truth is that study abroad is about discovering who you are when you're stripped of anything familiar.

I spent years in the U.S. trying to prove myself to my parents and to the corporate world. I had to learn, through rejection and visa anxieties, what actually matters to me.

I finally know who I am, what I value, and that my peace of mind and family matter more than a corporate visa. I realized that security is being where my family is, where my roots are, and where I know I belong.

After proving herself to the world, Annie finally found herself. | Source: Provided

Returning to Vietnam doesn’t mean that I couldn't build a life in the West. It is a natural step forward for me as I am returning home because I want to. I am finally living life on my own terms, and that is the greatest success I could have ever asked for.

Chef Nguyễn Kim Quý: “Technique Can Make A Dish Better, But Identity Is What Makes People Remember It”

Gấm Võ — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:34:14 +0000

This wasn't meant to be another conversation about recipes or cooking techniques. Sitting across from Nguyễn Kim Quý, I found myself asking a different question instead: why would someone in their early twenties choose to spend their youth in a professional kitchen?

Quý was just 22 when she became the runner-up of Rising Chef Challenge 2023. Three years later, as the competition returns, we meet again - this time in the same kitchen where she has continued to sharpen her craft since the contest ended.

1. Hi, Kim Quý. You've achieved some remarkable milestones at a young age - becoming Demi Chef de Partie at CoCo Dining by 25 and finishing as the runner-up of Rising Chef Challenge at just 22. When did your passion for cooking begin?

People often assume that careers requiring patience and precision begin with a lifelong calling or a childhood passion. My story is much simpler than that.

When I was 18, while my friends were busy deciding which university to apply to, I just thought: “Why not give cooking a try?”

So that's how it started - with nothing more than curiosity.

It wasn't until I graduated three years later as the salutatorian of my faculty that I realized: curiosity had quietly grown into something much deeper. Every day in the kitchen made me want to learn more, to pay closer attention to the smallest details, to refine my craft, and ultimately, to create dishes that leave a meaningful impression on the people who enjoy them.

Kim Quý entered the kitchen out of curiosity, but stayed because of her perseverance and endless desire to learn. | Source: Khooa Nguyễn for Vietcetera

I'm 25 now. People can say, “You're still so young.” They're right - I am. That's exactly why I don't want to get comfortable with what I've achieved so far.

What I can say with confidence, though, is that cooking has become part of who I am. I've experienced pressure, setbacks and countless small moments of joy in the kitchen. Looking back, they all feel like ingredients in the same dish - each one shaping me and pushing me to keep moving forward.

2. Your story sounds like a journey filled with excitement, achievement and plenty of challenges along the way. What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced when you first started?

People often say that a good start makes everything easier. Mine was anything but.

When I first enrolled in culinary class, I knew almost nothing about cooking. I didn't even know the proper way to hold a knife or prepare ingredients. On top of that, my parents weren't supportive of my decision. As a woman, they worried that working long hours in a hot, demanding kitchen would be too physically exhausting.

There was another misconception I had to confront. Like many people, my parents believed that being a chef simply meant cooking in the kitchen, with little room to grow beyond that. After a few years of studying and working, I realized the profession demands much more. To build a long-term career, I've had to keep learning - not just about food, but also about culture, critical thinking and leadership.

3. Has there ever been a comfort zone in your career? And how have you challenged yourself to move beyond it?

Absolutely.

Early on, I tended to rely on established rules. I'd assume that a dish had to be prepared in a certain way or that what I learned in school was the only right approach.

The more I learned and the more kitchens I experienced, the more I realized there is rarely just one correct answer. Every chef brings a different perspective and a different way of solving the same problem. Embracing that has helped me move beyond those early limitations and stay open to constant learning.

The more Quý learned and the more kitchens she experienced, the more she realized there is rarely just one correct answer. | Source: Khooa Nguyễn cho Vietcetera

What makes this profession so fascinating, though, is that there's no universal definition of what tastes “good.”

If cooking is an art, then every chef is an artist with a distinct perspective and style. Diners are no different. Some appreciate the authenticity of tradition, while others are drawn to bold, contemporary interpretations. A dish that resonates deeply with one person may leave another completely unmoved.

That's why every new kitchen, every new cuisine and every new style feels like starting from zero. It means learning to listen, adapt and continually reinvent yourself.

4. What led you to join Rising Chef Challenge 2023? Looking back, how did the experience change the way you see yourself and your profession?

I had only recently graduated and had just started working at CoCo Dining when I decided to enter the competition. At the time, I felt there was still so much I didn't know and so much I wanted to learn.

People sometimes ask if I joined because of the prize money. The answer is no - although I have to admit, the prizes were pretty attractive. (Laughs.) What I was really looking for was the chance to meet other chefs, observe how they worked, how they thought and how they carried themselves in a professional competition. Because I was not fixated on the outcome, I was able to enjoy the experience without putting too much pressure on myself.

The biggest change after the competition was visibility. More people came to know my work, and I found myself becoming more confident. I stopped worrying so much about making mistakes and moved beyond the mindset of simply completing the tasks assigned to me.

One lesson from the Rising Chef Challenge continues to shape the way I work today: preparation is everything. In my experience, it accounts for almost 90% of a dish's success. Diners may spend only a few minutes enjoying a plate, but those few minutes are made possible by dozens of hours of preparation behind the scenes.

Preparation is everything. | Source: Khooa Nguyễn cho Vietcetera

5. How has your perspective on regional identity and Vietnamese cuisine evolved since Rising Chef Challenge?

When I first joined Rising Chef Challenge, I mainly viewed regional identity through the lens of local ingredients and signature dishes from different parts of Vietnam. At the time, I believed that incorporating these elements into contemporary cuisine was a way to tell Vietnam's story.

After several years working at CoCo under the guidance of Chef Vương and Chef Chí, my perspective has changed. I’ve come to realize that identity is not only found in ingredients or recipes, it also lies in the mindset, culture and ways of thinking that shape how Vietnamese people create flavors.

For example, the role of rice in our culture, the importance of fish sauce, the way we balance different tastes, or how we make use of ingredients in everyday cooking - these are the deeper values that define Vietnamese cuisine.

I also believe that for Vietnamese food to reach a global audience, we don't need to simply replicate what others are doing. What matters is understanding our own heritage deeply and finding a contemporary language to share those stories, so people around the world can connect with and appreciate them.

6. Since we're talking about creativity, modern cuisine today has been constantly reinterpreted to reflect contemporary tastes. However, some argue that these transformations can sometimes take away from the original meaning of a dish. Where do you think creativity in cooking should draw the line?

To me, creativity isn't about changing something just for the sake of being different. It's about making a dish more meaningful. And before you can break a rule, you first need to understand why that rule exists.

For example, when my team and I researched Vietnam’s wet-rice civilization and the techniques behind fermented shrimp paste for our “Lưu Tích” menu, we realized that some dishes are the ones that shaped our childhood, while others are the ones we create today to shape the future.

Before you can break a rule, you first need to understand why that rule exists. | Source: Khooa Nguyễn cho Vietcetera

That is also how my team and I approach our work. When developing a menu, we spend a great deal of time researching Vietnam’s wet-rice civilization, traditional fermentation techniques, and the ways Vietnamese people make fish sauce, fermented shrimp paste and other staples.

Only after understanding those foundations do we begin asking: how can we retell these stories in a new way? The presentation may change, and the techniques may evolve, but the roots and spirit of the dish should always remain.

7. Rising Chef Challenge returns this year with the themes “The Dish That Made You” and “The Dish That Makes You.” What do these themes mean to you?

“The Dish That Made You” represents the dishes that have shaped who I am. It could be the meals my mother cooked every day, the rice I grew up eating, the bowl of fish sauce on a family table, or the familiar flavors that define Vietnamese cuisine. These seemingly simple things became the foundation that helped me develop a deeper love and understanding of food as I grew older.

“The Dish That Makes You” reflects the person I am today. After years of working in the industry and competing, I no longer want to create dishes that are simply delicious. I want my food to tell a story - to showcase the identity of Vietnamese ingredients and the cultural values I believe in.

To me, these two ideas cannot be separated. The dishes that were part of my childhood are what shaped me into the chef I am today. And it is from those memories and flavors that I continue to create dishes with my own perspective and identity.

8. Finally, what message would you like to share with young chefs who are considering joining Rising Chef Challenge 2026?

To anyone who is thinking about joining the Rising Chef Challenge, I would say: don’t wait until you feel good enough or perfect before applying. Because when I joined, honestly, I didn’t have much either. (Laughs.)

Looking back, the most valuable thing I gained wasn’t the runner-up title. It was the growth that came from having the courage to step outside my comfort zone. The competition gave me the chance to meet many people, learn from different perspectives and better understand the kind of chef I want to become.

I also still carry with me something my mentor once told me: technique can make a dish better, but identity is what makes people remember it. That idea continues to guide the way I approach my craft today.

Source: Khooa Nguyễn cho Vietcetera

I believe the future of Vietnamese cuisine does not lie in trying to replicate what the world is already doing. Instead, it comes from learning advanced techniques while telling Vietnam’s story through the ingredients, culture and values that make us unique.

I hope Rising Chef Challenge 2026 will be a place where you can bring your own stories and identities to the table. Don’t be afraid to try, because sometimes taking that first step can lead you somewhere far beyond what you ever expected.

Rising Chefs Challenge is part of Flavors Vietnam 2026. This year's competition is co-organized by , bringing new culinary experiences while continuing to celebrate Vietnam's vibrant F&B culture.

Applications are open from 12 July to 2 August 2026.

Learn more about the competition and apply here.

Grand Finale
Date: 18 September 2026
Venue: Saigontourist Hospitality College, Ho Chi Minh City

In Ha Giang, 300-Year-Old Tea Trees Have Been Waiting To Be Seen

Thanh Trúc — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Tea Trees Older Than Memory

Reaching Ha Giang’s centuries-old tea trees requires travelling along slippery red-dirt roads and climbing more than 1,500 metres above sea level, where mist settles over the mountains from morning until dusk.

The way to reach Ha Giang is above the red dust and under the bamboo leaf. | Source: Tinh

There are no signposts, entrance gates, or viewing platforms. Instead, dense forests open onto towering tea trees rooted in rich red basalt soil, their branches extending into the damp mountain air and their leaves glistening with morning dew.

Wild-growing Shan Tuyet tea trees thrive within the native forest ecosystem. | Source: Tinh

They look nothing like the neatly trimmed plantations often seen in tea advertisements, where uniform rows follow the contours of the hillsides.

Here, Shan Tuyet tea trees grow naturally among native forest species. Their roots reach deep into the earth, drawing water and minerals from rock formations older than the communities surrounding them. Some trees have stood for two or even three centuries.

One of Ha Giang's centuries-old Shan Tuyet tea trees. | Source: Tinh

They do not know they are considered “ancient.” Each spring, they simply produce new buds, as they have for generations.

The Dao and Hmong communities living among these forests do not treat the trees as an agricultural company might treat its farmland. When the air turns cool, people gather the young buds, often still covered in morning dew, and carry them home to be processed and dried on woven bamboo trays beside the kitchen fire.

Under the canopy of a centuries-old Shan Tuyet tea tree. | Source: Tinh

Tea here is not merely a commercial crop. It belongs to a wider ecosystem in which people, plants, soil, weather, and microorganisms have long existed together.

A Cup That Tastes Like The Forest

Tea made from these trees tastes little like what most people encounter in tea bags or bottled drinks.

The first sip carries a gentle astringency across the tongue. Moments later, a lingering sweetness slowly rises from the back of the throat and stays through the next breath. Its aroma is not added flavouring but the scent of damp earth, decaying forest leaves, and morning mist evaporating beneath the canopy.

Simple porcelain bowls used for everyday tea drinking in Ha Giang. | Source: Tinh

Local people brew tea in simple porcelain bowls. There are no elaborate Yixing teapots or ceremonial rituals. Water is boiled over a wood fire, tea is poured into bowls, and guests gather on low wooden stools or squat beside the hearth. Tea here is not performed. It is shared on cold mornings, drunk before heading down the mountain, or offered to visitors when there is little else to give besides a bowl of hot tea and conversation.

A humble tea setup: a stainless-steel tray and porcelain cups. | Source: Tinh

A quiet corner where tea is shared with family and visitors alike. | Source: Tinh

That is why Vietnamese tea, or at least the tea that grows in the forests of Ha Giang, is difficult to explain to outsiders. It comes with no script and no distinctive set of tools. No English or Japanese word can fully capture what it means to drink a bowl of tea prepared over a fire by a Dao family at daybreak. Its beauty lies precisely in its quiet simplicity.

The firewood that makes the tea. | Source: Tinh

Two Perspectives, One Story

Nguyen Son Tung understands this better than most. A Vietnamese photographer who studied art in Japan before returning home, he did not travel to Ha Giang intending to "promote Vietnamese tea culture" or "elevate a national heritage." He brought only his camera and the familiarity of someone rediscovering a part of home that may have long been overlooked: tea trees his grandparents might once have drunk from, but that no one had ever truly photographed.

Photographer Nguyen Son Tung at a tea-processing factory in misty Ha Giang. | Source: Tinh

He photographed the rough texture of ancient trunks. The silhouette of a Dao woman carrying a woven basket across the tea forest. The morning mist curled over the mountaintops before sunlight pierced the clouds. Rather than searching for spectacular landscapes, he patiently waited for ordinary moments, believing they revealed the deepest truths about the tea forests and the communities that have lived alongside them for generations.

Tea trees and the Dao community are at the heart of Nguyen Son Tung's photographs. | Source: Tinh

Tinh, meanwhile, arrived in Ha Giang as an outsider. Founded by Japanese tea enthusiasts, the tea brand works with tea-growing communities across the northern mountains of Vietnam. They did not come to teach anyone how tea should be brewed according to Japanese traditions. Instead, they wanted to understand what had shaped these remarkable trees: why they could survive for centuries in the forest, why people chose to leave nature largely untouched, and what made a cup of tea from this landscape feel like something far greater than leaves steeped in water.

Tinh's journey to understand the origins of Vietnam's mountain tea. | Source: Tinh

Tinh has returned to Ha Giang time and again. They have shared meals in stilt houses, drunk tea from the same humble porcelain bowls, and spent time listening to local communities. It is not the patience of an investor searching for suppliers. It is the patience of someone learning a new language not from dictionaries, but by immersing themselves in everyday life.

Tinh's team spent time living alongside local communities in Ha Giang. | Source: Tinh

Freshly processed tea leaves in Ha Giang. | Source: Tinh

When Tung and Tinh met among the tea forests of Ha Giang, they found themselves drawn to the same conviction: these trees deserved to be seen as they truly are, through light and shadow, mist and fleeting moments.

Echoes of Life — Tea from Vietnam: A Story of Nature's Chain of Life

This August, 32 photographs from that journey will go on display at Kosha Kosha Akihabara in Tokyo. The exhibition is titled Echoes of Life — Tea from Vietnam, or Inochi no Baton (いのちのバトン) in Japanese, meaning "The Baton of Life". The exhibition invites visitors to see tea not as an industrial product, but as a gift from nature, shaped by an unbroken chain of life that connects forests, soil, rain, microorganisms and the people who have lived alongside these tea trees for generations.

Source: Tinh

None of the photographs rely on lengthy captions explaining the history of Vietnamese tea. Instead, the exhibition unfolds naturally, leading visitors from mountain tea trees to skilled hands processing the leaves, then to steaming bowls of tea, and finally to the faces of those who drink it. Visitors move through the exhibition much as they would travel through the landscape itself, rather than reading a textbook.

Source: Tinh

Beyond the exhibition itself, a series of public events will further explore tea through different creative lenses. On August 8, Japanese design studio Knot For will discuss Vietnamese tea culture and how local heritage can shape meaningful branding.

On August 22, Tinh and Chiyaba will host a tasting session featuring teas from Vietnam and Nepal. On August 24, the exhibition welcomes the owner-chef of Kokyu, a restaurant built around the concept of "Tea × Gastronomy," for a conversation on food pairing and how tea and cuisine can elevate one another. After Tokyo, the exhibition is expected to travel to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, bringing these stories from Ha Giang's tea forests back to audiences in Vietnam.

The Journey Continues

One of the exhibition's most distinctive features is its Minna No Ki (everyone’s tree), where visitors are invited to leave personal reflections. Their messages will not remain in Tokyo. Instead, they will travel with the exhibition to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, allowing the story of Vietnamese tea to grow through the voices of those who experience it.

Source: Tinh

The exhibition runs from August 5 to August 29, 2026, on the fifth floor of Kosha Kosha Akihabara in Tokyo. Admission is free, and opening hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. After Tokyo, the exhibition will continue its journey to Vietnam.

If you have never seen how Vietnamese tea grows, this may be the closest you can come without climbing mountain passes yourself. Someone has already made the journey, waited patiently, and captured what the forests have quietly held for centuries.

Exhibition Information

Echoes of Life - Tea from Vietnam will travel across three cities in 2026, beginning in Tokyo before continuing to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Tokyo: August 5–29 at Kosha Kosha Akihabara
Ho Chi Minh City: September 29–October 4 at Saigon Muse Gallery
Hanoi: October 10–18 at Artscape Cafe & Gallery

Admission is free at all venues.
Explore the exhibition schedule and venue details here.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City Among World's 50 Highest Heat-Risk Cities

Anh Trang — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 10:58:54 +0000

A new study by the University of Oxford, published in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society, has found that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are among the world's 50 cities facing the highest heat risk.

According to the ranking, Ho Chi Minh City placed 16th globally, while Hanoi ranked 34th. Ho Chi Minh City was also the second highest heat-risk city in Southeast Asia, behind only Quezon City in the Philippines.

Heat Risk Goes Beyond Temperature

The study argues that heat risk is not only high air temperature. It is measured across three dimensions: hazard exposure, population vulnerability, and coping capacity.

Hazard exposure is measured using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), which evaluates how outdoor weather conditions affect the human body. Population vulnerability considers demographic characteristics and economic capacity, reflecting how susceptible groups such as children and older adults are to extreme heat. Coping capacity is assessed through indicators including vegetation cover and electricity affordability, which influence a city's ability to mitigate and respond to heat stress.

Taken together, these indicators suggest that a city's heat risk is shaped not only by climate but also by the quality of its urban infrastructure, socioeconomic conditions, and its capacity to protect vulnerable populations.

A city’s heat risk is not only determined by temperature, but all three factors combined. Source: Thanh Nien

As a result, some cities including Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Jeddah, rank lower in overall heat risk despite experiencing high levels of heat exposure, thanks to their stronger coping capacity.

On the other hand, more than 95% of cities in the highest-risk category are in South and Southeast Asia, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. Vietnam’s highest-ranked city is Ho Chi Minh City, ranked 16th globally with the hazard score of 1.00. Hanoi ranks 34th, with a hazard score of 0.75.

More Than The Environmental Issue

This is not the first study to warn about heat risks in Vietnam's largest cities. Previous research has highlighted rising heat hazards and limited adaptive capacity in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

A 2025 study found that more than half of Ho Chi Minh City's wards and communes (158 out of 318) recorded a Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) above 60%. Most were located in densely built urban areas, where concrete surfaces, high building density and limited green space intensify heat exposure.

158/318 wards in Ho Chi Minh City has heat vulnerability index above 60%. Source: Southern Regional Hydrometeorological centre

The study also found that rural areas are not less vulnerable than cities. Some communes recorded high HVI scores despite lower surface temperatures because of weaker healthcare systems, poorer infrastructure and lower adaptive capacity. Rural communes such as Pham Van Coi, Cu Chi and Hoa Phu were among those identified as highly vulnerable.

Outdoor workers are among the first to feel the impact. Informal workers, street vendors and construction workers spend long hours under direct sunlight and often cannot afford to stop working during heatwaves.

A 2026 UNDP survey of 734 outdoor workers found that 94% had experienced heat-related health problems. About two-thirds (66.2%) reported spending more to cope with extreme heat, while nearly half suffered income losses. On average, workers lost 2.4 working hours a day during heatwaves.

Outdoor workers spend long hours under direct sunlight and often cannot afford to stop working during heatwaves. Source: Tuoi Tre

This suggests that heat risk in Vietnam is more than an environmental issue. It is also a public health challenge, a threat to labour productivity and a growing social welfare concern.

Closing The Adaptation Gap

Vietnam has introduced a series of policies to strengthen climate resilience in recent years.

In 2021, the prime minister approved Decision No. 438/QD-TTg, a national plan to develop climate-resilient cities between 2021 and 2030. The plan requires local authorities to assess climate impacts, vulnerability and risks in urban planning and infrastructure investment.

The government's commitment was reaffirmed in Conclusion No. 75-KL/TW, issued by General Secretary To Lam on July 19 2026, which calls for environmental protection and climate adaptation to be placed at the centre of development decisions.

To reduce urban heat, national and local authorities have promoted nature-based solutions, including expanding parks, planting more street trees, protecting waterways, and creating green corridors and public spaces. Ho Chi Minh City plans to develop 75 parks in 2025-2026. By early 2026, 14 vacant sites had already been converted into public parks.

No 1 Ly Thai To Park – a newly established park in Ho Chi Minh City since 2026. Source: Dang Bo TP.HCM

During periods of extreme heat, the Ministry of Health has also issued public health guidance, advising people to avoid outdoor activities between 12 p.m.and 3 p.m., stay hydrated, wear protective clothing, and take measures to keep homes cool. The ministry has also released recommendations to help protect outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses.

However, these measures have yet to fully address heat vulnerability, which is the social and economic factors that determine who is most at risk during extreme heat, regardless of temperature alone.

While researchers have developed tools such as the Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) to identify at-risk communities, Vietnam's adaptation measures have largely focused on reducing heat exposure through greener urban design. Experts say these approaches need to be complemented by more targeted, data-driven policies that identify and protect the populations most vulnerable to extreme heat.

Heat advisories also remain largely reactive. Public health recommendations are typically issued during heatwaves, encouraging people to stay indoors, avoid outdoor activities and remain hydrated. Such guidance, however, is difficult to follow for outdoor workers, informal labourers and gig workers, whose incomes often depend on working through periods of extreme heat.

As temperatures continue to rise, the question is no longer whether Vietnam's cities will become hotter. It is whether they can become more resilient – especially for the millions of people who cannot escape the heat.

As temperatures continue to rise, the question is whether Vietnam's cities will become more resilient. Source: Tuoi Tre

Uyen Nguyen: When Vietnamese Talent Leads On The Global Stage

Nhật Hạ — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:52:33 +0000

Innovate Beyond Boundaries is a four-part leadership series highlighting NAB’s spirit of innovation through the stories of its leaders, while offering a closer look at the people, culture, and engineering mindset behind the organisation.

In the second episode, Uyen Nguyen’s journey as Head of Engineering– Enterprise Technology att NAB Vietnam, shares her journey from Australia back to Vietnam, and how that decision opened the door to build a global technology platform from home. Her story reflects a growing reality for Vietnamese technology professionals: global careers can be built, grown and made meaningful impact from Vietnam.

Like many professionals who choose to return home, Uyen came back to Vietnam for personal reasons, wanting to stay closer to her family. What followed was an opportunity to continue growing her leadership career at NAB Vietnam, contribute to technology that supports NAB customers, and help develop future engineering leaders.

After completing her Software Engineering degree at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Uyen started her career as a software engineer before gradually taking on broader responsibilities across technical leadership and engineering management roles.

When she returned to Vietnam, she saw an opportunity to contribute to a growing technology ecosystem while staying closer to her family. That path eventually brought her to NAB Vietnam, where she joined as an Engineering Manager before moving into her current role as Head of Engineering – Enterprise Technology.

As the second episode of Innovate Beyond Boundaries, Uyen shares how NAB Vietnam is developing engineering capabilities, building a culture of ownership, and creating opportunities for local talent to contribute to technology solutions that support a global banking organisation.

Uyen Nguyen - Head of Engineering - Enterprise Technology.

From Software Engineer To Engineering Leader

For Uyen, her career journey has always been shaped by continuous learning. More than 15 years ago, she started as a software engineering student in Australia before entering the technology industry. Over time, she moved from writing software to leading teams, managing engineering capabilities, and eventually taking on broader responsibilities as a technology leader.

When she joined NAB Vietnam, she started as an Engineering Manager and built her team from the ground up. Her early team became among the first engineering groups in Vietnam to take ownership of NAB’s technology services and applications.

Today, as Head of Engineering – Enterprise Technology, Uyen leads multiple teams responsible for building and managing core cloud infrastructure that supports NAB’s technology ecosystem. For her, the biggest shift has been moving from simply delivering technology solutions to owning the entire journey.

Our teams here own the outcomes. We design the architecture, implement and build the solution, test it, deploy it, and maintain it as well.

This end-to-end ownership has become a defining part of how engineering teams operate at NAB Vietnam.

Building Technology Through Ownership

A key part of NAB Vietnam’s engineering culture is creating an environment where people can take ownership of the solutions they build. Rather than focusing only on completing assigned tasks, engineers are encouraged to understand the challenges behind each problem, contribute ideas, and make decisions throughout the development process.

For Uyen, ownership is not only about technical responsibility. It is also about confidence. When engineers have the opportunity to contribute, experiment, and learn from challenges, they become more proactive and capable of solving increasingly complex problems. This mindset allows teams at NAB Vietnam to contribute to critical technology foundations that support the bank’s global operations.

Whether developing new solutions or improving existing systems, engineers are encouraged to think beyond implementation and understand the impact of the technology they create.

Leadership Starts With Growing Together

For Uyen, leadership is not about standing above the team. It is about working alongside them. Her approach focuses on staying close to the team’s daily experiences, understanding challenges from the ground, and building trust through collaboration.

I work very closely with my team to know what’s happening on the ground. As I work with them through challenges and difficulties, I build trust with the team.

Rather than viewing leadership as a one-way relationship, Uyen believes growth happens in both directions. While she supports her teams through coaching and guidance, she also learns from the people around her. This creates an environment where everyone continues to improve together.

For Uyen, this approach becomes even more important as technology evolves rapidly and engineers are constantly adapting to new tools and ways of working.

AI As A Tool To Build Better, Not Simply Faster

Like many technology organisations, NAB has been exploring how artificial intelligence can support engineering teams. For Uyen, AI provides opportunities to improve productivity, help engineers learn new technologies, and accelerate development processes.

However, innovation must always be balanced with responsibility. As a highly regulated banking organisation, NAB places strong emphasis on security and risk management when adopting new technologies.

We don’t want to move at speed and take shortcuts because NAB is a bank and is highly regulated. We always put risk and security as our top priorities.

For engineering teams, this means using AI as a tool to enhance human capability while maintaining the standards required in financial services. The goal is not simply to work faster, but to create better solutions while ensuring trust and reliability.

Building Together Across Borders

Having experienced both Australian and Vietnamese technology environments, Uyen believes strong global technology delivery comes from having consistent standards, systems, and expectations across locations. Whether an engineer works in Sydney, Melbourne, Ho Chi Minh City, or Hanoi, the foundation remains the same.

What differs is the perspective each market brings. According to Uyen, mature technology markets often focus on improving and scaling existing systems. Vietnam, meanwhile, brings a strong creation mindset, especially among younger engineers who are eager to explore new technologies and build new solutions.

Bringing these different perspectives together creates opportunities for innovation across the organisation. For Uyen, innovation is not limited to one location. It comes from people with different experiences working together toward a shared goal.

Investing In The Next Generation Of Engineers

For Uyen, building a strong technology organisation requires more than hiring talented people. It requires creating opportunities for people to grow. At NAB Vietnam, engineers have access to learning opportunities, coaching, mentorship, and career development pathways that help them continue expanding their skills.

Her own journey reflects this philosophy. Starting her career as a software engineer, Uyen gradually moved into leadership roles by taking on new challenges and continuously developing her capabilities. She believes the same opportunities should be available to the next generation of engineers entering the industry.

Through programmes such as StarCamp, WeCamp, and mentorship initiatives, NAB Vietnam supports graduates and early-career engineers as they develop their technical skills and explore long-term career paths.

Empowering Vietnamese Talent To Make a Global Impact

For Uyen, the future of technology is not defined by where teams are located. It is defined by their ability to create meaningful solutions, collaborate effectively, and continue growing. Her journey from studying software engineering in Australia to leading enterprise technology teams in Vietnam reflects a broader transformation within the technology industry.

Vietnamese engineers are increasingly moving beyond supporting global technology projects. They are becoming the people who design, build, and lead solutions that serve customers around the world. Through its investment in people, technology, and innovation, NAB Vietnam demonstrates how global banking technology can be built from Vietnam by empowering the engineers who create it.

Special thanks to NAB Vietnam for partnering with Vietnam Innovators to bring Innovate Beyond Boundaries to life. Through this four-episode series, NAB Vietnam shares a closer look at the people, ideas, and culture driving innovation at NAB, while showcasing Vietnam's growing role in building world-class technology for the global stage.

Watch the full episode HERE.

What Should Young Chefs Build Before They Build A Signature?

Nhật Hạ — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you had to choose one flavor, memory, or moment that quietly shaped the way you see food today, what would come to mind first?

Everyone enters the culinary world carrying something different. For one person, it may be the Vietnamese meals that remained on the family table despite growing up thousands of miles from home. For another, it is the desire to return to simpler flavors after years of experiencing cuisines from around the world. And sometimes, what changes a person’s understanding of hospitality has little to do with a particular dish. It can begin with watching a young person find confidence and a sense of belonging in a kitchen.

Before trying to create something entirely new, perhaps the more important starting point is understanding and valuing what has shaped us in the first place. That idea lies at the heart of “The Makers of Our Time,” the theme of Rising Chefs Challenge 2026.

Joining this year’s contestants are Chef Anaïs Ca Dao – Founder & Culinary Director of Yeshi and Bar Rơm, and Culinary Director of Esta House; Chef Trần Hiếu Trung – Founder & Head Chef of Lamai Garden; and Jimmy Pham AM – Founder & Executive Chairman of KOTO.

Through their three distinct journeys, Vietcetera explores how memories, lived experiences, and personal values can become the foundations from which people find their own direction in food and hospitality.

What Brings A Chef Back To Familiar Vietnamese Flavors?

Chef Anaïs Ca Dao: My mom used to study Vietnamese culture in France, and her professor told her something that has always stayed with me: Vietnamese children who grow up overseas and have to adapt to another culture through school or their environment will still, at the end of the day, come home and eat Vietnamese food.

That idea has always stayed with me because Vietnamese cuisine is more than food. It represents home, identity, and connection. Wherever we are overseas, its flavors always bring us back to our roots.

Raised across different cultures, Chef Anaïs Ca Dao sees Vietnamese food as a way of returning to her roots.

Chef Trần Hiếu Trung: I think my perspective on food was shaped over a long period of time. But if I had to choose one moment when I began to understand it more clearly, it would probably be when I opened my first restaurant, La Chérie.

Before that, I had opportunities to study, work, and experience different cuisines. Interestingly, the more I learned about ingredients from around the world, the more possibilities I began to see in the very familiar ingredients around me.

When I started La Chérie, I realized that this way of thinking had probably been taking shape for much longer. Perhaps it came from missing the flavors of the Saigon I grew up with, or simply from realizing that after traveling, eating in many places, and experiencing so many different dishes, what I still wanted to return to most was a simple meal at home.

What interested me was no longer necessarily going deeper into European cuisine or creating complicated fusion dishes. I wanted to spend more time understanding familiar Vietnamese ingredients and telling stories through things that already appear in our everyday meals.

The more cuisines Chef Trần Hiếu Trung encountered, the more inspiration he found in familiar Vietnamese ingredients.

Jimmy Pham: For me, the defining moment wasn’t about a remarkable meal. It was about a remarkable young person.

When I first returned to Vietnam, I met young people living on the streets who had been told, in many ways, that they didn’t matter. Through KOTO, I watched one young person discover hospitality, not simply as a career, but as a place where they belonged.

In the kitchen, they found discipline. Through serving others, they began to discover their own worth. That changed my understanding of food. When someone feels they belong, they begin to believe in themselves. That’s where opportunity begins.

For Jimmy Pham, a sense of belonging can be the first step toward self-belief and opportunity.

When The Familiar Becomes Something Of Your Own

Chef Anaïs Ca Dao: I think my dishes always evolve and are different everywhere, depending on the concept. I’ve had a lot of different interpretations of things.

For me, that means there probably isn’t one single dish that can represent the entire journey. A dish can change with the space, the concept, and where I am in my own thinking at that moment.

Chef Trần Hiếu Trung: I would probably choose “Vườn cải Lamai”, or Lamai’s garden of greens. It has been with me since the early days of the restaurant and continues to evolve with Lamai today.

The dish uses vegetables grown in Lamai’s winter garden, including cabbage, Chinese kale, mustard greens, watercress, and chrysanthemum greens. Each brings a different character — sweetness, bitterness, or a gentle heat — and they are brought together by a climbing perch broth inspired by canh cải cá rô, a traditional Vietnamese mustard green and fish soup.

“Vườn cải Lamai” reflects Chef Trần Hiếu Trung’s approach to finding something new within familiar ingredients and the rhythms of the seasons.

What I find interesting is that the dish is never exactly the same. The vegetables are harvested at different times each year. The weather changes. The broth changes. The way the greens interact with one another changes as well.

Through these small differences, I can feel the passage of time and the cycles of nature. That is also quite representative of the way I cook: working with what is available around me, without forcing things, and allowing nature to complete the flavor in its own way.

Jimmy Pham: If I had to choose, it wouldn’t be a single dish at all. It would be thịt kho and canh chua - the meal my family gathered around growing up. As a child, I never thought much about it. It was simply home. But over the years, I’ve come to realize those two dishes taught me something about balance.

Thịt kho is rich, comforting, and full of warmth. Canh chua brings freshness, brightness, and sourness. One without the other never quite feels complete.

Life has been much the same. There have been moments of joy and fulfillment, but also heartbreak, uncertainty, and sacrifice. Both the sweetness and the sourness shape who we become.

Whenever I think of thịt kho and canh chua, I remember that the most meaningful lives, like the most memorable meals, are about balance. | Source: Compiled by Vietcetera.

Does A Dish Of Its Time Have To Chase What Is New?

Chef Anaïs Ca Dao: I think every dish needs to go through a meticulous process of research so that you understand it and can interpret it without disrespecting it.

I also think we should not follow trends, because it is very easy to fall into that trap. I believe the best dishes are personal, or have real research behind them, rather than simply following a trend.

Chef Trần Hiếu Trung: I think putting a label like “the flavor of our time” on a dish can place quite a lot of pressure on it.

For me, a dish first needs to do something very simple: it has to taste good and create a connection with the person eating it. You do not have to create something completely new for it to belong to its time.

If I were to define “the flavor of our time” in my own way, I would say a dish does not necessarily have to be modern or use a new technique. What matters more is whether it offers a new perspective grounded in understanding, and whether it expresses the personality of the person cooking it.

Jimmy Pham: When I think about the flavors of our time, I don’t think the most meaningful dish will simply be the most technically perfect or the most beautiful. I think it should tell us something about who we are and who we aspire to become.

A great dish should reflect more than flavor. It should reflect purpose. It can honor the farmers who grew the ingredients, respect the environment that sustained them, celebrate the culture they came from, and recognize the people who prepare and serve them.

To me, the flavors of our time are also compassion, sustainability, inclusion, and hope. When those values are part of the way we work, a dish can create meaning far beyond the dining table.

How Do You Reinterpret Tradition Without Losing Its Spirit?

Chef Anaïs Ca Dao: I think you need to build a bridge between the customer and your dish. I usually try to find a connecting point between their comfort, their food, and Vietnamese food. That way, even though the flavors may be different, there are still elements that remind them of their own culture.

Chef Trần Hiếu Trung: For me, reinterpreting a dish is a little like composing music. It is not like solving a scientific equation. It relies heavily on emotion, so it is difficult to answer with a single formula. Of course, the more knowledge and experience a chef accumulates, the more depth their creativity can have.

I often compare it to gardening. If you spend enough time caring for the soil before planting the seeds, you are more likely to have a richer harvest. Creativity works in much the same way. It needs a strong foundation before it can grow naturally.

Jimmy Pham: Many people assume that passion comes first. My experience at KOTO has taught me the opposite. Many of our trainees do not arrive dreaming of becoming chefs. They arrive because they are looking for an opportunity.

So we don’t begin by teaching them how to cook. We begin by helping them believe in themselves. Once a young person discovers that they have value, something starts to change. They take pride in their work, their confidence grows, and passion can follow naturally.

I’ve always believed that purpose is more powerful than passion. Passion can fade on difficult days, but purpose gives you a reason to keep going.

Hospitality is demanding. The hours are long and the standards are high. But every day, you also have the opportunity to make someone’s experience a little better through a meal, a smile, a warm welcome, or a simple act of kindness.

Amid Endless Trends, What Helps A Young Chef Build A Lasting Career?

Chef Anaïs Ca Dao: Perseverance, as always.

If you choose to do this job, it can be very taxing on both the body and the mind. For me, if you persevere and take care of your health, you will be able to create a story that is true to yourself. Also, be a student of life. We never stop learning from food, but also from everything around us.

Chef Anaïs Ca Dao encourages young chefs to remain “students of life,” learning not only from food but from everything around them.

Chef Trần Hiếu Trung: I think the fact that young chefs today can access international techniques and trends so easily is a very good thing. But when new ideas are constantly appearing, it is also easy to be carried along by them. You may be interested in one trend today and want to try another tomorrow.

To build a solid career, I think the first thing is to keep working on the fundamentals. Instead of learning only how a finished dish is assembled and presented, start by understanding the ingredient itself. If you are working with fish, for example, learn where it comes from, whether it is farmed or caught, how it should be prepared, how different species differ from one another, and how different cooking methods affect it.

That knowledge becomes the foundation for everything you do later. Local culture is just as important. Without it, it becomes difficult to develop your own identity, especially today. Culture is part of the foundation from which a chef’s individual style can grow.

For Chef Trần Hiếu Trung, local culture provides the roots from which a chef’s own style can develop.

Jimmy Pham: People often ask me what makes a great chef. My answer is always the same. It’s not talent.

Talent might open the first door, but character is what keeps it open. Trends will change. Techniques will evolve. But the qualities that matter most remain the same: discipline, humility, a willingness to learn, teamwork, and the resilience to keep going when things become difficult. Skills build careers. Values build legacies.

For Jimmy Pham, talent may open the first door, but character is what keeps it open.

What Would You Like To Say To The Contestants Of Rising Chefs Challenge 2026?

Chef Anaïs Ca Dao: Good luck! (Laughs)

Be yourself and don’t follow trends. Taste everything. It needs to taste good before it looks pretty.

Chef Trần Hiếu Trung: I think the most important thing is not to rush into trying to be different.

Many young chefs enter the profession feeling that they have to create something completely new, different, or special. There is nothing wrong with that, but sometimes searching for novelty too early can make you overlook what is already close to you.

Instead of asking how you can be different from everyone else, perhaps ask yourself what matters to you most right now, what you understand best, and what you feel most confident about. Once you find that, spend time going deeper. Do it well, understand it thoroughly, and take what you believe in as far as you can. Let something new emerge naturally from a foundation that is truly your own.

Jimmy Pham: Winning this competition may change your career, but how you choose to use your career can change someone’s life. Food has always had the ability to connect people. It can cross cultures, bring strangers together, and make someone feel welcome.

So as your skills grow, don’t let your heart grow smaller. Success is not measured only by awards, restaurants, or followers. It is also about the opportunities you create for others along the way.

At KOTO, we have a simple philosophy: Know One. Teach One. Once you’ve been given an opportunity, create one for someone else. I hope that one day, when people speak about your career, they will remember more than your signature dish. I hope they remember your generosity, your integrity, and the opportunities you created for others. Because the greatest legacy of a chef is not simply the meals they serve. It is the lives they nourish.

Rising Chefs Challenge is part of Flavors Vietnam 2026. This year's competition is co-organized by Royal Arctika, bringing new culinary experiences while continuing to celebrate Vietnam's vibrant F&B culture.

Rising Chefs Challenge 2026 officially opens for applications from July 12 to August 23, 2026. Apply HERE.

The Grand Finale will take place on:
Date: September 18, 2026
Venue: Saigontourist Hospitality College, Ho Chi Minh City

Our sincere thanks to the sponsors and partners of Flavors Rising Chefs Challenge 2026: Gold Sponsor: Royal Arctika; Bronze Sponsor: SpeedPOS; Trusted Partners: V Horeca, H Cookware, and Lý Gia Viên.

The Four-Hands Dinner Is Not About Dinner

Hao Tran — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 03:10:46 +0000

Something is happening in Asian hospitality, and the clearest way to see it is not in a quarterly report but at a chef’s counter. Across the region, hotel groups are staging limited-run chef collaborations at a pace that would have seemed strange five years ago. Four-hands dinners, guest chef residencies, cross-property dining series that move talent between cities the way galleries move exhibitions. Last weekend I attended one in Saigon, and before I tell you about the food, it is worth explaining why these dinners exist at all, because the reasons say a great deal about where our consumer economy is heading.

The first reason is that food has become the primary reason to choose a hotel, not an amenity of it. Rooms are increasingly commoditized; a great bed is table stakes. What luxury hotel groups have figured out is that their restaurants are the most defensible brand asset they own, and a limited-run collaboration converts a restaurant from a place you eat when staying into a destination you plan around. Three nights only, one menu, two chefs who may never cook together again. Scarcity is the oldest lever in luxury, and hotel F&B has finally learned to pull it.

Chef Ivan Casusol of Nikura and Chef Kyung Jin Lee of Tamayura bring two culinary traditions together for a four-hands dinner, where cultures meet on every plate.

The second reason is regional, and it is the one I find most compelling. For decades, culinary validation flowed one way: from Paris and Tokyo outward, with the rest of Asia waiting its turn. That is over. Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and increasingly Saigon are now validating each other, trading chefs and techniques laterally rather than looking west for permission. Since Michelin arrived in Vietnam, our fine dining scene has been hungry for exactly this kind of exchange, and visiting chefs bring their reputations and their audiences with them. Culinary tourism within Asia, by Asians, is one of the most underwritten stories in our industry.

A four-hands dinner where Seoul meets Saigon, bringing chefs, techniques, and culinary perspectives together in a new Asian dining exchange.

The third reason is the diner. The generation now filling these seats would rather spend on a singular evening than on another object. This is the experience economy thesis playing out in real time, and it matters far beyond restaurants. Anyonebuilding a consumer brand in Vietnam should be studying who books these dinners, because the same psychology is reshaping how young Vietnamese spend on travel, fashion, and culture.

For a new generation of diners, the value of a night like this lies not in what they take home, but in the experience they carry with them.

And there is a fourth reason, one I notice from where I sit in media. These dinners are contentengines. They are designed to be photographed, posted, reviewed, and remembered, which means hotels are no longer just competing with other hotels. They are competing with publishers, festivals, and streaming platforms for a share of cultural attention. The chef has become a creator in the fullest sense, with a following, a point of view, and collaboration instincts borrowed from music and fashion. A four-hands dinner is essentially a featured track. The hotel provides the label and the distribution.

Which brings me to last weekend, when all of this stopped being theory. I sat at the counter at Nikura, inside the JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon, for the Ho Chi Minh City debut of the Savor by JW Dining Series. The premise checked every box above: three nights only, two chefs from two countries, one menu. Chef Ivan Casusol, Nikura’s Peruvian-born executive chef who cooks contemporary Nikkei, alongside Chef Lee Kyungjin of Tamayura, the kaiseki institution at JW Marriott Seoul.

At Nikura, Saigon became the meeting point for two chefs, two culinary traditions, and one limited-run dining experience.

What elevated the evening beyond the business model was that the menu actually delivered on the idea of dialogue. It opened in Chef Lee’s territory with the Tamayura Box: a chilled sweet spring onion soup, chicken terrine with bottarga, fried tofu pouch stuffed with tuna tartare. Everything restrained, seasonal, precise. Then it pivoted into Chef Ivan’s world with a tiradito of seared Japanese scallop and a ceviche of red snapper in tiger’s milk, all acid and brightness where the opening had been quiet. The mains found the middle ground: roasted live lobster with walnut crust, herb-crusted beef katsu with truffle, and a Nagasaki isaki that could have belonged to either chef. Dessert made the point one last time, a sous vide pear with brie ice cream and pecan-miso praline. This was not fusion, which flattens two cuisines into one. It was conversation, which lets each keep its accent.

That, in the end, is the story. The food at Nikura was excellent, but what I witnessed was a business model maturing: hospitality groups turning kitchens into cultural programming, and cities like ours becoming stops on a new Asian culinary circuit. Vietnam is no longer waiting for the food world to visit. Increasingly, we are the venue where it convenes.

Vietnam Proposes Restrictions On Social Media Use For Under-16s

Anh Trang — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:20:21 +0000

Vietnam has proposed adding regulations to restrict social media use among children under 16, under a draft amendment to Decree 147/2024 on the management of cyberspace.

This does not mean a complete ban on social media, as Australia and the U.K have implemented. However, it would mean that children would have limited access to certain social media features, including posting, commenting and sharing in Vietnam.

The Need To Restrict Social Media

In fact, Vietnam is not the first country to propose or implement such measures. Around 20 countries across Asia and Europe have introduced restrictions ranging from limits on social media use to outright bans for children under 16.

Australia, for example, introduced a complete social media ban for children under 16 in December 2025. Meanwhile, countries such as China have implemented a so-called “minor mode,” which requires device-level restrictions and app-specific rules to limit screen time based on users’ age.

Governments have cited a range of concerns when introducing or considering restrictions on children’s social media use. One of the most common is children’s mental health and wellbeing, which are pointed to as anxiety, sleep disruption, difficulties with concentration and the potentially addictive nature of excessive social media use.

Governments have cited a range of concerns when introducing or considering restrictions on children’s social media use. | Source: VnExpress

Another major concern is children’s exposure to harmful content, including pornography, violence, self-harm, eating disorders and hate speech. Policymakers are also looking beyond what children see online to how platforms are designed to keep them engaged. Features such as infinite scrolling and other addictive design mechanisms have come under scrutiny, with governments arguing that platforms themselves can contribute to excessive use.

While the specific priorities differ from country to country, these concerns point to a broader shift in the debate: the risks children face online are not limited to individual pieces of content, but also involve the way social media platforms are designed, operated and used.

What’s In Vietnam’s Proposed Restriction?

The Vietnamese authorities said the measure is intended not to cut children off from social media, but to ensure that those who use it are placed in an age-appropriate environment and protected from online risks.

The restrictions would work as follows:

First, children under 16 would not be allowed to register social media accounts themselves. Instead, their parents or legal guardians would have to create the accounts on their behalf and supervise both the content they access and the amount of time they spend on social media.

Second, children’s accounts would not be allowed to post, comment, interact with other users or react to content on social media. In other words, accounts operated under parental or guardian supervision would be restricted to viewing content, with no other social media functions available to them.

In addition, children’s accounts would have to be set to the highest level of privacy protection by default. Social media platforms would also be required to proactively block harmful content or content that could negatively affect children.

Social media platforms would also have to implement automated age-verification systems to ensure that users are served age-appropriate content.

At the same time, platforms would be required to cooperate with authorities, establish reporting mechanisms and provide emergency information when they detect cases of child abuse or exploitation online.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Deputy Director of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, proposed adding regulations to restrict social media use among children under 16. | Source: VnExpress

Reality Of Enforcement

Australia, the first country in the world to impose a social media ban on children under 16, has yet to effectively curb teenagers’ use of social media. As of August 3, eight months after the ban took effect, around 58% of teenagers reported using social media daily – just two percentage points lower than before the ban. Many have also found ways to circumvent the restrictions, including using VPNs, fake IDs or passports, or switching to less-regulated platforms.

According to social media platforms, this approach could be more dangerous than allowing children to use the platforms themselves.

Despite the ban, many children still find a way to use social media in Australia. Source: Al Jazeera.

Nguyen Thu Thao, Meta’s public policy director for Vietnam, said platforms identify accounts that are likely to belong to children based on certain behavioural and activity patterns. If children are only allowed to use social media passively, platforms would lose the behavioural signals they need to identify them as minors and apply appropriate safeguards.

The new rules could also prompt more children to misrepresent their age in order to continue using interactive features. In that case, they could end up using standard accounts and no longer benefit from age-based safety protections.

Moreover, children’s right to use social media falls within their broader rights to communicate, access information and express themselves, as set out in Vietnam’s Law on Children and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“Given that online communication has become an integral part of children’s learning and daily lives, completely restricting their ability to interact online would be difficult to implement,” said Nguyen Thi Le Thuy, an expert at the Centre for Skills Development and School Psychological Support.

Can Vietnam Effectively Regulate Children’s Social Media Use?

The debate over social media restrictions for children is relatively new. Although Australia’s move has triggered a wave of nearly 20 countries considering similar bans or restrictions, even the earliest of these measures was introduced as early as December 2025, leaving limited evidence of their effectiveness.

Nevertheless, the measures have brought the issue into the mainstream policy debate: Should children be allowed to use social media, and where should the responsibility for protecting them lie — with the platforms, families, or society and governments?

For governments, including Vietnam’s, completely managing teenagers’ social media use is likely to be difficult, given their growing need to communicate and access information through platforms that have become an integral part of their daily lives.

In Vietnam, the draft decree is still under consultation and has not yet been finalised, meaning its provisions could still be revised before adoption. But it has already raised a broader question: Can this approach effectively manage the online environment for children and provide the protection the government intends?

Can Vietnam’s approach effectively manage the online environment for children and provide the protection the government intend? Source: Vietnam.vn

VNG’s AI Bet Pays Off As Vietnam Backs Games And SMEs

Genesia Ventures — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:28:05 +0000

VNG’s Adjusted Operating Profit Jumps 86%

VNG reported strong results in the second quarter of 2026, with adjusted operating profit rising 86% year on year to VND 467 billion (US$17.8 million). Consolidated net revenue also increased 26% to VND 3.1 trillion (US$117.9 million). Growth was supported by multiple business segments, including Games and Entertainment, Zalo, payments and AI-related activities.

VNG’s headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City. | Source: VNG

Zalo currently has 81.3 million monthly active users, while Zalopay revenue reached VND 241 billion (US$9.17 million), up 90% year on year. Growth across the two platforms highlights VNG’s ability to leverage its existing user base and platform capabilities to capture new growth opportunities.

In technology infrastructure, GreenNode is also shifting from traditional cloud services toward AI infrastructure. The move is aligned with VNG’s long-term AI-driven growth strategy and its plans to expand further into AI infrastructure.

Tax Incentives Proposed To Boost Vietnamese-Made Games

Vietnam is proposing its first dedicated legal framework for “Vietnamese-made games,” alongside a series of tax incentives aimed at encouraging domestic game development and publishing. Under the proposed framework, Vietnamese-made games would be defined as titles whose copyrights are owned by domestic companies, incorporate Vietnamese cultural or historical elements, and have at least 30% Vietnamese production staff. The move signals the government’s intention to include the gaming industry in its broader strategy for developing the digital economy and creative industries.

However, the tax incentives would only apply to games with educational content or those promoting Vietnamese cultural and historical values. Publishers of qualifying games would be exempt from corporate income tax for two years, followed by a 50% reduction for the next four years. Experts and employees directly involved in producing these games would also receive similar personal income tax exemptions.

To ensure the incentives are granted to eligible projects, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to establish a panel of cultural and historical experts to assess game content and determine which companies qualify. The proposed framework would also reduce regulatory and financial barriers at the early stages of development, giving domestic studios and startups more room to test products, develop intellectual property (IP) and expand into global markets.

Delegates at the opening ceremony of The Grand Esports 2026 in Hanoi on July 9. | Source: Organizing Committee

The proposal would also allow domestic companies to conduct a 90-day trial of a game without completing the full licensing process upfront. Companies would only need to notify regulators 10 days in advance and meet two conditions: the game must have fewer than 10,000 players and generate no revenue during the trial period. The mechanism would allow startups to bring products to market, gauge user responses and refine their games before an official launch.

The proposal would also clarify regulations governing imported games and esports, providing a clearer regulatory framework for businesses operating in these areas.

Vietnamese Businesses Receive VND 173.6 Trillion In Tax Relief

Tax relief measures are helping improve cash flow for small businesses and household businesses, giving them more room to invest and expand. The government’s continued focus on tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also underscores the role of the private sector in driving economic growth.

SMEs are expected to benefit from new support criteria designed to be more transparent and accessible. | Source: Tạp chí điện tử Thương hiệu và Công luận

In the first seven months of 2026, tax exemptions and reductions helped businesses save an estimated VND 173.6 trillion (US$6.6 billion). The figure was driven by three main measures: a two-percentage-point reduction in value-added tax (VAT), lower taxes on fuel and the abolition of the business license fee.

The package is designed to ease liquidity pressures, support production and employment, and encourage SMEs to invest in technology, improve productivity and expand their operations. By lowering cost pressures and improving cash flow, businesses - particularly SMEs - have more room to invest in technology, raise productivity and scale up, strengthening their resilience amid market challenges.

Going forward, SMEs will need to strengthen their access to finance, improve corporate governance and accelerate technology adoption alongside existing tax incentives. These will be important foundations for scaling up, improving competitiveness and achieving sustainable growth in both domestic and regional markets.

Vietnam Seeks To Bring More FIEs To Domestic Stock Exchanges

Vietnam is seeking to attract more foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) to list on domestic stock exchanges. The move could create a new channel for raising capital while bringing more large, high-quality companies into the market. Greater participation by FIEs could also diversify the sectoral mix of listed companies, helping deepen and broaden Vietnam’s capital market.

FIEs currently account for around 80% of Vietnam’s export turnover. Yet these companies remain largely absent from the domestic equity market. Many FIEs are backed by foreign parent companies and operate under advanced corporate governance standards. Attracting them to domestic exchanges could therefore not only increase the supply of listed stocks, but also contribute to higher standards of corporate governance and transparency across the market.

Illustrative image. | Source: VCCI

To narrow this gap, Vietnam has streamlined the IPO and listing process by integrating the two procedures and significantly shortening processing times. The changes are expected to make it easier for FIEs to access the domestic stock market.

In the longer term, a broader public market could diversify investment opportunities while giving businesses additional channels for raising capital and exiting investments.

How Vietnam Is Fitting Into Opella’s Regional Innovation Strategy

Thư Trần — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:01:00 +0000

When people think of Vietnam, they often picture one of the world's fastest-growing manufacturing hubs. From electronics and textiles to pharmaceuticals,multinational companies continue to established production facilities here to support their global supply chains.

Yet over the past few years, Vietnam's role has begun to evolve beyond manufacturing. More companies are relocating research and development (R&D) activities to the country, turning it into a testing ground for new ideas before they are introduced to international markets.

Opella - the consumer healthcare company that became an independent business after spinning off from Sanofi is one of them. Today, Vietnam is home to Opella's only R&D Center in Asia and serves as the host of the company's Innovation Week for the AMEA region (Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa).

In the latest episode of Vietnam Innovators, Carol-Ann Stewart, President of AMEA at Opella, explains why Vietnam was chosen as a key strategic base and how consumer healthcare is shifting from a treatment-first mindset toward one centered on self-care.

Carol-Ann Stewart, President of AMEA at Opella.

Beyond Manufacturing: From ‘Made in Vietnam’ To ‘Born in Vietnam’

A decade ago, Vietnam's main competitive advantage for global companies was its manufacturing capability. Today, the conversation has become much broader. According to Carol-Ann Stewart, Vietnam brings together several practical advantages: rapid economic development, an agile workforce, and a consumer healthcare market that continues to grow at nearly 9% annually.

With established local brands and an existing production footprint, placing an R&D facility directly inside Saigon Hi-Tech Park was a natural move for Opella. Rather than separating research from production, co-locating teams allows researchers to work directly alongside manufacturing, accelerating product testing, refinement, and commercialization.

Crucially, the center is driven by local talent. Stewart emphasized that Opella's strategy focuses on developing Vietnamese professionals through structured learning, cross-market exposure, and collaboration across Opella’s four global R&D centers. This includes sending local talent on international assignments to build global perspectives while maintaining a grounded understanding of local consumer needs.

As Stewart's perspective suggests, the value of an innovation hub no longer lies in low labor costs, it lies in its ability to generate knowledge, ideas, and products for the world.

When Healthcare Starts Thinking Like FMCG

In pharmaceuticals, innovation if often associated with discovering new molecules or developing breakthrough treatments. For a consumer healthcare like Opella, the focus is broader: increasing access to self-care by making everyday healthcare products simpler and more intuitive.

Stewart refers to this approach as Fast Moving Consumer Healthcare (FMCH) - a model that combines the scientific rigor of pharmaceuticals with the consumer-first mindset that has long defined the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry.

In her view, healthcare has unintentionally made itself too complicated. Consumers often face technical medical terminology, packaging that has changed little over the years, and purchasing experiences that feel largely unchanged compared to decades ago.
Meanwhile, FMCG companies continuously improve packaging, textures, scents, and user experiences to make products more intuitive and approachable. That is precisely the mindset Opella hopes to bring into consumer healthcare.

At its Vietnam R&D Center, scientists do more than develop formulations. They engage directly with consumers to understand sensory experiences from fragrance and texture to absorption and overall product feel. The goal is not only to create products that perform better, but also products that people can understand, trust, and adopt more easily.

After all, as Stewart noted, innovation creates little value if consumers never use it, or never understand why they should.

Self-Care As An Essential Life Skill

One statistic particularly stands out for Stewart: globally, only one out of every three people experiencing common health issues actually seeks treatment. The other two often lack clear guidance on what steps to take. That is why she believes self-care will become increasingly important.

Where healthcare once began primarily in hospitals and clinics, it can now begin with individuals themselves, through conversations with pharmacists or searching online.

This shift presents enormous opportunities for healthcare companies to engage consumers ealier, but it also creates a responsibility: helping consumers distinguish reliable health information from misinformation circulating online.

For Stewart, healthcare companies should no longer see themselves solely as product manufacturers. They also have a responsibility to improve health literacy by helping consumers better understand common health conditions and make informed decisions about the solutions available to them.

Looking Ahead

For decades, Vietnam has established itself as a vital player in the global manufacturing landscape. Opella's presence at Saigon Hi-Tech Park suggests that a new chapter is now unfolding. The country's next phase of growth may no longer be measured simply by manufacturing output, but by the number of innovations, ideas, and healthcare solutions it contributes to the world.
As Carol-Ann Stewart envisions it, the next decade will see Vietnam not only innovating for its own market, but also becoming a source of consumer healthcare innovation for Asia, and beyond.

Watch the full Vietnam Innovators episode here:

Report From Nha Trang: A Coastal City Hits Its Stride, And Meliá Doubles Down

Hao Tran — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Stand on Tran Phu Boulevard on any given morning this summer and the story of Vietnamese tourism in 2026 tells itself. Korean families spill out of tour buses near the cathedral. Russian couples, back in force after years of absence, claim the beach loungers by eight. Domestic travelers from Ho Chi Minh City, just a ride down the new expressway network, fill the seafood restaurants by noon.

The city that once symbolized Vietnam's package-tour era is now the busiest expression of its tourism recovery, and increasingly, of its upgrade.

The Numbers Behind The Noise

The national picture is emphatic. Vietnam welcomed nearly 12.3 million international visitors in the first half of 2026, up 14.9% year on year, keeping the country on pace for its ambitious full-year target of 25 million foreign arrivals. China and South Korea lead the source markets, with 2.7 million and 2.16 million visitors respectively, while Russia has staged the most dramatic comeback of all: 742,700 arrivals in six months, growth of 185.8 percent.

Nowhere does that Russian and Korean demand land harder than Khanh Hoa. Over the 2026 New Year holiday alone, Cam Ranh International Airport handled more than 95,000 passengers across 512 flights, 321 of them international, with volumes up roughly 15% on the previous year.

Hotels and resorts across Nha Trang and Bai Dai reported occupancy above 90% through the holiday stretch. Island tours, the Po Nagar Cham Towers, and the lagoons north of the city all posted double-digit visitor growth.

For hotel operators, these are the conditions you build into. And the industry has noticed a shift in what those visitors want. The buzzword across regional hospitality conferences this year is "quality over quantity": longer stays, wellness programming, food-led travel, and properties with a defensible sense of place.

Nha Trang, long associated with high-rise density along its city beachfront, is where that thesis gets tested. The action has moved to the peninsulas and coves outside the center, where land allows resorts to be designed around landscape rather than squeezed into it.

Meliá's Vietnam Playbook

Few international operators have leaned into Vietnam as consistently as Meliá Hotels International. The Palma-based group, which likes to describe itself as Europe's most globally present hotel company, has spent the past several years assembling one of the most layered brand portfolios in the country, from city flagships in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to resort properties strung along the central coast.

Meliá Aurea Nha Trang strung along the central coast. | Source: Meliá Aurea Nha Trang

The current phase is explicitly premium. Across Asia, Meliá says one in every three of its new openings now sits in the luxury segment, a pipeline that includes the Paradisus all-inclusive debut in Bali and new Meliá Collection properties from Luang Prabang to the Maldives.

"Luxury travel in Asia is evolving rapidly," Ignacio Martin, the group's managing director for Asia Pacific, said when announcing the expansion. "It's no longer defined by exclusivity, but by meaningful connection and sense of place."

Vietnam is central to that map. Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat outside Hanoi is being repositioned under The Meliá Collection banner. Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort, a beachfront wellness retreat, is slated for this year.

In Nha Trang itself, the group already operates Villa Le Corail, a Gran Meliá all-villa hideaway that marked its entry into the top tier of the local market. What the portfolio lacked was a bridge: an upper-upscale resort that carries the group's Mediterranean identity at a price point broader than Gran Meliá's rarefied one.

Enter Meliá Aurea Nha Trang

That bridge now has a name. Meliá Aurea Nha Trang, opening beside its sister property Villa Le Corail on a stretch of coast between Turtle Island and Fairy Mountain, is pitched as "the art of living by the ocean": Mediterranean soul and Spanish warmth translated to the Biển Đông.

Meliá Aurea Nha Trang, opening beside its sister property Villa Le Corail on a stretch of coast between Turtle Island and Fairy Mountain. | Source: Meliá Aurea Nha Trang

The location does a lot of work. It is only 15 minutes from the city center and 48 kilometers from Cam Ranh International Airport, yet the setting of sea, sky, and mountains reads as secluded, with the Hon Mun Marine Protected Area's coral and clear water nearby for snorkeling, the Champa-built Po Nagar Tower for history, and Hon Chong and Hang Heo beaches for slow afternoons.

The resort's 207 rooms and suites are designed to pull the outdoors in, with private balconies, open-plan interiors, and ocean views from most keys. Meliá's signature The Level program adds a private-check-in, lounge-access tier with concierge service, afternoon tea, and all-day refreshments, a format the group has used effectively to capture premium guests without building a separate hotel for them.

The resort's 207 rooms and suites are designed to pull the outdoors in, with private balconies, open-plan interiors, and ocean views from most keys. | Source: Meliá Aurea Nha Trang

Dining is where the property's identity sharpens. Boreal, in the lobby, is a coffee-to-cocktails gathering space inspired by the northern lights. Ciao Chào, the all-day restaurant, is the most telling concept: Italian technique meets Vietnam's rice-based traditions across wood-fired pizza ovens, open pasta and wok stations, roving chef trolleys, and fresh local seafood, supported by an on-site herb garden and interiors shaped by local craftsmanship.

By the water, O'LULA Pool Club supplies the summer energy. Wellness is treated as infrastructure rather than amenity: direct beach access, coastal walking paths, a full fitness center, a Kidsdom club for families, and a YHI Spa built around Champa heritage rituals and the grounding energy of the earth.

What It Signals

Read together, the trend lines and the opening tell one story. Nha Trang's demand base has never been deeper, but its future is being written by properties that offer culture, cuisine, and calm rather than simply beds near the beach. Meliá Aurea is a calculated wager that the destination's next decade belongs to the upper-upscale middle: travelers who want the polish of Gran Meliá thinking without the villa price tag. With arrivals surging, airlift expanding, and Spanish hospitality planting a second flag on this coastline, the smart money says the wager lands.

The World Is A Blank Canvas, And Studying Abroad Was Ginger Nguyễn’s First Sketch

Thanh Trúc — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:40:54 +0000

For the Study Abroad series, we usually meet our guests through a screen, and Ginger Nguyễn is no exception. But talking to Ginger feels less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend, one who proudly calls herself a professional “yapper.” Currently back home in Hanoi, she is also navigating an all-too-familiar international student headache: waiting for her U.S. visa interview after August appointment slots disappeared almost as soon as they opened.

"It was supposed to be the 11th of August, but my visa interview slot ran out. So I was like, 'Oh.' Now I have to pay the delay fee for a different time," she laughs, seemingly unfazed by the chaos.

Ginger, who is studying 3D Animation at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, carries a distinctly Gen Z spirit that shifts effortlessly between energetic Vietnamese and rapid-fire English and the occasional “lowkey,” “highkey,” in between. But beneath her easygoing, chatty personality is a surprisingly grounded perspective on what it means to study abroad, make art, and figure out what she wants to do with the opportunities in front of her.

Meet Ginger Nguyễn, a self-proclaimed professional “yapper” and highkey ambitious 3D animation student at SVA.| Source: Provided

Between Ginger’s “highkey” and “lowkey” is the story of a young artist navigating different cultures, finding her voice, and figuring out what she wants to make of the world she has been given.

You made the bold choice to leave Hanoi for New Zealand at just 15 years old. What made you decide to leave at that age?

Honestly, I was just so over it! At the time, I was studying at the British International School (BIS) in Hanoi. It had a STEAM curriculum, so there was definitely an arts component, but the overall environment still felt very academically and STEM-oriented. I tried so hard, and I liked being challenged, but my brain simply didn't work that way (laughs). My grades were okay, but I knew I wasn’t really thriving in that system. I felt this intense, unspoken pressure to fit into a mold that just wasn’t mine.

So, when my parents came back from a trip to New Zealand completely mesmerized by the quiet green fields and the cows, and my mom asked if I wanted to study abroad there, I didn't hesitate. I was like, "Yes, please let me go!"

Ginger Nguyễn in New Zealand, where her study abroad journey began at 15.| Source: Provided

Though I was scared of starting over from scratch, I was far more excited to escape STEM and discover what else was out there.

When you first boarded that flight, what were you hoping to discover about yourself and your relationship with art?

I had known for a long time that I loved art, but I had absolutely no idea where I fit within the massive world of creativity. I didn't know which artistic field I wanted to pursue as a career. Leaving Vietnam was my way of giving myself a blank canvas. I wanted the freedom to explore, to travel, to try different things, and to see which medium would finally click with who I was.

Due to the pandemic, you ended up being stuck in New Zealand for three long years without being able to return home. How did that pivot your “adventure”?

It was really hard. At the time, I went through this fiercely independent, almost "edgy" phase where I told myself, "I can do this completely on my own, I don't need anyone's help". I didn't even cry that much when I left my friends in Hanoi because I assumed I'd see them in the summer. But when COVID hit and the borders slammed shut, the reality that I was stuck there for three years slowly started to sink in. It hit me like a ton of bricks, and I fell into a really dark, lonely place.

My saving grace was my homestay family. I stayed with a wonderful, elderly Indonesian-Kiwi couple whose daughters had already moved out. I made an active effort to connect with them. We had these deep "soul talks" after dinner, watched movies together, and shared our cultures through food. My host mom would cook Indonesian dishes, and I would cook spicy Vietnamese noodles for her. They showed me how to navigate the local buses, set up my bank card, and truly made me feel like I had a second family.

Ginger Nguyễn with friends who became a source of strength while she was away from home. | Source: Provided

But to fully cope, I relied heavily on media, animation, and online communities to stay connected to the human world. That was actually when I watched Arcane, which completely blew my mind. I started researching how they made it and read that the creators hand-painted and hand-textured the 3D models. So, right there in my homestay room, I started teaching myself Blender.

Is that what led you to SVA in New York? What made you decide to commit to 3D animation as a career?

I loved painting, but I knew I didn't necessarily want to pursue fine arts as a career. And I'm kind of greedy, too. I have so many hobbies: fashion design, interior design, world-building, and illustration. That is what drew me to 3D animation. It felt like the ultimate "greedy basket" because it's a replication of the real world. I could bring all those interests into one place: design the costumes (fashion), build the environments (interior design), paint the textures, and turn them into one creative skill set.

Strategically, I also wanted a skill set that would be difficult to master on my own. I love illustration, but that’s something I can practice independently or through YouTube. 3D programs are incredibly complex; I knew I needed university courses with someone actually leading and guiding me through. I wanted to make sure that paying for a university degree was actually worth the investment. SVA was one of the absolute best schools for animation, and it felt like the perfect place to give me a professional skill set that I need.

When you later moved to New York City to attend SVA, what was your first impression of such a different environment?

It was a massive, overwhelming shock! I went from a country where you could drive two hours and be surrounded by the greenest hills and paragliding over ocean bays, to a place of pure concrete. On my very first day, my primary impression was the smell—I literally told my parents it smelled like "an uncle's bad breath"! We were staying in Battery Park at the very end of Manhattan, and SVA's campus was up on 23rd Street. I was so absolutely terrified of the subway system that I opted to walk the entire hour to school, jet-lagged and completely dazed, staring up at skyscrapers so tall they blocked out the sky. I remember calling my parents and saying, "I don't know if I can ever like this place."

Of course, now I absolutely adore New York, but that first transition was incredibly gritty.

Ginger Nguyễn in New York, a city she once found overwhelming but eventually came to love.| Source: Provided

Did that experience of moving between such different places change the way you see where you come from?

Oh, definitely. I think the further you move away from home, the more closely you start holding onto it. For me, that made me much more aware of the beauty and history of Hanoi.

I have this deep, almost funny obsession with the “decay” of Hanoi. Sometimes its beauty lies in the traces of time: the peeling paint on old French Quarter walls, layers of faded phone numbers stamped over one another, posters being covered and replaced. Those walls almost feel alive to me. They record all these different moments of the city.

That actually became the subject of my IGCSE art portfolio, and I continued exploring those cultural and architectural elements throughout high school. I think being away from Hanoi made me notice these things in a way I probably wouldn’t have if I had stayed.

At the same time, living in such different environments, from the quiet green landscapes of New Zealand to the overwhelming concrete of Manhattan, changed the way I looked at places in general. In middle school, I also volunteered to help physically build classrooms, mixing concrete and laying bricks. Experiences like that made me more aware of how differently people live and what certain spaces can mean to them.

So I think my environments have made me see art as more than just creating something visually beautiful. It can be a way of documenting where we come from, understanding different cultures, and drawing attention to the realities that shape people's lives. That’s probably why I’ve come to see art as something that is inherently cultural and political.

You mentioned that art is inherently cultural and political. Could you elaborate on that?

Like Anthony Bourdain said, when you travel, your mind gets open to the struggles of others, and you start to care more about the people around you. It made me realize how incredibly lucky and privileged I am to have financial stability and a family that supports my dreams. I don't have the immediate, paralyzing fear of survival. But to me, that family support shouldn't make me comfortable or complacent. Rather, it's the exact reason why I have a responsibility to be spontaneous, take risks, and give back.

A safety net means that if I try something incredibly difficult and "fail" in the conventional sense, I have somewhere to retreat to, dust myself off, and try again. It's that stability that actually allows me to ask, "Why not?" and leap. And if I am lucky enough to have that launchpad, my ultimate goal is to use my voice and resources to build that same security for others who don't have it. I honestly don’t need a huge house or a fancy car. If I have money and resources, I’d much rather use them to support social causes, contribute to charity, and do things that have a tangible impact on other people’s lives.

Because I am so grateful to have this stability to pursue my dreams, my personal goals have shifted from just creating art for myself to giving back to the community. When you find yourself in a happy, secure position where you actually have the power to help someone and make their day a little better, I always think: Why not just do it? It’s not going to kill you, and it makes the world a little warmer.

What about an art project that’s just for you, based on your own feelings?

To be completely honest, I actually do art for other people much more than I do art for myself. I love collaborating or creating something specifically for someone because there’s something really rewarding about knowing they’ll appreciate it.

But when it comes to making something that is purely about me, or just reflects what I’m thinking and feeling, I hit a massive wall. I’m such an overthinker, and I have this bad habit of being way too strict with myself. I feel like if I’m going to make something for myself, it has to become this perfect masterpiece, so I end up putting so much pressure on the process that I sometimes don’t make anything at all.

One of ginger's environmental 3D replication artwork. | Source: Provided

People always tell you to just put something out there, let it be “fine and ugly” first, and improve it later. I’m really trying to learn that mindset, but my default is still very much “go big or go home.” If I’m doing something for myself, I feel like I have to put 100% of my soul into it.

So, ironically, even though I’ve done a lot of personal and cultural work, especially during high school in New Zealand, most of it was still connected to a school assignment or a specific purpose. Since leaving home, I’ve actually done less art purely for myself.

I think that’s something I’m still learning – how to make art without needing it to serve anyone else or prove anything. Hopefully, as I gain more experience and get past that perfectionist block, I’ll be able to make something that is completely, uniquely mine.

Looking ahead, graduation is on the horizon. What are your immediate goals after you finish school, especially given how rapidly the creative and tech industries are shifting right now?

After graduation, my immediate goal is to work at major film or game studios to gain a few years of real-world industry experience. I’m really leaning towards big blockbuster productions because I absolutely love the feeling of working on a massive, collaborative project.

But I also think a lot about the future, and sometimes I feel like I overthink it too much! Right now, the creative industry is changing so fast because it is highly linked with the tech industry, which makes the job market a bit tough and unpredictable. My mom actually nailed this advice into my head: "You need to have a passive income and multiple sources of revenue so that when a door gets shut, you aren't left stranded."

So, if the entertainment industry gets too hard, my plan is to do commercial work. Even if my heart is in film, commercial design is a great way to make a stable living and build capital. Once you have money, you can actually use it to fund the independent films you believe in, hire your friends, and make things happen on your own terms instead of waiting for a studio's green light. It’s all about creating that financial stability so you never have to compromise your artistic vision. And that’s my big dream actually.

Tell us more about your ultimate dream.

So, after I get those years of blockbuster experience abroad under my belt, my big dream is to return home to Vietnam and open my own large-scale 3D animation studio.

I don’t want it to just be a commercial factory. I want to build a space that acts as a collaborative, supportive harbor for Vietnamese artists. If we have a stable, successful commercial side that brings in solid revenue, we can use those resources to self-fund independent, passion-driven animated films, hire local talent, and uplift the creative community here.

It brings everything full circle for me. I was so incredibly lucky to have a family that gave me a safety net to pursue my dreams and ask "Why not?" without fear.

Ginger Nguyễn in her element, looking ahead to the creative home she hopes to build in Hanoi. | Source: Provided

So my ultimate goal is to take my voice, my skills, and my resources and build that exact same safety net and launchpad right here in Hanoi for other young artists who deserve it. I want to show them that you don't have to leave your home country or struggle in isolation to create world-class art—we can build a thriving, sustainable creative home together.

Is Saigon Still A Budget Destination With Hotel Pricing Up 20%?

Thanh Trúc — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 03:10:00 +0000

A Hotel Room In Saigon Just Got 20% More Expensive

A hotel room in Saigon just became 20% more expensive. In the second quarter of 2026, the city's average hotel rate reached VND2.4 million, or around US$92, per night, according to Savills data. Hotel occupancy remained above 70%, while international arrivals to Ho Chi Minh City rose sharply in the first half of the year.

For a city long associated with inexpensive street food, affordable transport and surprisingly good hotels, the increase raises a familiar question: is Saigon still as affordable as travelers think it is?

Is Saigon Losing One Of Its Biggest Tourism Advantages?

At first glance, a price surge like this sounds like a major red flag for a city whose global reputation was built on delivering unmatched value. Driven by business travel, MICE events, and resilient international demand, hotel rooms are staying full despite minor dips in flight numbers. But the hotel bill only tells part of the story.

Step past the front desk, and Saigon’s legendary affordability is remarkably intact. Recent travel-cost estimates show that a visitor can still navigate the city on surprisingly little once lodging is set aside.

A budget traveler spends an average of just $31 to $32 a day: roughly $10 to $16 for accommodation, $8 to $9 on food, $4 to $5 on transportation, and $7 to $10 on entertainment. Move up to mid-range comfort, and the daily bill sits at a manageable $87 to $88, with accommodation accounting for $48, dining taking $23, transit $15, and activities $19. Only when travelers push into high-end luxury does the daily budget climb toward $203.

This wide spectrum reveals the real Saigon paradox: the room key is getting pricier, but the city outside remains ultra-cheap. That $91 average hotel rate doesn't mean budget options have vanished; rather, a booming market of four- and five-star properties is pulling the statistical average upward. Once you strip away the hotel, spending $9 a day on incredible food and $5 on rides around town makes a compelling case for the city's value.

A booming market of four- and five-star properties is pulling the statistical average upward. | Source: Sofie Hotel

So, is Saigon losing its competitive edge? Not yet. Being a smart destination doesn't require every room or restaurant to be dirt cheap; it means travelers still have the power to curate a high-quality trip at a low total cost. You can still comfortably experience the best of Saigon for $30 to $90 a day without missing out on its vibrant streets, world-class dining, and culture. The room hike may pinch your wallet at check-in, but everything beyond the lobby proves Saigon is still one of Asia’s best travel steals.

What Does US$100 Get You In Saigon Compared With Other Asian Cities?

To judge whether Saigon is losing its edge, it helps to put a $100 daily budget up against its primary regional rivals.

2026 travel data puts the average mid-range daily spend in Ho Chi Minh City at $87, comfortably below Bangkok ($100) and Manila ($98). While Saigon isn't the absolute cheapest city in the region since Jakarta undercuts it at $68, and Kuala Lumpur matches it almost dollar-for-dollar at $86, it offers a level of financial stretch that few rival capitals can replicate.

In a city like Bangkok, where daily food averages $35 and hotel rates push $96,higher baseline costs mean a budget traveler still spends around $38 a day just getting by. In Saigon, where daily budget spending lingers around $32, a $100 allowance instantly elevates a trip from a simple budget run to a stylish, high-comfort city break. Even as local 3- and 4-star hotel prices climb, Saigon’s exceptionally low street-level costs absorb the room hike. That leaves plenty of breathing room in a $100 budget to upgrade your stay, dine at top-tier restaurants, and enjoy the nightlife without having to pinch pennies.

Saigon’s exceptionally low street-level costs absorb the room hike. | Source: Thanh Niên

So no, Saigon is no longer rock-bottom cheap, but it remains remarkably affordable and relative to the rest of Southeast Asia, it sits in a sweet spot. Hotel room keys might cost a bit more today, but for $100 a day, your money still buys a level of everyday comfort and indulgence that makes the city one of Asia's smartest travel spends.

If Hotels Get More Expensive, Where Else Can Travelers Stay?

A rising hotel bill doesn't mean visitors are forced to pay top dollar. Saigon’s hospitality scene extends far beyond traditional hotel lobbies, offering a sprawling ecosystem of alternative stays that effectively absorb the financial blow for price-conscious travelers: chic private apartments, serviced residences, boutique homestays and hostels.

Saigon’s hospitality scene extends far beyond traditional hotel lobbies. | Source: Atravel

The short-term rental market alone has grown into a major alternative.

AirDNA recorded 30,900 active listings in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2026, a massive 21% increase year-on-year. With an average daily rate of $57 (compared to the $92 Q2 average for hotels) and an average occupancy of 46%, short-term rentals offer significant savings. The majority of these listings are entire homes (73%) and one-bedroom units (57.3%), flourishing in prime neighborhoods like the old District 1, District 3, Bình Thạnh, District 4, District 7, Phú Nhuận, and Thủ Đức. They cater to a growing crowd of digital nomads, young travelers, and family vacationers trading daily room service for extra square footage and a kitchen.

For longer stays, serviced apartments offer a sleek middle ground between hotel service and residential privacy. Savills reported an 84% occupancy rate in HCMC’s serviced apartment market in Q1 2026, driven by an influx of expatriates and foreign professionals favoring professionally managed properties. Looking ahead, more than 5,000 Grade A and B rental apartments expected to hit the market by 2027 will create even more price competition against traditional hotels.

Granted, local regulation is tightening. In April 2026, city authorities introduced stricter rules requiring short-term tourist rentals to register as official accommodation businesses and log guest check-ins. While this shift may gradually weed out informal listings, it also elevates the overall quality of the market. Ultimately, the choice in Saigon is no longer simply between a cheap hotel room and an expensive one.

The hotel room may be getting more expensive. The city, however, still has plenty of other rooms.

The City May Actually Want To Become More Expensive

There is also an uncomfortable possibility for anyone attached to the idea of cheap Saigon: the city may not be trying to preserve that reputation.

HCMC's tourism strategy is increasingly focused on attracting higher-value visitors, encouraging greater spending and developing more sophisticated tourism products. The goal is not simply to bring in more people, but to increase the economic value generated by each visitor.

A destination does not necessarily need millions of travelers spending as little as possible. It can instead try to attract visitors who stay longer, spend more on accommodation, dining, entertainment and experiences, and contribute more to the local economy.

As international hotel brands expand, new premium experiences emerge and the city attracts more business and higher-spending travelers, the top end of Saigon's tourism market can become considerably more expensive without making the entire city inaccessible.

In other words, Saigon may be moving away from competing on the promise that everything is cheap and toward competing on the promise that travelers get more for what they spend.

From "Cheap Destination" To "Good-Value Destination"

Perhaps the definition of affordability is changing. The city can simultaneously have a 2.4 million VND average hotel room, increasingly expensive luxury properties and stronger pricing power while still offering inexpensive food, transportation and everyday experiences.

For a backpacker, Saigon can remain remarkably cheap. For a mid-range traveler, it can still offer a lot for the money. And for a luxury traveler, the city now has a growing range of experiences worth paying more for.

The old image of Saigon as a universally cheap city may be fading. But that does not necessarily make the city less attractive to value-conscious travelers. It may simply mean that "cheap" is no longer the best word to describe what Saigon offers.

Saigon doesn't necessarily need to stay cheap to stay good value.

Beyond Hà Giang: 4 Places To Visit In Vietnam Between August And November

Tùng Thư — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:30:00 +0000

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam between August and November, you don’t have to follow the same well-worn route. Hà Giang, Sapa and the Northwest may dominate travel feeds, but Vietnam’s seasonal rhythms vary dramatically from one region to another. While some northern and central destinations enter their wetter, stormier months, other parts of the country are entering their own most interesting seasons.

Vietnam stretches more than 1,600 kilometers from north to south, and there is far more to see than its most photographed mountain passes and beach towns. Instead of joining the crowds in Hà Giang or ticking off the usual stops in Đà Nẵng and Nha Trang, look elsewhere: south to the Mekong Delta as its waterways swell, to Ninh Thuận for its dry coastal landscapes, or to Pù Luông as its rice terraces turn gold. These are places where the weather is part of the reason to go.

1. Ninh Thuận: The Driest Corner of the Country

While much of Vietnam begins to see more rain toward the end of summer, Ninh Thuận remains one of the country’s driest and sunniest corners. Now part of Khánh Hòa, the former province has a semi-arid climate and the lowest annual rainfall in Vietnam. August is typically still part of its dry season, before the rains arrive from September through November.

What to do?

Explore Vĩnh Hy Bay by fishing boat, scramble across the ancient coral formations at Hang Rái, and watch the sunset turn the sand dunes of Nam Cương into molten gold. Visit the centuries-old Cham towers at Po Klong Garai, then eat your way through Phan Rang’s night market with the grilled lamb and sizzling bánh căn being local obsessions for good reason.

Ninh Thuận’s sun-drenched landscapes range from golden sand dunes and rugged coastlines to the ancient Po Klong Garai Cham towers.

Why now?

This is the shoulder season. The Russian and Korean tour buses haven’t descended yet, and you can still find beachfront homestays for under $25 a night.

2. Côn Đảo: The Islands Where the Monsoon Forgets to Land

Travelers write off Côn Đảo from May to November because the calendar says “rainy season”. That’s a mistake. August and September can still offer relatively calm seas and good diving conditions, even as the islands remain firmly within the rainy season. Temperatures stay steady around 28°C, and the rain rarely lasts more than an hour before the sun reclaims the sky.

Source: Tap Chi Thuy San

What to do?

Visit the notorious tiger cages at Côn Sơn Prison, walk the incense-scented rows of Hàng Dương Cemetery, and hike through the national park to spot the endangered Côn Đảo black giant squirrel. At night, join a ranger-led turtle-watching patrol on Bãi Đầm Trầu (nesting season runs May through October).

Côn Đảo’s secluded beaches and forested mountains offer a quieter alternative to Vietnam’s better-known islands.

Why now?

Its remoteness and limited transport connections help keep visitor numbers below Vietnam’s more developed beach destinations. August and September can be quieter than the island’s peak holiday periods, though conditions vary with weather and demand. So even in “peak” season, you won’t be fighting selfie sticks.

3. The Mekong Delta: Embrace the Flood, Don’t Fight It

If you can’t beat the rain, join it. From September to November, the Mekong Delta enters mùa nước nổi, or floating season, when rising waters reshape the landscape and bring seasonal fish, flowers, and wildlife with them. Rather than treating the rain as a reason to stay away, this is one of the few times of year when the Delta feels most distinctly like itself.

Beyond the tourist boat tours of Cần Thơ, go deeper:

Trà Sư Melaleuca Forest (An Giang): Glide through 850 hectares of flooded cajuput forest by wooden boat, where carpets of duckweed cover the water and the seasonal flood creates ideal conditions for birdwatching.

Tra Su Melaleuca Forest. | Source: Lao Dong Newspaper

Tràm Chim National Park (Đồng Tháp): A Ramsar wetland of international importance, Tràm Chim comes alive with waterways, lotus and water lilies during the flood season. While its famous Sarus cranes are more commonly spotted in the dry season, the September–November landscape offers plenty of opportunities to explore the wetland by boat and spot other waterbirds.

Tràm Chim National Park. | Source: Asia Pacific Travel

Tháp Mười Lotus Fields (Đồng Tháp): The lotus landscape is one of Đồng Tháp’s signatures, with blooms appearing through the warmer months. During the flood season, the surrounding waterways add another layer to the experience, turning boat rides through the lotus fields into a quintessential Mekong Delta scene.

Tháp Mười Lotus Fields. | Source: VOH

Tân Lập (Tây Ninh): In the former Long An area, this wetland reserve offers a quieter alternative to the Delta’s better-known floating markets. Walk the 5-kilometer trail through cajuput forest, take a boat through the waterways, and watch the landscape shift with the rising water.

Tan Lap. | Source: Klook

Must-Do: Try the famous local lẩu cá linh bông điên điển — a sour hot pot of tiny fish and golden flowers that only bloom during the flood season. It tastes like the delta itself: wild, bright, and slightly electric.

4. Pù Luông, Thanh Hóa: Harvest Gold Without the Sapa Crowd

If your Instagram feed demands rice terraces but your nerves can’t handle Sapa’s tourist mobs and landslide warnings, Pù Luông is your answer. A three-hour drive from Hanoi but still blissfully under-visited, this nature reserve delivers all the terraced drama without the chaos.

September and October are the golden months, literally. The rice paddies shift from green to amber to deep gold, and the air cools to a perfect 18–25°C.

September and October bring Pù Luông's terraced rice fields to their golden harvest season. | Source: Vietravel

What to do?

Trek between Thai and Mường villages where wooden stilt houses cling to hillsides, swim in the turquoise pools of the Hieu Waterfall, and eat cơm lam (bamboo-cooked sticky rice) by candlelight in a family homestay.

Why now?

September and October are Pù Luông’s golden season, when the rice terraces turn amber and the harvest brings the landscape to its most photogenic. It’s also one of the area’s busiest periods, so don’t expect empty trails, but Pù Luông still offers a more low-key alternative to the better-known trekking hubs in northern Vietnam.

The Smart Traveler’s Rainy-Season Playbook

1. Pack for rain, not just around it

A lightweight poncho or rain jacket is often more practical than an umbrella when you’re riding a motorbike or trekking. Add quick-dry clothes, waterproof shoes or sandals, and a dry bag for your phone and other essentials.

2. Keep your itinerary flexible

During the wetter months, heavy rain, flooding, landslides and rough seas can disrupt roads, boat trips and outdoor activities with little notice. Choose accommodation and tours with flexible cancellation policies, and leave some room in your itinerary to change plans if conditions turn.

3. Check the forecast before you move

Don’t rely on a generic weather app alone. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting regularly publishes updates on heavy rain, storms, rough seas, flash floods and landslide risks across Vietnam. Check the forecast for your specific destination before heading into the mountains, onto the water or onto a long road journey.

4. Travel by region, not by checklist

Vietnam’s rainy season doesn’t arrive everywhere at the same time, so there’s little reason to force a two-week itinerary from north to south. Pick one region and give yourself time to wait out bad weather, change plans or simply enjoy the slower pace. A rainy afternoon in Vietnam is often a good excuse to find a coffee shop, linger over lunch, or let the landscape do its thing.

Flavors Conference 2026: 3 Shifts Set To Shape Vietnam’s F&B Industry

Thư Trần — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:16:50 +0000

Vietnam’s F&B Industry: Continued Growth, New Choices

According to NEXPO, Vietnam’s F&B market still holds significant room for growth, driven by urbanization, an expanding middle class, and increasingly diverse consumer demand. The middle class is projected to account for 26% of the population by 2026, creating further momentum for dining and experience-led consumption.

At the same time, consumer expectations are evolving. Health, ingredient provenance, experience, and sustainability are playing a greater role in dining choices. Meanwhile, more than 50,000 F&B outlets closed in the first half of 2025 alone, suggesting that while growth opportunities remain, competition is becoming increasingly demanding.

Moving forward, businesses will need a deeper understanding of the shifts taking place across consumer tastes, dining behavior, and the wider business landscape.

Since 2020, Flavors Conference formerly known as the Vietnam F&B Conference, has served as an annual platform for the F&B community to exchange perspectives on the movements shaping the industry. While previous editions explored resilience, growth, and innovation, Flavors Conference 2026 looks ahead to the shifts that could define the market’s next chapter.

Returning on October 10, 2026 at Le Méridien Saigon, this year’s conference will bring together founders, operators, chefs, brands, investors, and industry experts to explore three major shifts shaping Vietnam’s F&B industry: The Changing Palate, The Changing Diner, and The Changing Playing Field.

Since 2020, Flavors Conference - formerly known as the Vietnam F&B Conference, has served as an annual platform for the F&B community to exchange perspectives on the movements shaping the industr

What Will Flavors Conference 2026 Explore?

The Changing Palate

Consumer tastes are evolving faster than ever. Trends can emerge and fade within months, while every decision to introduce a new menu item comes with growing cost and operational pressures.

Through The Changing Palate, Flavors Conference 2026 will bring together industry experts to explore how tastes are evolving, from sensory science to health-driven consumption, and how businesses can distinguish short-lived hype from shifts worth investing in.

The Changing Diner

Today’s diners are looking beyond what is on the plate. Experience, atmosphere, and trust increasingly influence where and how they choose to eat.

The same consumer may look for an affordable lunch while being willing to spend considerably more on a memorable evening experience. Through The Changing Diner, the conference will examine changing consumer behavior and how businesses can build loyalty in a market where diners have more choices than ever.

The Changing Playing Field

As tastes and diners evolve, the F&B business landscape itself is entering a new phase of competition.

From cost pressures and operational standardization to M&A, franchising, and digital transformation, businesses are being pushed to adapt at an increasingly rapid pace. Through The Changing Playing Field, Flavors Conference 2026 will explore practical perspectives on operations, growth strategies, and sustainable development in a constantly evolving market.

Three major shifts in tastes, diners, and the wider market will take center stage at Flavors Conference 2026.

What To Expect At Flavors Conference 2026

Leading Voices from Across The F&B Industry

One of the defining features of Flavors Conference each year is its lineup of industry leaders, experts, and people directly shaping the F&B landscape.

In 2024, the conference brought together dozens of speakers from across the industry, including Thue Quist Thomasen of Decision Lab, Summer Le of Nén, Nguyễn Trung Dũng of Dh Foods, Trần Nhật Quang of Là Việt, as well as international content creators Sonny Side and Andrew Fraser. Vietcetera’s official 2024 materials also featured founders and executives from Pizza 4P’s, KAMEREO, CloudEats, Big CTY Life Restaurant Group, and other businesses across the F&B ecosystem.

Continuing that spirit, Flavors Conference 2026 will bring together leading voices from across the industry to share perspectives on the changes shaping the future of food and drink in Vietnam.

Flavors Conference brings together the people directly contributing to and shaping the evolution of Vietnam’s F&B industry.

Conversations Grounded In Real-World Experience

Rather than focusing on conventional success stories, Flavors Conference 2026 is designed around conversations grounded in data, real-world experience, and practical takeaways.

Each session begins with a simple question: What will attendees take away from this conversation? Speakers will be encouraged to go beyond what worked, sharing the decisions that fell short, the lessons learned along the way, and practical methods that others can apply to their own businesses..

Perspectives From Across The F&B Ecosystem

Flavors Conference brings together voices from across the F&B ecosystem, including chefs, brands, operators, media professionals, investors, founders, and industry experts.

This diversity allows each topic to be examined from multiple perspectives, offering a broader picture of the changes unfolding across the industry. This approach is also consistent with Flavors’ 2026 positioning as a platform connecting the people, ideas, and experiences shaping Vietnam’s food and drink culture.

A Platform For The F&B Community To Connect

Beyond the talks and panel discussions, Flavors Conference creates opportunities for the F&B community to meet, exchange ideas, and build new connections.

For businesses, brands, and industry professionals, the conference offers a platform to meet potential partners, share experiences, and explore new opportunities for collaboration as the industry continues to evolve. Vietcetera’s official 2026 materials similarly position the conference as a space for networking, collaboration, and new partnerships.

Flavors Conference creates a platform for the people shaping Vietnam’s F&B industry to meet, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections.

Join Flavors Conference 2026 to explore the shifts shaping Vietnam’s F&B industry and take away practical perspectives for the road ahead.

Flavors Vietnam 2026 is Vietcetera’s annual F&B platform dedicated to the people, ideas, and experiences shaping Vietnam’s food and drink culture.Under the theme “Thời Vị – The Flavors of Our Time,” the program brings together a series of activities designed to connect the F&B community, celebrate meaningful contributions, inspire new ideas, and contribute to the future of Vietnam’s F&B culture.As part of Flavors Vietnam 2026, Flavors Conference 2026 will bring together founders, operators, chefs, brands, investors, and industry experts to explore three shifts shaping Vietnam’s F&B industry: The Changing Palate, The Changing Diner, and The Changing Playing Field.Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, October 10, 2026
Venue: Le Méridien Saigon, 3C Ton Duc Thang Street, Ho Chi Minh CitySpecial thanks to the sponsors and partners of Flavors Conference 2026: Gold Sponsor: Royal Arctika; Bronze Sponsor: SpeedPOS; Venue Sponsor: Le Méridien Saigon.To learn more about Flavors Conference 2026 and register for the event, please visit the official event website.

Two Kitchens, One Fire: John Nguyen Brings The Black Sheep Spirit Home To Da Nang

Hao Tran — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:03:53 +0000

There is a particular kind of dinner that Vietnam's dining scene has been waiting for. Not the imported guest chef flying in with a suitcase of foie gras and a fixed idea of what luxury tastes like, but an exchange between two cooks who have spent their careers translating Vietnam for the world, and who now want to translate the world back for Vietnam. That is the promise of the two-week residency bringing Chef John Nguyen to Westwood Wood Fired Kitchen in Da Nang this August.

Westwood Wood Fired Kitchen in Da Nang. | Source: Westwood

The residency, running from August 18 to 23 and again from August 25 to September 1, is billed as a homecoming. Nguyen was born in Saigon and raised in the Vietnamese community of Orange County, California, a first-generation kid who learned flavor at home before he learned technique in European kitchens. His breakout came in New York, where his East Village restaurant Hanoi House earned him Eater's Chef of the Year in 2017 and a Best New Restaurant nod from New York Magazine.

From there, the path led to Hong Kong and into the fold of Black Sheep Restaurants, the hospitality group that has arguably done more than anyone to put refined Vietnamese cooking on the global fine-dining map. Nguyen ran the kitchen at Chôm Chôm, the group's ode to Hanoi's bia hơi culture, before taking over as head chef of Le Garçon Saigon, its Saigonese grillhouse in Wan Chai, in 2022.

That Black Sheep chapter is what makes this residency more than a booking. Waiting for him at the pass in Da Nang is Curtis Demyon, Westwood's co-founder and executive chef, whose own road to Vietnam ran through the same ecosystem. A Canadian who cut his teeth in Vancouver kitchens, Demyon arrived in Vietnam at the height of the pandemic, on a flight carrying just five passengers, and worked his way through Saigon's dining scene, including a stint leading the kitchen at Elgin, a grill-driven restaurant staffed by alumni of the Black Sheep group.

Curtis Demyon, Westwood's co-founder and executive chef, whose own road to Vietnam ran through the same ecosystem. | Source: Westwood

The two chefs belong to the same extended family: cooks shaped by the Black Sheep era's conviction that Vietnamese food deserves the same rigor, sourcing, and theater as any European tasting menu. In April 2025, Demyon and partner Vivian Tran opened Westwood in Da Nang as a contemporary wood-fired kitchen under West Concepts Co., built around live fire, local soul, and a global perspective.

Demyon and partner Vivian Tran opened Westwood in Da Nang as a contemporary wood-fired kitchen under West Concepts Co., built around live fire, local soul, and a global perspective. | Source: Westwood

The menu the two kitchens have written together reads like a conversation between their résumés. Seven courses, priced at 1,895,000 VND++, open with a Chef's Toast of wagyu tartare, foie gras pâté, grilled anchovy, and pickled green papaya, a dish that nods directly to the wagyu tartare Nguyen debuted at Le Garçon Saigon. A local ceviche follows, pulling tuna, octopus, sweet shrimp, and sea snail from central Vietnam's waters and dressing them in seaweed and citrus with bone marrow butter.

Atlantic king scallop arrives under a truffled-cheese sauce with salted egg yolk and rambutan salsa, before the menu's emotional center: Cha Ca Hanoi, reimagined with black cod, Caspian caviar, and turmeric-dill butter, the dish that made Hanoi House famous, now served a few hundred kilometers from where it was born. Wood-fired quail with un-hatched egg, a marble-score-9+ wagyu flap with betel leaf and chimichurri, and a chè of avocado and coconut close the arc.

What distinguishes this from the usual four-hands spectacle is duration. Rather than a single evening, Nguyen will be fully immersed in the Westwood kitchen for two weeks, cooking with the local team, meeting Da Nang's farmers and suppliers, and adjusting dishes organically as the residency unfolds. It is the difference between a performance and an exchange. Demyon's team absorbs the discipline of a chef who has cooked Vietnamese food for New York and Hong Kong's toughest audiences; Nguyen reconnects with the ingredients and traditions that his international career has always referenced from a distance.

The timing matters, too. Da Nang is having a moment, with a wave of ambitious independent restaurants recasting the city as more than a beach stopover. A residency like this one signals that central Vietnam can host the kind of culinary dialogue once reserved for Saigon, Hanoi, or Hong Kong, and that the diaspora chefs who carried Vietnamese cuisine abroad now see home as the frontier.

Central Vietnam can host the kind of culinary dialogue once reserved for Saigon, Hanoi, or Hong Kong. | Source: Westwood

Reservations are open through Westwood Da Nang, with further menu details to be announced. For two weeks in August, the fire on the pass will be telling a story a decade in the making: two cooks from the same flock, finally cooking on the same soil.

Know Before You Go: 6 Breathtaking Destinations in Vietnam with Strict Access Rules (And How to Visit Them Responsibly)

May Ng — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:03:30 +0000

For decades, Vietnam’s travel narrative was defined by freedom and spontaneity: renting a 110cc semi-automatic scooter, taking the coastal highways, and pulling over wherever the horizon caught your eye.

However, as tourism in Vietnam matures, a new ethos has emerged – one driven by heritage conservation, ecological protection, and border security. Today, some of the country’s most visually breathtaking and culturally sacred destinations are no longer accessible via a casual drive-by. From fragile volcanic arches where motorbikes are strictly banned to subterranean cavern systems capped at a few hundred visitors per year, these restrictions are the very reason these places retain their magic.

Whether you are an international expat, a long-stay digital nomad, or a conscious traveler navigating Southeast Asia, here is your guide to Vietnam’s most restricted yet rewarding destinations, complete with local insights on how to visit them legally and respectfully.

1. Cổng Tổ Vò (Lý Sơn Island): The Fragile Volcanic Wonder

The best view of Cổng Tò Vò requires no climbing at all: the volcanic arch can be photographed from the tidal rocks below, leaving its fragile basalt structure untouched. | Source: Vietgoing

Location

Lý Sơn Island, Quảng Ngãi Province

The Restriction

Strictly no motorized vehicles, no climbing, and no walking on top of the arch.

Rising out of the turquoise waters of Lý Sơn Island, Cổng Tổ Vò (Tổ Vò Gate) is a natural basalt arch formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity. For generations, it has stood as a symbol of the island’s unique geological history. However, the influx of domestic and international travelers brought unintended stress to the porous, aging rock.

To prevent catastrophic collapse and structural erosion, local authorities designated Tổ Vò Gate a strictly protected heritage zone. Clear signs prohibit driving motorbikes or walking across the arch. Ignorance of these rules—such as high-profile incidents where tourists drove scooters directly onto the fragile rock—has led to strict police enforcement and public reprimands.

How To Visit?

The best time to experience Cổng Tổ Vò is at low tide during sunrise or sunset, when the sun aligns through the archways. Park your scooter in the designated community parking area near the main access road and walk the remaining distance along the concrete pathway.

Shoot from the rocky tidal pools or sandy beach below. The classic silhouette frame captures the arch’s natural geometry without putting pressure on the basalt structure.

2. Sơn Đoòng & Hang Va (Phong Nha - Kẻ Bàng): World-Class Speleology with Strict Quotas

Sơn Đoòng featured on prestigious U.S. television program. | Source: Báo Thanh Niên

Magical Hang Va. | Source: Heritage Vietnam Airlines

Location

Quảng Bình Province

The Restriction

No independent travel; strict annual visitor quotas (capped at ~1,000 visitors per year for Sơn Đoòng); mandatory licensed guides and safety rangers.

Phong Nha - Kẻ Bàng National Park houses the world’s largest caves, including Sơn Đoòng and the cavern of Hang Va. When Sơn Đoòng was opened to limited tourism, the Vietnamese government and local experts established a conservation model designed to avoid the ecological damage seen in unmanaged caves across Asia.

To preserve the delicate stalagmites, ancient underground rivers, and endemic micro-ecosystems, expeditions are restricted to a single licensed eco-tour operator (Oxalis Adventure). Unsanctioned entry is strictly illegal due to extreme safety hazards and environmental impact.

How To Visit?

Booking: Securing a slot for Sơn Đoòng often requires planning 6 to 12 months in advance. However, travelers seeking a similar speleological thrill with shorter lead times can opt for Hang Va or Tu Lan, which follow the same strict Leave No Trace guidelines.
Preparation: Physical fitness screening is mandatory. You will walk on designated elevated paths, wear specialized climbing harnesses, and use eco-friendly portable toilet systems managed by trained local porters.
Economic Impact: These strict limits ensure that former poachers and illegal loggers from local ethnic minority communities are employed as high-earning conservation guides and porters.

3. The Northern Frontier: Hà Giang & Cao Bằng Border Zones

Location

Hà Giang (Đồng Văn, Mèo Vạc, Lũng Cú) & Cao Bằng (Bản Giốc)

Ban Gioc Waterfall mesmerizes amid the border mountains. | Báo Lao Động

The Restriction

Mandatory Border Area Permits (Giấy Phép Vào Khu Vực Biên Giới) for all foreign passport holders.

The dramatic karst plateaus of Hà Giang and Cao Bằng run directly along the international frontier between Vietnam and China. While Vietnamese citizens can navigate these mountain roads freely, foreign nationals are entering sensitive border zones subject to national defense regulations.

Navigating high-altitude routes like the Mã Pí Lèng Pass or visiting the Lũng Cú Flag Tower requires foreign visitors to officially register their presence with the local border police (Biên Phòng).

How To Visit?

Where to Apply: You can acquire the permit at the Hà Giang Provincial Police Immigration Office in Hà Giang City, or have your licensed homestay/tour operator process it on your behalf.
Cost: Standard administrative fee is 230,000 VND (approx. $10 USD) per person.
On the Road: Keep your original passport, physical permit, and vehicle registration documents easily accessible. Border police at checkpoints near Mèo Vạc or Lũng Cú will perform periodic, routine verification.

Some of northern Vietnam’s most dramatic mountain roads run through sensitive frontier areas, where travelers should be prepared to follow local registration and document requirements.

4. Hòn Bảy Cạnh (Côn Đảo Archipelago): The Turtle Nesting Sanctuary

Hòn Bảy Cạnh. | Source: Klook

Location

Côn Đảo National Park, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Province

The Restriction

Nighttime access strictly capped; mandatory National Park ranger supervision; zero-single-use-plastic mandate.

Hòn Bảy Cạnh is the second-largest island in the Côn Đảo archipelago and home to Vietnam’s most important green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting grounds. Between April and October, hundreds of mother turtles crawl onto the island’s sandy beaches under the cover of night to lay their eggs.

At Côn Đảo, witnessing a sea turtle nesting is a carefully managed conservation experience: visitors observe quietly and under the guidance of National Park staff. | Source: Báo Đồng Nai

To protect these endangered reptiles from light pollution, noise disruption, and habitat destruction, human access is tightly regulated. Independent overnight stays are prohibited, and nighttime visitation is restricted to small, ranger-guided groups.

How To Visit?

Booking: Book your excursion through the Côn Đảo National Park Management Board or an accredited local conservation provider.
Rules On-Site: Red-spectrum flashlights only (white light disorients mother turtles), absolute silence on the beach, and strictly no photography with flash.
Environmental Pledge: Single-use plastics are confiscated at the harbor before boarding boats to the island. Pack a reusable water canteen.

5. Heritage Conservation Zones: Hà Nội Old Quarter & Hội An Pedestrian Centers

Hà Nội Old Quarter.

Location

Hoàn Kiếm District (Hà Nội) & Ancient Town (Hội An)

The Restriction

Motorized vehicle bans during specified hours, with expanding Low-Emission Zones.

In the narrow alleys of Hội An and the 36 Guild Streets of Hà Nội’s Old Quarter, centuries-old wooden architecture (nhà cổ) faces constant degradation from exhaust fumes, vibration damage, and traffic congestion.

Hội An pioneered vehicle-free hours decades ago, banning motorbikes during peak morning and evening periods. Hà Nội has accelerated its transition toward sustainability, rolling out Low-Emission Zones and phasing out gas-powered motorcycles within central inner-ring roads.

Source: VinWonders

How To Visit?

Hội An: Respect the “Motorbike-Free” hours (typically 9:00–11:00 AM and 3:00–9:30 PM). Bicycles, electric shuttles, or walking are the preferred modes of transport.
Hà Nội: Take advantage of electric bus lines (VinBus) or rent public bicycles (Xe Đạp Công Cộng) stationed near Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Walking through the narrow quarters reveals hidden courtyard cafes and craft workshops that are easily missed when riding a motorbike.

6. Tràng An Landscape Complex: Silent, Non-Motorized Waterways

Location

Ninh Bình Province

The Restriction

Motorized boats strictly banned; mandatory local rowers; regulated river routes.

Tràng An, a UNESCO Dual World Heritage Site, is famed for its towering karst peaks rising from emerald-green riverways and flooded cave passages. To preserve the water purity, prevent acoustic pollution, and safeguard delicate cave formations, powerboats and motorized watercraft are completely prohibited on the sanctuary’s rivers.

At Tràng An, the journey itself slows down: visitors move through flooded caves and limestone valleys by rowboat, experiencing the World Heritage landscape at water level. | Source: Vietnam Discovery Tours

How To Visit?

Every boat in Tràng An is hand-propelled by local residents—predominantly women from surrounding agricultural villages—who possess remarkable endurance, often rowing with their feet. Each boat carries a set of spare oars. Guests are encouraged to help row, especially when passing through windy open stretches. It lightens the load for your rower and offers an engaging connection with your host. Arrive early at the wharf (around 7:00–7:30 AM) to experience the cave routes before the main influx of tour buses.

Embracing Vietnam

When travelers encounter a closed gate, a permit requirement, or a sign banning motorbikes, the initial reaction might be frustration. But in modern Vietnam, these boundaries signal something positive: a conscious commitment to protecting natural treasures and cultural heritage for future generations.

Slowing down, stepping off the scooter, and taking the time to secure the proper permit allows you to experience Vietnam’s most pristine landscapes as an invited guest rather than just a passing tourist.

Reclaiming The Past: 4 Immersive Cultural & Historical Experiences In Hanoi And Saigon This Season

May Ng — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:48:47 +0000

Every year as mid-August arrives, a subtle shift takes hold across Vietnam. In Hanoi, the late-summer breeze begins to cool under golden sunlight, and yellow-walled French colonial villas are framed by towering trees. In Ho Chi Minh City, the afternoon rains give way to crisp evenings, while vibrant red flags adorned with gold stars bloom across every alleyway, balcony, and major boulevard.

Historically, long holiday weekends like National Day (September 2) were viewed by urban youth primarily as a chance to sleep in, escape to coastal towns, or hop between trendy specialty coffee shops. In recent years, however, a noticeable cultural shift has taken root across the country.

Museum-going is no longer seen as a dusty school field trip obligation. History is no longer confined to dry textbook dates or static artifacts behind glass cases. Driven by creative curation, multi-sensory technology, and a deep-seated desire for personal identity, locals and international visitors are actively seeking out "living history" experiences.

Museums and heritage sites in Hanoi and Saigon are answering the call, reimagining historical storytelling through immersive night tours, theatrical reenactments, interactive tech, and curated open-air exhibitions.

If you are looking to connect with the living heart of Vietnam’s past and present this holiday season, here is a curated list of five immersive cultural and historical experiences across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

1. "Tâm Son Chí Thép" & "Sacred Night" (Đêm Thiêng Liêng) At Hỏa Lò Prison Relic

If there is one cultural phenomenon that catalyzed the youth-led history movement in Vietnam, it is the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic. Known globally for its grim colonial history, Hỏa Lò was transformed into a viral cultural touchstone through brilliant digital engagement and profoundly moving offline experiences. While daytime visits offer a self-guided look, the true spotlight during this National Day season is the special thematic exhibition "Tâm Son Chí Thép" (Heart of Vermilion, Will of Steel), alongside its signature "Sacred Night" (Đêm Thiêng Liêng) night tour series.

The special thematic exhibition "Tâm Son Chí Thép" (Heart of Vermilion, Will of Steel). | Source: VNA

The Experience

Stepping into Hỏa Lò during National Day observances brings you face-to-face with "Tâm Son Chí Thép," an emotionally charged exhibition displaying rare personal memorabilia, diary entries, and historical artifacts of political prisoners.

"Tâm Son Chí Thép," an emotionally charged exhibition displaying rare personal memorabilia. | Source: VNA

After dark, the experience transforms into a visceral sensory journey. Operating in near darkness illuminated only by spotlights, ambient candle glow, and dramatic soundscapes, trained actors guide visitors through living tableaus, reconstructing the brutal realities faced by political prisoners under French colonial rule, daring escape plans through narrow sewer grates, and the unyielding spirit of young revolutionaries.

Local Insight

What makes Hỏa Lò stand out is its attention to sensory detail and emotional narrative. During the night tour, visitors are served jelly alongside herbal tea made from the leaves of the old bàng (tropical almond) trees growing in the prison courtyard—the very trees whose leaves and bark provided secret medicine, ink, and nourishment for political prisoners decades ago. The experience concludes with a solemn moment of quiet reflection at the memorial altar.

Location & Time

Address: Hỏa Lò Prison Relic, 1 Hỏa Lò Street, Cửa Nam Ward, Hanoi

Tâm son, chí thép is on view from 12 August through 30 December 2026.

Sacred Night is offered on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Insider Tip

Tickets for the night tour sell out within minutes of release each month. Keep a close watch on Hỏa Lò's official social media channels for National Day holiday release announcements, exhibition updates, and extended viewing slots.

2. Fine Arts & Living History At Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

In celebration of National Day, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum presents dedicated thematic displays and curated tours highlighting the nation's wartime visual record and post-war national reconstruction.

Memories of Unforgettable Years - Exhibition at Vietnam Fine Art Museum. | Source: VNFAM

The Experience

The museum features masterworks across diverse mediums, including oil, lacquer, silk, gouache, pencil, and sculpture. The curated collections capture the spirit of national unity and historical resilience, showcasing mid-century artists who traveled to factories, mines, farmlands, and battlefronts to record the everyday grit, optimism, and unity of Vietnamese workers and soldiers.

Local Insight

Unlike high-concept modern galleries, this collection offers an intimate lens into Vietnam's mid-century socialist realism and wartime logistics. Masterworks reveal how art served both as a historical record and a source of collective morale during critical turning points in the 20th century.

Location & Time:

Address: Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyễn Thái Học Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, from August 25th to September 8th

Insider Tip

The venue sits directly across from the Temple of Literature. Pair a morning gallery walkthrough with an afternoon or evening visit to nearby historic landmarks for a seamless cultural itinerary.

3. Loaloa Show: Việt Nam Bừng Sáng

Formerly known as VietCharm, LoaLoa Show brings together Vietnamese performing arts, regional cuisine and immersive staging inside the historic grounds of Ho Chi Minh City's Independence Palace. The experience moves through different chapters of Vietnamese cultural heritage, pairing traditional music, dance, theatrical references and contemporary stagecraft with an eight-course Vietnamese menu served throughout the performance.

LoaLoa Show brings together Vietnamese performing arts, regional cuisine and immersive staging inside the historic grounds of Ho Chi Minh City's Independence Palace. | Source: Loaloa Show

The Experience

The 100-minute production unfolds across nine artistic performances, taking audiences from the origins of the lotus and the spirit of Âu Lạc through Northern highland culture, imperial court traditions and the cultural landscape of Southern Vietnam. Each chapter is paired with a corresponding dish, turning dinner into part of the storytelling rather than a separate pre- or post-show meal.

The auditorium itself is designed around a 360-degree rotating stage and concentric seating, creating an intimate, immersive setting within a 500-square-metre space. Guests can also rent traditional Vietnamese costumes, including áo dài, Nhật Bình robes and regional dress, before the performance.

Local Insight

What makes LoaLoa particularly interesting for visitors is its attempt to compress Vietnam's regional diversity into a single evening. Rather than presenting heritage as a museum display, the show lets audiences move through it via food, costume, music and performance, all within the historic setting of Independence Palace.

The show lets audiences move through it via food, costume, music and performance. | Source: Loaloa Show

Location & Time

Address: Independence Palace grounds, 108 Nguyễn Du Street, Bến Thành Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

Daytime show: 12:00–1:30 PM
Evening show: 7:00–8:30 PM

Everyday from August 18th to September 3rd, 2026

Guests are encouraged to arrive 60–90 minutes before showtime for check-in and the optional traditional-costume experience.

Insider Tip

The evening performance is the more atmospheric option, particularly if you're already exploring central HCMC around Independence Palace. Book ahead rather than relying on walk-in availability, as the current seating configuration is limited to 168 seats across the VIP and VVIP sections.

4. Temple of Literature Night Tour: Quintessence of Education (Tinh Hoa Đạo Học)

The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám), home to Vietnam's first national university, takes on a different character after sunset with a night-time cultural experience dedicated to the country's centuries-old tradition of scholarship, learning, and respect for teachers.

Van Mieu Night Tour - A night-time cultural experience dedicated to the country's centuries-old tradition of scholarship, learning, and respect for teachers. | Source: Van Mieu Night Tour

The Experience

The "Quintessence of Education" (Tinh Hoa Đạo Học) night tour combines the historic setting of Văn Miếu with contemporary light, sound, and interactive technologies. The experience takes visitors through the monument's courtyards, where they can explore the history of Quốc Tử Giám, try traditional calligraphy with a scholar-teacher, interact with an AI Tortoise, and experience virtual-reality activities.

The journey culminates in a 3D Mapping performance, "Tinh Hoa Đạo Học", projected onto the façade of the Nhà Tiền Đường. A second mapping show, "Sử Đá Lưu Danh", follows at 8:45 PM, bringing the stories inscribed on Vietnam's Doctoral Stelae to life through light, sound, and visual storytelling.

A second mapping show, "Sử Đá Lưu Danh" brings stories inscribed on Vietnam's Doctoral Stelae to life through light, sound, and visual storytelling. | Source: Van Mieu Night Tour

Local Insight

Rather than simply illuminating the monument at night, the tour uses technology to reinterpret Văn Miếu's identity as a historic centre of learning. Visitors move through a journey inspired by the world of traditional scholarship, from the experience of studying with a thầy đồ to the culture of examinations and the honouring of successful scholars.

Location & Time

Address: 58 Quốc Tử Giám Street, Hanoi

August 19–September 30, 2026

The night tour runs from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday during the scheduled period. The "Tinh Hoa Đạo Học" 3D Mapping show is scheduled for 7:45 PM, followed by "Sử Đá Lưu Danh" at 8:45 PM.

Insider Tip

Arrive 45–60 minutes before your selected 3D Mapping show to explore the grounds and interactive experiences before taking your seat for the performance. The outdoor programme may be adjusted in the event of severe weather.

When Time Becomes History: The Living Soul Of Modern Vietnam

There is a quiet threshold in any nation’s journey where the present softens into memory, and lived moments turn into history. In Vietnam, that transition is happening right now before our eyes.

The surging popularity of night tours, interactive light displays, and street-level heritage festivals reveals something profound about a society in motion. For a nation that has rapidly transformed into one of Asia’s most dynamic modern landscapes, history is no longer an abstract chapter bound in textbooks or preserved behind silent museum glass. It has become a living, breathing dialogue between generations and a welcoming bridge for travelers seeking the true soul of the country.

In a hyper-connected, fast-changing world, the past offers something rare: an anchor.

When you stand alongside a local in Hanoi during an evening tour at Hỏa Lò, or watch a family in Saigon trace the city's transformation along the riverfront, you witness a collective act of remembrance. It is not merely a look back at hardship, but a search for the enduring resilience, optimism, and quiet strength that paved the way for modern Vietnam to flourish. For international visitors, witnessing this reverence provides a rare, intimate key to understanding the warmth and resolve of the Vietnamese spirit today.

This season, as thousands of national flags illuminate the streets from Hanoi’s ancient French Quarter to Saigon’s shimmering riverfront, step beyond the usual cafes and polished shopping venues.

Join the quiet crowds on a lantern-lit night walk. Sip a cup of terminalia leaf tea beneath century-old courtyards. Listen closely to the voices that forged a modern state from the ashes of the past.

You will soon realize that history here is far from a closed chapter. It is alive, evolving, and waiting to welcome anyone willing to pause and listen.

Coolmate CEO Pham Chi Nhu: Building A “National Brand” Means Looking Beyond Branding

Nhật Hạ — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:42:52 +0000

Vietnam has long been known for its strong garment manufacturing capabilities, but building a Vietnamese fashion brand that can compete internationally is a different challenge altogether.

In Episode 119 of Vietnam Innovators, host Tu An speaks with Pham Chi Nhu, Founder & CEO of Coolmate, about the gap between making products in Vietnam and building a brand from Vietnam.

7 Years in, Coolmate sells millions of products each year and is exploring opportunities in the U.S. and several Southeast Asian markets. Yet throughout the conversation, Nhu spends less time talking about visibility and more time on the parts customers rarely see: product development, supply chain, inventory, data, and quality control. To him, building a brand goes far beyond getting people to recognize its name.

Pham Chi Nhu, Founder & CEO of Coolmate.

Building A More Flexible Supply Chain

Vietnam has a clear advantage in garment manufacturing. Still, Nhu points out that much of the domestic supply chain has traditionally been built around large export orders, with local companies often focused on cutting, sewing, and finishing.

Building a brand requires a broader set of capabilities.

A company needs to understand what it wants to make, how a product should be designed, which materials to use, how samples are developed, and how quality is controlled.

That is why Coolmate has invested in its own design and product development teams, along with sample-making and product testing capabilities, instead of relying entirely on factories.

At the same time, greater control does not necessarily mean doing everything in-house.

Coolmate works with manufacturers of different sizes to create a more flexible supply chain. Smaller factories can support low-volume product tests, while larger ones can scale production once demand becomes clearer.

This flexibility matters in fashion, where one production decision can quickly turn into excess inventory.

Nhu describes inventory as one of the industry’s most persistent challenges. A single T-shirt offered in several sizes and colors can already create dozens of stock-keeping units.

Coolmate has experienced this firsthand. Out of around 20 new designs, sometimes only five become strong sellers. The challenge, then, is not simply to create more products, but to understand which products are most likely to work before committing to larger production runs.

To do that, Coolmate has started testing products in smaller quantities, surveying customers, taking pre-orders, and using sales data to forecast demand. AI-supported tools are also used in parts of the planning process.

The brand also puts significant focus on products that are less dependent on short-term trends. Around 70% of Coolmate’s sales currently come from lines that can continue from one season to the next. Rather than constantly replacing them, the brand improves quality, adds features, or introduces new colors.

Behind a simple everyday product, there is often a much more complex process involving data, production, and timing.

Growth Still Has To Match Execution

Coolmate also learned that growth can become difficult when the organization is not ready for it. After appearing on Shark Tank Vietnam, orders grew much faster than expected. Production had to speed up quickly, and quality issues followed. The company later had to recall a number of products.

For Nhu, the experience reinforced a simple lesson: growth has to match the organization’s ability to execute. A founder can continue coming up with new ideas, but turning those ideas into good products depends on the capabilities of the broader team.

After that period, Coolmate invested more heavily in internal systems, processes, product development, and specialized teams to strengthen its operations.

Rethinking “Made In Vietnam”

The question of product and supply chain becomes even more important as Coolmate moves into international markets.

In the U.S., the brand chose Amazon as one of its early channels. Nhu notes that becoming a bestseller in a small Amazon category does not necessarily mean the business is profitable. After more than a year of testing different approaches, the operation only gradually moved closer to break-even.

What Coolmate gained, however, was a clearer idea of how it wants to compete. Rather than focusing on low prices or short-lived product trends, the brand wants to build a clearer positioning and a stronger long-term identity.

Nhu believes Vietnam already has advantages in manufacturing skills, product finishing, and the ability to produce technically demanding products. The next step is to add values that go beyond manufacturing itself: customer experience, transparency, responsibility, and brand storytelling.

Consumers increasingly want to know where products are made, what materials are used, how quality is checked, and what the company behind the product stands for. That is where the distinction between a product that is simply “Made in Vietnam” and a brand built from Vietnam starts to become more meaningful.

What Makes A Brand Feel “National”

A “national brand” is often associated with visibility: how widely it is used, how familiar the name feels, or how often people encounter it in everyday life. But Coolmate’s journey suggests that much of that familiarity is built through things customers do not necessarily see.

It comes from making the product well, testing it carefully, scaling production at the right time, maintaining quality as the business grows, and making better decisions about what should and should not be produced.

Customers may never see the factories, sample rooms, forecasting tools, or inventory meetings behind a product. But those systems shape the experience they eventually receive.

And for Nhu, this also connects to a broader ambition for “Made in Vietnam”: not just to show that Vietnam can manufacture good products, but to see more Vietnamese brands build the capabilities to stand behind those products in their own name.

Watch the full episode below:

Luxury Dining Series 2026: The “Carpe diem” Journey By The Khem Beach

Minh Nguyễn — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000

After a long, bustling week, I hastily packed my bags at night to catch the Luxury Dining Series 2026. However, the one thing I couldn't pack into my suitcase was my own apprehension.

Themed "Across the Table," the event spanned six days with 13 bespoke experiences, selecting JW Marriott Phu Quoc as its sole destination in Vietnam. I wondered if I needed to brace myself, putting on a dignified facade so as not to be swallowed by that lavish atmosphere.

What would i do in the next 4 days in this 10 ha resort? / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

This anxiety vanished the morning I arrived at the resort – a fictional university named Lamarck, brilliantly envisioned by architect Bill Bensley. Standing in the breezy reception lobby designed as a grand library, I felt as though I had transformed back into a carefree university student, free to explore every signature flavor of this luxurious voyage.

A Graceful Beginning

Every great story needs an inciting incident, and for me, that was the welcome dinner at the Pink Pearl. My preconceptions of a stiff formal dining ritual quickly vanished the moment I stepped into Madame Pearl, guided by Chef Danny Do.

Strolling through the Library and the Wine Cellar, all distances were gradually erased over premium wine and sweet melodies from a live band. It only took 45 minutes for the "freshmen" to form a bond, much like old friends reuniting.

Inside Pink Pearl / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

That connection was beautifully nurtured the next morning at Tempus Fugit. Artisan Anh Tuyet's heritage breakfast encapsulated the Northern autumn into traditional spring rolls. Afterward, she personally invited me to try the refreshing Hanoi green rice (Cốm) ice cream.

The delicate sweetness, combined with the faint aroma of Chef Mai Tran's Beef Pho, momentarily recreated the exact feeling of a nostalgic, graceful autumn morning in an ancient corner of Hanoi.

Madam Anh Tuyet preparing for heritage breakfast / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

The Rich Taste of Tradition

Lunch by Khem beach pulled me into the rustic charm of the Western river region. Savoring Chef Nguyen Hai Hung’s sea mantis shrimp Manti and Chef Cuong Nguyen’s grilled Phu Quoc grouper, I felt as if I were enjoying a meal on a floating boat, serenaded by traditional Đờn ca tài tử tunes performed by the "Đờn Ca Đó Đây" troupe.

"Đờn Ca Đó Đây" troupe / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

After lunch, reality briefly pulled me back. I retreated to my room in the Department of Conchology, turning the spacious vanity table into a makeshift desk to meet deadlines. Yet, I loved this dual experience of balancing the daily grind with a luxurious escape.

Following hours of deep focus, the Department of Chemistry offered the perfect sunset retreat. Mixologist Marco Dongi handed me a "Verdant Pepper" – a cocktail blending Phu Quoc pepper, garden-fresh pandan, and coconut syrup that instantly drifted me into absolute relaxation.

Mixologist Marco Dongi / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Dinner pushed emotions to their peak. Northern delicacies by Artisan Anh Tuyet met Chef Hai Hung’s Grilled Beef Tenderloin. In this fascinating intersection of cultures, the dramatic tension was dedicated to the traditional Hát Bội stage.

The echoing drumbeats and vivid storytelling captivated our group and international guests alike, making us feel as though we were gliding through a living 500-year-old art form.

Two interesting performances of Hát Bội artists / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Ascending with the Three-Act Finale

Day three brought a delightful Afternoon Tea. Masterful French techniques by Chef Rémy Gaulé transformed lemon tarts and chocolate mousses into exquisite artworks, setting the grand stage for the finale.

Chocolate workshop took place in French & Co's space / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Chef Rémy Gaulé preparing for afternoon tea session / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

The evening opened in the foyer of Le Grand Auditorium, where guests were welcomed with The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky. An impressive canapé chorus showcased the four master chefs: Chef Olivier Elzer's sharp herring; Chef Summer Le's “Evil” Chicken; Chef Cuong Nguyen's luxurious caviar clams; and Chef Gaulé's sweet matcha fondant.

From left to right: Chef Olivier Elzer (Pink Pearl), Chef Summer Le (Nén) and Chef Cuong Nguyen (An's Saigon) / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Inside, guests embarked on a culinary odyssey revolving around Land, Water, and Fire.

Chapter 1 - Land paired Olivier Elzer's clear langoustine consommé with Cuong Nguyen's Wagyu beef and rustic tương bần (fermented soybean paste) – a touching tribute to the Vietnamese countryside. This chapter concluded with Summer Le's "Delta" masterpiece, honoring premium Ca Mau crab.

Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Transitioning to Chapter 2 - Water, diners were immersed in Olivier Elzer's zero-waste abalone with lotus root, followed by Cuong Nguyen's salty silver pomfret fermented with rice.

The smooth "intro" of 3 part culinary story from Chef Olivier Elzer / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

The climax arrived in Chapter 3 - Fire. Chef Summer Le ignited passion with grilled beef tongue on a cassava mash, marking the 10-year anniversary of her restaurant, Nén. Finally, Chef Gaulé provided a flawless closure with refreshing watermelon and the deep, lingering notes of a Marou Grand Cru chocolate tart.

Đàn Đó live performance / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Local artisan making Phu Quoc dog clay statue on the stage / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Throughout the feast, the GOM Show by the Đàn Đó group shifted seamlessly with the Land-Water-Fire structure. Their rustic bamboo and ceramic instruments resonated vividly, culminating in an unforgettable multi-sensory experience.

The Ocean's Lingering Aftertaste

"Bún Quậy" - one of the most popular breakfast noodles in Phu Quoc / Source: JW Marriott Phu Quoc

Settled into my flight back to Ho Chi Minh city, I realized my initial preconceptions had shattered like ocean waves. From questioning the true essence of luxury, I discovered the most valuable gift of this trip: the absolute liberation of the mind.

Through profound sophistication in every touchpoint, JW Marriott Phu Quoc crafted an experience that not only integrated culinary culture but reawakened pure emotions that had long slumbered within every guest.

The Cheap Vietnamese Street Food You’re Probably Overlooking: Eggs

Tùng Thư — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:14:51 +0000

One of my recent favorite vlogs follows an expat making his way through Vietnam with an unusually simple main meal: boiled eggs.

It sounds almost too basic for a country whose street food is famous for bánh mì, phở, bún thịt nướng and endless varieties of noodles. But the boiled egg might actually be one of the most universal foods you could choose here. It is cheap, portable, filling and, above all, an easy source of protein.

The diversity of Vietnamese street food. | Source: Pexels

Vietnamese people have known this for a long time. We just don't always think of eggs when we talk about Vietnamese street food.

Walk past a street stall, however, and the humble egg starts to look very different. It can be cracked, seasoned and grilled back inside its own shell; boiled whole and eaten as trứng vịt lộn; tossed in a sticky tamarind sauce; or cracked by the dozen into a tiny baking tray to make bánh trứng cút nướng.

The Egg, Reinvented On The Street

Part of what makes eggs such a useful street food ingredient is precisely how ordinary they are.

An egg doesn't require an elaborate introduction. It is familiar, inexpensive and relatively easy to prepare. But that also makes it a remarkably good canvas for improvisation. Add heat, seasoning, sauce or a handful of toppings, and an everyday ingredient can become something entirely different.

Vietnamese street food has a particular talent for this kind of transformation. The goal isn't necessarily to hide the original ingredient, but to keep layering things onto it until the eating experience becomes much bigger than the ingredient itself.

Take hột gà nướng (grilled egg).

At first glance, it looks like an egg that has simply been grilled. But watch how it is made and the process becomes more interesting. The vendor removes both the yolk and the white from the shell, mixes them with fish sauce, sugar, and pepper, then pours the mixture back into the shell. It is briefly steamed to set, before being placed over a charcoal grill until it turns smoky and custardy.

The shell becomes its own little cooking vessel.

The appetizing eggs are grilling over hot coals. | Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper

Depending on the stall, the egg is usually served hot in its charred shell and eaten with a salt, pepper, and lime or kumquat juice mixture (muối tiêu chanh/tắc). It is often accompanied by fresh Vietnamese coriander (rau răm) and cucumber slices to help balance the richness of the egg. What started as a simple grilled egg becomes a small, complete snack experience eaten straight from the shell.It is cheap, visually appealing and made right in front of you. In other words, almost everything street food should be.

Appealing grilled egg with Vietnamese coriander. | Source: CET

When An Egg Becomes A Meal Of Its Own

Then there is trứng lộn (balut) or trứng vịt lộn (duck balut), perhaps the clearest example of how differently an egg can function in Vietnamese food culture.

Unlike hột gà nướng, there is no need to dress it up. The whole point is to crack open the shell and eat what is inside, usually with rau răm, kumquat, salt, pepper and chillies.

For someone encountering it for the first time, trứng vịt lộn can be an intimidating introduction to Vietnamese food because it is a partially developed duck embryo still inside the egg, with visible bones, feathers, and a texture and appearance that can feel unfamiliar or confronting to many first-time eaters. But for many Vietnamese people, it is simply familiar comfort food: inexpensive, filling and associated with everything from an afternoon snack to a late-night street-food stop.

It also demonstrates something important about Vietnamese eating habits. An egg doesn't have to be part of a larger dish to be satisfying. Sometimes, the egg itself is the meal.

Delicious duck balut is a part of Vietnamese culture. | Source: Dan tri newspaper

In fact, trứng vịt lộn even carries a spiritual meaning for many Vietnamese people. It is often seen as a “lucky-reversing” food: if you are going through a streak of bad luck, eating one is believed to help turn things around. And if you are already feeling lucky and still crave it, the common saying is to have two.

Beyond duck eggs, there are also other "lộn" variations that show how deeply this idea runs in street food culture, such as trứng cút lộn (quail eggs), gà lộn (chicken eggs), and even more niche versions depending on region and vendor creativity.

This makes the boiled-egg diet feel a little less unusual. The logic behind it is not foreign to Vietnamese diners at all.

Many Vietnamese believe that eating "lộn" (balut) turns bad luck into good luck. | Source: Lao Dong Newspaper

And Then We Put It In Tamarind Sauce

Vietnamese street food, however, rarely knows when to stop at “good enough.” Once you have trứng lộn, why not take it out of its shell, fry it up and coat it in tamarind sauce?

Trứng lộn xào me takes an already distinctive food and adds another layer of Vietnamese street-food excess: sweet, sour, salty and sticky, with the richness of the egg balanced by the sharpness of tamarind.

The same thing happens with trứng cút lộn xào me, where the smaller quail egg makes the dish easier to eat, share and snack on.

Quail eggs drenched in thick tamarind sauce. | Source: Ăn Gì Đây?

It is a useful reminder that Vietnamese food is not only about preserving ingredients in their traditional form. Street food is often where familiar foods get reassembled, combined and intensified. The egg has gone from something you peel and eat with a pinch of salt to something you pick up with chopsticks and drag through a glossy pool of tamarind sauce.

Tiny Eggs, Big Ambitions

Perhaps the most street-food version of the egg is bánh trứng cút nướng.

Instead of grilling a whole egg, vendors crack dozens of tiny quail eggs into the individual holes of a small baking tray. Each cup becomes a miniature canvas for toppings: scallions, butter, sausage, cheese, dried meat and whatever else the stall has on hand.

The result is less like eating an egg and more like eating a tiny, customized street-food pizza.

Source: vietair.com.vn

And that is probably the most interesting thing about eggs on Vietnamese streets. Their appeal that they are adaptable.

Chicken eggs can be grilled in their shells. Duck eggs can become trứng vịt lộn. Quail eggs can become bite-sized snacks. The same basic ingredient can be boiled, grilled, fried, sauced, seasoned or surrounded by toppings.

Maybe We Have Been Looking At Street Food The Wrong Way

When people talk about Vietnamese street food, the conversation naturally gravitates toward the dishes that have become international ambassadors: phở, bánh mì, bún chả, cơm tấm.

Eggs rarely get the same attention because they don't sound particularly Vietnamese. They exist almost everywhere. But perhaps that is exactly why they are worth looking at.

The tasteful Vietnamese cuisine. | Source: Pexels

Vietnamese street food isn't always about inventing something completely new. Sometimes it is about taking an ingredient everyone already knows and finding another way to eat it. Maybe this is why eggs work so well on Vietnamese streets. They're cheap, familiar and endlessly malleable. They can be grilled in their shells, eaten whole, drowned in tamarind, or broken into dozens of tiny cups on a baking tray. The ingredient stays the same. Everything else is up for experimentation.

So the next time you are looking for a cheap street-food meal in Vietnam, come for the eggs.

A Viral Tweet About A Family Restaurant In Vietnam Says A Lot About The Extras You Get For Free

Lê Lang — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:15:00 +0000

One viral tweet described a Vietnamese restaurant, and the line might be funnier than it was intended to be.

family fun restaurant. something for everyone mom, dad, uncle and the kids pic.twitter.com/JDjvVwtHPh
— vietnam without context (@vietnamcontext) July 15, 2026

The video was filmed at Organic Restaurant in Đà Nẵng, during what appeared to be a special holiday event, possibly on International Woman Day - March 8th. What begins as an ordinary family meal turns into something closer to a variety show: a beautiful female dancer appears, followed by an androgynous-looking male dancer, a muscular male performer, and, at some point, Doraemon.

A special program at Organic went viral. | Source: Organic Danag

There is something very Vietnamese about the scene. Not necessarily the dancing, or even Doraemon, but the idea that a restaurant might try to have something for everyone sitting around the table.

Because in Vietnam, a restaurant often comes with more than food. There is usually free Wi-Fi, a way to charge your phone, QR payment, somewhere to park your motorbike, and increasingly, facilities for children. Tea or ice may arrive without appearing on the bill. A private room can turn dinner into a family gathering, a business meeting or a birthday party.

Most of these things are so ordinary to Vietnamese diners that we barely register them as services. For a foreigner, however, they can be surprisingly noticeable.

The trick is knowing what to look for.

The Digital Basics Are Usually Already There

The first thing to know when sitting down at a Vietnamese restaurant is that you probably don't need to ask whether there is Wi-Fi.

You need to ask what the password is. Or, more likely, look around.

Vietnamese restaurants and cafés have developed a particular habit of making their Wi-Fi passwords almost impossible to forget. Some are strings of numbers such as 68686868, 66668888 or 123456789. In many places in Nha Trang, 79797979 turns up. Others use the restaurant's own name. And occasionally, the password itself becomes a tiny piece of hospitality.

Many F&B Outlets in Vietnam provide wifi for free. | Source: AWING

The common password for many F&B outlets in Vietnam.

The passwords are often printed on menus, displayed near the counter or written somewhere on the wall. So before asking a waiter, look around. The answer may be sitting next to the menu. Should you need assistance, however, the team is always happy to guide you.

Your phone running out of battery is another problem that can often be solved without leaving the table. If there is no obvious socket, ask. Some restaurants and cafés have charging points, while others will take your phone to the reception counter to charge it. Staff may also have a collection of cables for different phones.

One restaurant in Danang offers charging station. | Source: Organic Danang

This is particularly useful in a country where a phone has become the wallet, map, translator, booking app and communication device all at once. Losing your battery halfway through dinner is less an inconvenience than a small emergency.

Payment has gone the same way. A restaurant might accept cash, Visa or Mastercard, bank transfer, or one of Vietnam’s many digital wallets and QR-based payment services. A QR code at the counter, on the table or printed on the bill can take you from "I don't have cash" to "I've paid" in a few seconds.

For Vietnamese customers, this is now almost unremarkable. For visitors, it can take a little getting used to. You might hand over a Visa card at one restaurant, scan a bank QR code at another, or pay through an e-wallet, all without needing to find an ATM or explain how you want to settle the bill. The restaurant does not necessarily need a sophisticated payment desk. Sometimes all the infrastructure you need is a card machine, a QR code taped to the wall, and a phone.

Then There Are The Things You Don't Think Of As Services

Some of the most useful restaurant amenities are precisely the ones nobody bothers to advertise. Air conditioning in the middle of a hot afternoon. A clean bathroom. Tissues on the table. Wet towels. Somewhere to leave your helmet. Someone helping you park your motorbike. None of these sounds particularly remarkable. Put together, however, they make a difference to how easy it is to spend an evening somewhere.

Some of the most useful restaurant amenities are a clean bathroom with bumgun (bidet). | Source: Tuan Lê/Vietnam Travelling Community

Foreign visitors sometimes notice this more clearly because they are comparing the experience with what they are used to elsewhere.

At a small restaurant in Huế, foreign reviewers have remembered details that Vietnamese diners might barely mention: cold towels, ice, complimentary tea and fruit, and even raincoats available when it rains.

The point is not that every restaurant in Vietnam gives away all of these things. It doesn't. Some charge for parking, some charge for towels, and some will happily let you sit there with a dead phone. But there is a recurring expectation that a restaurant should make the practical parts of eating out reasonably easy.

Even parking can be treated as part of the experience. Some restaurants have their own spaces, while others have staff helping customers with motorbikes outside. You may not think of this as hospitality, but it is one less thing to worry about before the meal begins.

If You're Bringing Children, Look Around Before You Sit Down

The Vietnamese restaurant has a particularly difficult customer to satisfy: the entire family. A table might contain grandparents, parents, teenagers and small children, all of whom have very different ideas about what makes a good night out. And this is where the restaurant's “extra” services become more interesting.

A children's chair is useful. A children's menu is helpful. But a children's play area can change the entire dinner.

The Snap Cafe in Thảo Điền, for example, has long been mentioned by foreign customers specifically for its children's play area. Reviews from parents describe being able to eat while their children play, making the restaurant more manageable for the adults as well.

Other family-oriented restaurants go further, with dedicated playrooms, children's menus and high chairs. Some venues even provide staff supervision or babysitting as part of the experience.

@riderealvietnam Going to eat at a restaurant in Vietnam, the family of foreign tourists can't help but be surprised and excited when the baby is held and peted by the staff extremely naturally. This small but warm action not only helps parents have a comfortable meal but also shows the friendliness and hospitality typical of Vietnamese people. A memorable cultural experience that makes everyone feel warm! #riderealvietnam #⁠#dulichvietnam⁠ ⁠#khachtay⁠ ⁠#yeucon⁠ ⁠#vietnamtravel ♬ âm thanh gốc - Sang Sang Ơi 🫧

Haidilao is an especially conspicuous example. At some of its Vietnamese locations, children's facilities and supervised play areas have become part of the restaurant experience, alongside complimentary food and drinks for customers.

The reasoning behind this is straightforward: a restless child can quickly cut a meal short. Conversely, when children have a dedicated play space, adults gain extra time to relax, converse, place another order, or enjoy their meal fully.

Through this lens, the March 8 entertainment at Organic appears far less peculiar. A dining establishment isn't required to offer identical entertainment to every guest; it simply needs to ensure every member of a group finds something engaging. Mom can watch the dancers. Dad can watch the dancers. Uncle can watch the dancers. The children get Doraemon. Something for everyone.

The Little Things That Don't Make It Onto The Bill

Certain extras arrive at your table without much fuss: a fresh pot of tea, glasses of iced tea, a bowl of fruit, ice, chilled towels, or an extra plate of herbs and side dishes.

None of these is guaranteed to be free, so it is always worth checking before assuming. But complimentary touches are common enough that international diners notice when they are charged for something they have come to expect. One foreign reviewer in Ho Chi Minh City, for instance, was surprised to find iced tea billed separately, having grown accustomed to receiving it for free elsewhere in Vietnam.

Perhaps that is what makes these extras interesting. They are not part of a formal, standardized package. There is no Vietnamese restaurant hospitality menu telling you what comes included with dinner. Instead, each restaurant seems to have its own small collection of conveniences and gestures, quietly folded into the dining experience.

Over time, they become so familiar that locals barely notice them. But for a visitor, they can be one of the first signs that in Vietnam, the meal often comes with a little more than what you ordered.

What Will It Take For Vietnam To Retain Global Talent And Capital?

Thư Trần — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:33:01 +0000

Once known primarily for its rapid growth and cost competitiveness, Vietnam is now facing a different challenge: how can it become a place where top professionals, investors, and international institutions want to come and stay for the long term?

In the 400th episode of Vietnam Innovators, Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank, and Michael Kokalari, Chief Economist at VinaCapital, approach this question from two different perspectives.

For Lottner, it is both personal and practical. Having spent more than six years working in Vietnam, he also leads a bank that is actively recruiting talent from some of the world’s major financial hubs. For Kokalari, the talent question is closely tied to Vietnam’s ability to attract international capital and build a globally competitive financial ecosystem.

Their perspectives converge on one point: growth potential alone will not secure Vietnam’s competitive edge. The country also needs an environment where people, capital, and ideas can enter, thrive, and stay.

People Are The Most Important Pillar

At Techcombank, data, digitalization, and talent form the three strategic pillars of its transformation. The bank has invested around US$500 million across these areas over the past five years, with total investment expected to reach US$1 billion over the next five. Yet for Lottner, talent remains the most important of the three.

Technology can be acquired, and successful data models can eventually be replicated. What is much harder to copy is the team capable of turning those investments into products, customer experiences, and continuous innovation.

Techcombank has therefore expanded its search beyond traditional banking profiles to include talent in technology, data, AI, product development, as well as specialists and senior leaders with experience in developed markets.

To attract these professionals, the bank emphasizes something that goes beyond organizational scale or compensation: the opportunity to create meaningful impact at scale.

In mature markets, a highly experienced professional may spend years optimizing a small part of an already sophisticated system. In Vietnam, that same person can help build new capabilities, develop new products, and influence how tens of millions of people access financial services.

For Lottner, top talent is often looking for more than a job or an attractive paycheck. What matters is the opportunity to make an impact and contribute to meaningful change.

Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank.

Michael Kokalari places the talent discussion within a broader question: how attractive is Vietnam to international investors?

Global capital has been flowing out of many emerging markets, while the United States and the AI investment boom continue to absorb significant amounts of funding. Against this backdrop, Vietnam cannot rely solely on its past growth story to sustain investor attention.

For Kokalari, Vietnam needs to strengthen its appeal as an investment destination as global capital shifts. That appeal extends beyond GDP growth. Investors also look at earnings potential, long-term prospects, and how easily capital can enter and exit a market.

This is where the Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC) enters the conversation. Vietnam needs additional capital to finance infrastructure, digital transformation, and its next stage of development. If most financing continues to flow through the balance sheets of domestic banks, however, the system will struggle to meet the full scale of that demand.

An international financial centre could create additional channels for investment funds, insurers, asset managers, and global financial institutions to identify and access opportunities in Vietnam. To attract them, the country will need more than a physical location or an internationally branded financial district.

Its regulatory framework, tax policies, capital mobility, and talent pool will all need to compete with established hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai.

Seen this way, attracting capital and attracting talent are two sides of the same equation. International financial institutions bring more than money: they also bring specialists, operating expertise, and global networks.

Michael Kokalari, Chief Economist at VinaCapital.

Taking Vietnam’s Talent Search Global

Rather than waiting for candidates to find opportunities in Vietnam, Techcombank has taken its recruitment efforts directly to major financial and technology hubs.

Between 2022 and 2025, its annual Overseas Talent Roadshow reached Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Paris - cities that combine strong financial and technology ecosystems with sizable overseas Vietnamese communities.

The journey is set to continue in 2026, with Techcombank Overseas Talent Roadshow events planned for Singapore on October 23-24 and London on November 13-14, connecting international professionals and overseas Vietnamese with career opportunities in Vietnam.

What makes these trips notable is the level of senior involvement. Lottner travels with a group of six or seven of the bank’s senior leaders, spending two to three days in each city to meet candidates directly. They are also joined by employees who have already made the move back to Vietnam, people who have faced the same decision Techcombank is now asking prospective candidates to consider.

The target pool includes international specialists and Vietnamese professionals who have studied and built careers overseas.

For overseas Vietnamese, the idea of returning can become more compelling as parents grow older or as they begin thinking about giving their children a stronger connection to their roots. But emotional ties alone are rarely enough to justify leaving behind a career built over many years.

Techcombank therefore has to demonstrate that returning to Vietnam does not mean compromising on technological sophistication, professional standards, or career progression.

The success of each roadshow is also measured beyond immediate hires. In every city, the bank is gradually building a network of professionals and potential candidates. Someone who is not ready to return today may reconsider in one or two years or introduce the opportunity to someone else who is.

The bank needs to demonstrate that returning to Vietnam does not mean compromising on technological advancement, professional capabilities, or career growth opportunities.

A Successful VIFC Will Need an Entire Ecosystem

Discussing the Vietnam International Financial Centre, both Kokalari and Lottner emphasize that domestic banks can only be one part of the equation.

According to the Techcombank CEO, Vietnam will need approximately US$200-300 billion in capital over the next five years. For that money to find its way into the economy, the country needs an effective “conduit” such as the VIFC - a platform where investors can identify opportunities, deploy capital, and have confidence that they can eventually exit those investments.

Vietnam cannot build an international financial centre around one or two banks or the institutions already operating in the country. It will need thousands of funds, investment banks, insurers, fintech companies, asset managers, and professional service providers to see Vietnam as a genuine opportunity. And these institutions will not arrive alone.

They will need lawyers, tax specialists, analysts, technology engineers, risk professionals, and people who understand both international standards and the local market.

Policies affecting international talent therefore become more than administrative matters. The time required to obtain a work permit, the tax regime, and the ease with which professionals can relocate may directly influence how quickly the broader financial ecosystem develops.

Rather than trying to design a perfect model from day one, Lottner suggests starting with concrete cases, identifying what works, and adjusting accordingly. This allows policy to evolve around real-world needs rather than remain theoretical.

From left: Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank; host Hao Tran; and Michael Kokalari, Chief Economist at VinaCapital.

What Does It Take To Move An Entire Family To Vietnam?

The professionals Techcombank wants to recruit have options, Lottner acknowledges. They can remain in Singapore, London, or Hong Kong, where the quality of life and supporting infrastructure are already sophisticated and familiar. Compensation, therefore, needs to be globally competitive. Techcombank is prepared to pay more for a leaner team if that means hiring the right people with the right capabilities.

Yet the bank is not looking for candidates whose only motivation is a higher salary. It is looking for people who want to make an impact and can see themselves contributing to the organization over the long term.

And once the conversation moves beyond the job itself, a different set of questions emerges: How straightforward is the work permit process? What will life be like for their family? Where will their children go to school? Will the healthcare system meet their needs?

A company can create an attractive role with compelling benefits. But convincing a professional to relocate an entire family to Vietnam requires something larger: the prospect of building a sustainable life here.

At that point, talent attraction is no longer solely the responsibility of an HR department or even an individual company. Retaining global talent depends on the policies, infrastructure, and quality of life that the wider market can provide

Talent And Capital Move In The Same Direction

Throughout the conversation, Jens Lottner brings the perspective of a business actively competing for talent on the global stage. Michael Kokalari adds the macroeconomic lens, looking at capital flows and Vietnam’s position in the eyes of international investors.

One begins with people; the other with capital markets. Both arrive at a similar conclusion: Vietnam needs an ecosystem compelling enough for global talent and resources to come, create value, and stay.

Technology can accelerate development. AI can reshape how businesses operate. Capital can expand the scale of investment. But turning those forces into real opportunities and sustainable growth still depends on people who know how to connect them with the needs of the market.

The 400th episode of Vietnam Innovators ultimately opens up a broader conversation about Vietnam’s next chapter. From Techcombank’s talent strategy to the prospects of an international financial centre, the ambition points in the same direction: moving Vietnam from a market with great potential to a destination where global talent and capital genuinely want to be.

Watch the full 400th episode of Vietnam Innovators on Vietnam Innovators Digest’s YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts channels.

4 Places To Experience Vietnam’s Heritage This National Day

Gấm Võ — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:33:06 +0000

More travelers are looking beyond sightseeing and seeking experiences that bring them closer to the culture and heritage of a place. According to Market Reports World, more than 55% of travelers worldwide now prioritize heritage-related trips, with around 68% taking part in festivals, arts events or traditional cultural experiences at least once a year. And as the appetite for more meaningful travel continues to grow, this trend shows no sign of slowing down.

So, if you’re spending the five-day National Day holiday in Vietnam and looking for a quick escape - and your ideal getaway needs to check all the boxes below:

Soak up the festive atmosphere.
Recharge after months of hard work.
Feel like a proper getaway, while still having meaningful cultural experiences.

…consider this your shortlist.

1. Hue-Phong Nha: A Train Journey Through Heritage

In recent years, Vietnam’s railway network seems to be rediscovering some of its old momentum. In the first six months of 2026 alone, nearly 3.9 million passengers traveled by rail. But trains today are becoming more than just a way to get from one place to another. Many routes are being reimagined as journeys that connect travelers with the culture, history and identity of the destinations they pass through - moving from the awe of natural wonders to a deeper appreciation of the country’s history and heritage.

One such example is the HQ1/HQ2 train pair, aptly named “A Journey Through Wonders - World Heritage.” Launched by Vietnam Railways on August 29, just ahead of the National Day holiday, the service takes travelers from the former imperial capital of Hue to Phong Nha in Quang Tri. The roughly 190-kilometer journey takes around four hours.

VIP carriage on the upcoming Hue-Phong Nha tourist train. | Source: Vietnam Railways

At one end of the journey is Hue, a cultural hub known for its rich heritage, festivals, imperial arts, cuisine and enduring traditions. At the other is Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its vast cave systems, primeval forests and remarkable geological and geomorphological formations.

The stations along the route are destinations in their own right, offering access to sites such as the Complex of Hue Monuments, the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel via Dong Ha Station, and the Vinh Moc Tunnels via My Trach Station. The railway also plans to introduce and sell OCOP products at the stations, giving travelers another way to discover local specialties along the journey.

Community carriage on a tourist train. | Source: Vietnam Railways

Details:

Distance: 190km.
Journey time: Approximately 4 hours.
Ticket price: During the inaugural week from August 29 to September 5, 2026, Vietnam Railways will offer a 50% discount across all ticket classes. Experience fares for the Hue-Phong Nha (Tho Loc Station) route will range from VND 210,000 to VND 380,000.

Similar heritage-focused experiences are also available on other routes, including “Central Vietnam Heritage Connection” (Hue-Da Nang), “Red Flamboyant” (Hanoi-Hai Phong), and “Hanoi’s Five City Gates - The Hanoi Train” (Hanoi-Bac Ninh).

2. Moc Chau: Week Of Culture And Travel

If you're based in a major city and have had your fill of traffic jams, smog and relentless honking, Moc Chau offers a chance to slow down and immerse yourself in the rhythms of Vietnam's Northwest highlands. Located in Son La Province, this highland district is known for its cool climate, rolling landscapes and distinctive local culture.

From August 27 to September 5, Moc Chau will come alive for the Moc Chau Culture and Tourism Week 2026, held at Moc Chau National Tourism Area. The celebration offers travelers a chance to experience Son La through its landscapes, traditions and communities, with a program of activities celebrating local heritage while marking Vietnam Tourism Year 2026.

The highlight of the week is the Son La International Brocade Night 2026, themed “Weaving Heritage, Blending Colors,” taking place on the evening of August 31 at May 8 Square in Moc Chau Ward. Through artistic performances and brocade fashion showcases, the event will bring the patterns, materials and cultural stories of local ethnic communities to the stage, creating a meeting point between tradition and contemporary expression.

On the evening of September 1, the “Moc Chau - A Call to Love” art program will take over the square, culminating in a 10-minute fireworks display - just enough sparkle to cap off a highland escape before the holiday comes to an end.

Moc Chau Culture Week 2025. | Source: VOV

3. Quang Ninh: Carry The National Flag To Dong Pagoda For The Vietnam’s National Day Sunrise

To mark the 81st anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, a community of trekking enthusiasts and Yên Tử devotees will come together for “Proud of Vietnam – Continuing the Heritage,” a journey that will bring at least 810 participants, each carrying the national flag, to the sacred summit of Yên Tử in the early hours of September 2, 2026.

The journey will begin at 1 a.m. on September 2 at Trúc Lâm Yên Tử, in Yên Tử Ward, Quang Ninh Province. The group will hike uphill to Dong Pagoda, where a flag-raising ceremony and the singing of the Vietnamese National Anthem will take place at the summit at 6 a.m.

The program will continue with a commemorative address reflecting on the 81-year history of Vietnam’s National Day, followed by a ceremony honoring fallen heroes and paying tribute to generations who came before. After taking group photos with the national flag, participants will make their way back down the mountain and join a cultural performance program near the statue of Emperor-Trần Nhân Tông.

Sunrise over Yên Tử Mountain. | Source: Yên Tử Pagoda

4. Hoi An Memories Show

The final experience on this list is Hoi An Memories, a show that is likely already familiar to travelers seeking the old-world charm, artistry and cultural stories of the ancient town. Once described by Reuters as a “global phenomenon”, the production also holds Vietnamese Guinness World Records for the largest outdoor stage and the largest cast. Through live performance, music, lighting and choreography, Hoi An Memories traces the history and cultural heritage of Hoi An, bringing the everyday lives and traditions of its people to life across the passage of time.

For this year’s National Day holiday, Hoi An Memories will present a special edition titled “Conical Hat Flag”, blending the iconic Vietnamese nón lá with the red of the national flag to create a performance that feels both familiar and fresh. The edition previously drew attention during this year’s April 30 holiday, welcoming around 12,000 spectators.

The red national flags and vibrant conical hats create a space that feels both proudly Vietnamese and youthful, setting an inspiring tone for a September 2nd holiday spent discovering Hoi An. | Source: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Conclusion

Five days may not be enough to truly slow down, fully recharge or uncover every layer of a new destination. But it is more than enough time to make a trip worth remembering.

Whichever route you choose, what you bring home from the holiday doesn’t have to be limited to picture-perfect moments for your feed. It can also be the stories you hear, the colors you encounter and the new experiences that reveal a side of Vietnam that may feel familiar, yet still has plenty left to discover.

Still wondering where to go? Pick a destination, pack your bags and set off. The holiday is just around the corner.

Beyond Bars And Clubs: Hanoi Explores A Controlled Night Economy

Anh Trang — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 08:09:19 +0000

While Ho Chi Minh City has long been known as Vietnam’s “sleepless city,” with countless activities to enjoy at night, Hanoi has traditionally embraced a slower, more restrained pace, with most activities in the capital winding down before midnight.

Now, the capital city wants to change that. In July 2026, the Hanoi People’s Committee has issued a plan to implement a resolution on developing the night-time economy. By 2030, the city aims to make the night-time economy an important driver of its service sector, contributing around 5% of GRDP while gradually increasing its share of local budget revenues.

Into “The City That Knows How To Tell Stories At Night”

The night-time economy is not limited to bars and clubs. It encompasses a much broader range of commercial and entertainment activities taking place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., including culture and the performing arts, food and dining, shopping, festivals and events, tourist attractions that operate at night, and unique experiences available only after dark.

In many countries around the world, the night-time economy has become a significant contributor to economic growth. The U.K. is a striking example. The U.K.’s night-time industry contributes around 6% of GDP, with an estimated value of £66 billion, while supporting more than 1.25 million jobs. London alone accounts for around 40% of the sector, worth approximately £26.4 billion and generating 723,000 direct jobs.

Hanoi wants to unlock that potential. Under the latest plan issued in July, the city will review and select areas with suitable infrastructure to develop nighttime entertainment and service zones operating after midnight or around the clock. At the heart of the plan is the development of the cultural industries alongside nighttime experiences. The goal is not to become a “sleepless city,” but a “city that knows how to tell stories at night.”

Rather than “the sleepless city”, Hanoi wants to become “the city that knows how to tel the story”. Source: Lao Dong

To achieve this, Hanoi plans to develop and effectively operate several flagship night-time economic zones, each with a distinct function and supported by tailored policies.

The culture and heritage night-time economy zone will cover areas including Hoàn Kiếm, Cửa Nam, Ba Đình, Sơn Tây and Sóc Sơn, leveraging the capital’s historical and cultural assets. The modern entertainment zone will focus on areas such as Tây Hồ–Tây Hồ Tây, Mỹ Đình and Đông Anh.

Alongside these, Hanoi plans to develop creative night-time economy zones linked to the cultural industries, including creative spaces, theatres, cinemas and museums. In the city’s suburban areas, resort and cultural-experience zones will connect nighttime activities with destinations such as Bát Tràng, Ba Vì and Hương Sơn, as well as traditional craft villages.

Alongside this, Hanoi plans to gradually address some of the infrastructure and regulatory shortcomings that have constrained the development of its night-time economy. The city will invest in and upgrade its transport infrastructure, extend metro operating hours and introduce subsidised bus services to improve nighttime connectivity.

It also plans to invest in public lighting, soundproofing measures, green buffers and aesthetically integrated acoustic barriers at locations bordering residential areas. A network of mobile nighttime medical stations will also be established to help ensure public safety and urban security.

Bars and clubs have long presented a particular challenge for Hanoi, where authorities have struggled to strike a balance between maintaining public order and allowing the nighttime economy to grow. Under the new plan, the city will review and select areas with suitable infrastructure to establish licensed nighttime entertainment zones operating after midnight or around the clock. These zones could accommodate services including karaoke venues, nightclubs, bars, pubs and electronic gaming, while operating under requirements for public security, order and cultural standards.

A popular bar in Hanoi. | Source Pro Sound Vietnam

“Not The Extension Of The Daytime”

In reality, policy discussions about Hanoi’s nighttime economy have been there for decades. From the foundational legal framework established by the central government in 2020, Hanoi had pilot schemes implemented between 2021 and 2023, and more recent action plans introduced in 2025–2026. The city has been paying increasing attention to the development of this economic model.

However, the reality paints a very different picture. As of 2025, Vietnam still lacked an official conceptual framework for the night-time economy. A 2026 study by researchers from the Banking Academy found that the country’s night-time economy remains small-scale, fragmented and poorly connected, with limited integration among its core, entertainment and ancillary activities.

Night-time activities in Hanoi currently tend to fall into two main categories. The first is bars and clubs, which are difficult to regulate while balancing economic interests with public safety and security. The second is night markets and food-related activities, which are largely spontaneous in nature and often lack depth in terms of products and experiences.

Hanoi has already introduced some cultural activities at night, such as night tours at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and Hoa Lo Prison. While these initiatives demonstrate the city’s efforts to build a distinctive nighttime identity and diversify its after-dark offerings, they remain relatively fragmented and disconnected from other nighttime activities, such as dining and entertainment.

Night tour at Hoa Lo Prison. | Source: Green SM

Under the master plan issued in July 2026, Hanoi aims to develop its night-time economy in a more integrated, systematic and connected manner. The city also plans to designate and delineate specific areas for night-time economic development, separating them from residential zones while defining distinct functions for each designated night-time economy zone.

However, experts argue that alongside adding “more experiences,” Hanoi also needs to improve its public infrastructure and lighting to encourage visitors to stay longer. The city should also expand late-night services beyond restaurants to include supermarkets, gyms, bookstores and shopping malls.

“The night-time economy is not simply about doing business at night,” said Nguyễn Trần Hoàng Phương, director of the Institute for Social Tourism Research. “Staying open until 2 a.m. does not create a night-time economy if there is nothing worth spending money on after 10 p.m. The night-time economy must be a tourism product, not an extension of the daytime.”

What To Expect From Hanoi’s Nightlife

A music show in the Old Quarter. | Source: Tuoi Tre

When you come to Hanoi now or in the near future, here’s what you can expect as the city rolls out its new night-time economy strategy.

More places will be allowed to stay open past midnight. Designated areas could operate until 2 a.m., particularly around Hoàn Kiếm, the Old Quarter, Tây Hồ and emerging cultural and tourism corridors. In selected pilot zones, bars, clubs and late-night F&B venues could operate until 6 a.m., but only within specifically designated entertainment areas that meet requirements for infrastructure, security and public order.

Expect more than bars and clubs from Hanoi’s night scene. The city wants to move beyond the familiar “bar + beer corner + night market” formula and build a more diverse range of nighttime experiences. That could include traditional music and contemporary performances, light shows at heritage sites, night tours of museums, temples and the Imperial Citadel, as well as digital and AR-based heritage experiences. Creative night hubs, night marathons, festivals and other events designed specifically for the evening could also become a bigger part of Hanoi after dark.

Ultimately, Hanoi’s ambition is not simply to keep the city open later, but to make the night worth staying for. The question is whether the capital can turn longer opening hours into experiences that give visitors and residents a reason to stay after dark.

Can Hanoi offer tourists a reason to stay after dark? Source: Ivivu

What Happens To Your Social Insurance When You Leave Vietnam?

Vũ Anh — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:50:59 +0000

If you have worked in Vietnam for several years, compulsory social insurance is likely to be a familiar item on your monthly payslip.

Every month, part of your salary goes toward Vietnam's compulsory social insurance system. But what happens to those contributions when your time in the country comes to an end?

For foreign workers, the answer may be more straightforward than you expect. If you are covered by Vietnam's compulsory social insurance system and when your employment contract ends, or when your work permit, practicing certificate or practicing license expires and is not renewed, you may be eligible to receive your social insurance as a lump-sum payment rather than leaving your social insurance benefits.

And unlike the rules that apply to some Vietnamese workers, foreign employees do not have to simply wait a year after leaving their job to qualify under this particular provision.

The rules changed when Vietnam's new Law on Social Insurance took effect on July 1, 2025, but the entitlement for foreign workers who leave their employment remains.

Here's what foreign workers should know before leaving Vietnam.

First, Are You Covered By Compulsory Social Insurance?

Not every foreigner working in Vietnam is automatically enrolled.

Under the 2024 Law on Social Insurance, a foreign citizen working in Vietnam is generally subject to compulsory social insurance if they work under a fixed-term employment contract of at least 12 months with an employer in Vietnam.

There are exceptions, including people transferred internally within a company, people who had already reached Vietnam's statutory retirement age when they signed the employment contract, and cases covered differently by an international treaty to which Vietnam is a party.

So the first question is not simply whether you have worked in Vietnam, but whether you have actually participated in the compulsory social insurance system.

If you have, social insurance benefits do not necessarily disappear when you leave the country.

When Can A Foreign Worker Claim A Lump-Sum Payment?

For foreign employees, the law specifically provides for a lump-sum social insurance payment when their employment contract ends, or when their work permit, practicing certificate or practicing license expires and is not renewed.

This is one of the most significant differences between foreign and Vietnamese workers.

Under the current Social Insurance Law, foreign workers who have stopped participating in compulsory social insurance can request a lump-sum payment in several circumstances. One of them is specifically tied to the termination or non-renewal of their employment contract or work authorization.

In other words, when your employment in Vietnam ends, you may become eligible to claim a lump-sum social insurance benefit. You may not need to leave the country immediately, but the end of your employment could be the point at which you become eligible to settle your social insurance benefit.

You do not have to assume that your social insurance benefits must remain unclaimed for another year.

How Much Can You Receive?

The amount is calculated based on the number of years you have contributed and the salary used as the basis for your social insurance contributions.

Under the previous rules for foreign workers, the lump-sum benefit was calculated at two months of the average salary used for social insurance contributions for each year of compulsory social insurance participation. The current law continues to provide a lump-sum benefit for foreign workers under the circumstances described above, with the amount calculated according to the statutory formula.

The important point is that the figure is not simply the total amount that you personally paid into the system.

The calculation is based on your contribution period and the salary used for social insurance purposes, so someone someone with a higher salary recorded as the basis for social insurance contributions or contributed for longer may receive a larger benefit.

If you're trying to estimate the amount before leaving Vietnam, it is therefore worth checking your recorded contribution history and the salary figures used for your social insurance.

What Documents Do You Need?

For a lump-sum social insurance claim, the basic application includes your social insurance record and an application for the lump-sum benefit.

Vietnam Social Security currently lists Form No. 14-HSB as the application for social insurance benefits. A Vietnamese–English version of the form is available for foreign applicants through Ho Chi Minh City Social Security’s official document portal. As administrative forms may be updated, applicants should confirm the latest applicable version with the authority handling their claim.

Form No. 14-HSB, the application for social insurance benefits. | Source: Bảo Hiểm Xã Hội Điện Tử eBH

For foreign workers, additional documentation may be required depending on the circumstances of the claim, so it is worth confirming the exact requirements with the relevant social insurance authority before submitting the application.

This is particularly important if you're already outside Vietnam or are preparing to leave shortly after your employment ends.

Where Can You Submit The Application?

The application can be submitted through the social insurance system's available service channels.

Depending on the procedure and your circumstances, these can include:

In person, through the relevant social insurance authority;
By public postal service; or
Online, through Vietnam Social Security's public-service system or other authorized electronic channels.

The application can be submitted in person, through the relevant social insurance authority. | Source: Bảo Hiểm Xã Hội Điện Tử eBH

Vietnam's Social Insurance Law also recognizes electronic transactions in the social insurance sector, with electronic documents having the same legal value as paper documents.

For someone preparing to leave Vietnam, the online and postal options can be particularly useful, although applicants should confirm the currently available submission method with the social insurance authority handling their case.

How Long Does It Take?

Processing times are another important consideration when planning your departure.

Under the 2024 Law on Social Insurance, the social insurance authority must process a lump-sum social insurance claim within seven working days of receiving a complete application. If the claim is not approved, the authority must provide a written explanation.

The processing period begins only after a complete application has been received, so applicants should allow additional time to finalize their contribution records and prepare the required documents.

Before You Leave Vietnam, Check These Five Things

If you're finishing your last job in Vietnam, don't treat social insurance as something that your employer simply handles after you've left.

Before packing your bags, check:

Are you actually enrolled in compulsory social insurance? Check your social insurance record and contribution history.
Has your employment officially ended? You'll need documentation establishing the relevant event that makes you eligible for the lump-sum benefit.
Is your work permit or other work authorization expiring without renewal? This can also be a qualifying circumstance for foreign workers under the law.
Do you have the necessary application documents? At minimum, the current framework requires the social insurance record and an application for the lump-sum benefit. Vietnam Social Security lists Form 14-HSB for this purpose.
Have you confirmed how you'll receive the payment? If you're leaving Vietnam, make sure you understand the available payment and submission arrangements before you go.

One Last Thing To Remember

Social insurance is easy to overlook because it rarely feels like money you are actively saving. Your share is contributed through monthly payroll deductions, your employer contributes as required, and the system is designed around long-term social protection.

But for a foreign worker whose career in Vietnam is coming to an end, that calculation can look different.

If you have been contributing to Vietnam's compulsory social insurance system, leaving the country does not necessarily mean leaving those contributions behind.

For foreign workers, leaving Vietnam may also mean deciding what to do with their social insurance contributions. | Source: VUS

Legal sources

Lawyer Pham Thanh Huu, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, whose legal advice was featured in the article, “Can foreigners in Vietnam claim a lump-sum social insurance payment?” published by VnExpress.
Law on Social Insurance No. 41/2024/QH15, effective July 1, 2025.
Decree No. 143/2018/ND-CP, which previously regulated compulsory social insurance for foreign workers in Vietnam and was effective until July 1, 2025.
Vietnam Social Security guidance and administrative procedures concerning lump-sum social insurance benefits and Form No. 14-HSB.

Budiman Ong On Curiosity, Community, And Creating Space For Asian Design

Thư Trần — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 02:25:37 +0000

Curiosity.

It is the word Budiman Ong returns to when asked what connects his work as a designer with his role as a curator.

For nearly two decades, curiosity has shaped the way he approaches materials at ONG CEN KUANG, his Bali-based lighting studio. Today, it also shapes how he approaches people through Jia CURATED, the annual gathering of craft, design and culture he co-founded with Rudi Winata and Yang Yang Hartono.

What began in 2022 as Jia Curated Kiosks, an intimate display of craft and design, has since grown into a platform for Indonesian and international designers, makers, artists and creative practitioners. In 2026, more than 250 participating brands gathered at its new home on Pengembak Beach in Sanur.

Vietcetera spoke with Budiman about how curiosity moved him from materials to people, what goes into bringing hundreds of creative voices together, and why Jia CURATED wants to create more space for Asia’s design communities.

Designer, founder, curator, community builder? When asked which role defines him best, Budiman simply says: “Everything is me.” | Source: Ong Cen Kuang

ONG CEN KUANG

Nearly 18 years before Jia CURATED reached its current scale, Budiman was exploring a much smaller world: light and the materials used to shape it.

At ONG CEN KUANG, his creative process often begins not with a predetermined object, but with a material and a question: What else could this become?

How curiosity became a design language

One of the clearest examples is Alur, where something as ordinary as a zipper became the structure of a lampshade.

Removed from its familiar function, repeated and manipulated by hand, the zipper took on an entirely different character. Rather than deciding immediately what a material should become, Budiman leaves room for its properties to guide the process.

For Jia CURATED 2026, Bali-based ONG CEN KUANG brought JANUR to Pengembak Beach, extending Budiman’s exploration of light into an outdoor setting.

But materials are only part of the process. At ONG CEN KUANG, artisans turn Budiman’s experiments into physical form, bringing knowledge and sensitivity that cannot simply be replaced by technology. This curiosity about materials would eventually lead Budiman somewhere else: towards people.

For Jia CURATED 2026, Bali-based ONG CEN KUANG brings JANUR, its first outdoor collection, to Pengembak Beach. | Source: Indra Wiras

Artisans turn Budiman’s material experiments into physical form, bringing a human knowledge that technology cannot replace. For him, craftsmanship is what gives each object its character and, as he puts it, “soul.” | Source: Jia CURATED

JANUR explores how light, form and landscape can quietly coexist. | Source: Ong Cen Kuang

From Materials To People

For Budiman, the shift did not happen alone.

Together with Rudi Winata, he began exploring what could happen when different creative minds, practices and perspectives were brought into the same space. Along with Yang Yang Hartono, that thinking eventually became part of the foundation for Jia.

When I feel curious about a particular person, it usually means I have had a reaction to their products or to the way they work. I find something interesting in what they do.

For a designer, that curiosity might result in an object. For a curator, it might become a conversation, an invitation or a collaboration.

Budiman sometimes describes Jia CURATED’s programmes as “excuses” to meet people the team already knows, admires or wants to understand better.

Yet bringing those people together does not mean searching for similar work.

Quite the opposite.

Budiman is interested in designers with identities of their own. Different aesthetics and practices can sit alongside one another as long as there is enough shared philosophy to begin a conversation.

When people with similar philosophies but different practices come together, we gain a bigger and louder voice.

Budiman’s curiosity eventually moved beyond materials. Together with Rudi Winata, he began exploring what could happen when different creative minds, practices and perspectives were brought together, an idea that would later take shape through Jia CURATED. | Source: Iwan

Jia CURATED

Jia CURATED first launched in 2022 as Jia Curated Kiosks, an intimate presentation of design and craft. It was rebranded in 2025 as its scale and ambitions grew.

At its core is a goal shared by its three founders: to help build and sustain a healthy ecosystem for creative communities in Indonesia through three pillars: craft, design and culture.

The name itself offers another clue. Jia means “home” in Chinese, fitting for a platform designed to bring different creative practices into one place.

Preparing for more than 250 creative voices

By 2026, that “home” had become considerably larger.

Jia CURATED moved to a 15,000-square-metre site at Pengembak Beach, framed by pine trees and mangroves along Bali’s eastern shoreline. More than 250 Indonesian and international brands participated, following an edition that welcomed more than 150 brands and 12,000 visitors in 2025.

Main stage designed by Budiman Ong. | Source: Indra Wiras

Behind those five days is a process that begins much earlier. Budiman says the team typically spends around 18 months preparing for each edition. The theme begins taking shape more than a year ahead, which means the next Jia is already being discussed while the current one is still unfolding.

There are participants to select, programmes to develop and spaces to plan, but also a more complicated task: creating enough cohesion for hundreds of different practices to exist together without losing their individual identities.

The question is therefore not simply who should be here?

It is also why should these people be here together?

For Budiman, curation is less about controlling every voice than creating the conditions for those voices to meet.

Some projects from the event:

Project Benih. | Source: Indra Wiras

SUARU. | Source: Indra Wiras

Wasted by Potato Head. | Source: Indra Wiras

The 2026 programme reflects this approach. Architecture in Scale, curated by design writer Charmaine Chan, brings together architectural models from practices across Indonesia and wider Asia, while 360° Design Dialogues, curated by Design Anthology, creates conversations between Indonesian and international voices

Architecture in Scale, curated by design writer Charmaine Chan, brings together physical models of completed projects by architecture practices from Indonesia and wider Asia. | Source: Indra Wiras

At Pengembak Beach, the landscape is given similar agency. Sometimes, curation is less about imposing an answer than listening carefully enough to find one. | Source: Indra Wiras

The highlight: When nature becomes part of the event

The new location also changed the way Jia CURATED approached the event itself.

Sand, stone, sea, mangroves and shifting light were not treated simply as a backdrop. The conditions of Pengembak Beach directly informed the curatorial direction, encouraging participants to respond to the landscape rather than impose a predetermined exhibition environment onto it.

This relationship sits at the heart of the 2026 theme, Nature Weave.

Rooted in biophilia, our instinctive connection with what is natural and alive, the theme asks designers to look beyond nature as texture or visual inspiration and consider the systems connecting people, landscapes and ecosystems.

It proposes design as an act of coexistence, with humans understood not as owners of the environment, but participants within it.

In many ways, this echoes Budiman’s own approach to making. With materials, he pays attention to what is already there before deciding what they might become. At Jia CURATED, the same principle is applied on a much larger scale.

Even the landscape is given a voice.

From Indonesia To Asia

As Jia CURATED grows, its community is expanding beyond Indonesia. Rooted in Gotong Royong, the Indonesian principle of mutual cooperation, the platform is increasingly creating connections across Asia.

That direction is already visible through Road to Jia CURATED in Tokyo and programmes such as Architecture in Scale, which bring regional practices into conversation.

For Budiman, however, growth still comes down to people.

The key is people.
Finding the right people who have the same sort of philosophy in different countries is important.

He also hopes Jia can bring more attention to Indonesia’s creative talent, placing local designers “in the same bracket, in the same positions as any creative in the world.”

Yet he does not want Jia to grow endlessly. Asked about its future scale, Budiman simply says, “Slightly bigger than this.” What matters more is stronger curation, different perspectives and keeping the event in one place.

Jia is home; home is always about intimate feeling. If it’s too big, then you lose that.

That balance may define Jia CURATED’s next chapter: reaching further across Asia while remaining intimate enough for meaningful connections to happen.

The Vietnamese Ghost Month Explained: When the Dead Return and the Living Make Offerings

May Ng — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:09:03 +0000

Every autumn, millions of people around the globe turn their attention to the spiritual realm. In the West, children slip into costumes for Halloween, collecting candy under jack-o'-lantern-lit porches. In Mexico, vibrant orange marigolds and elaborate sugar skulls transform cemeteries into joyous street fairs for the Day of the Dead.

Yet in Vietnam, the annual encounter with the spirit world looks completely different. There are no costumes, no parades, and no trick-or-treating. Instead, roadside fires flicker in the evening breeze as families burn stacks of paper money, leave steaming bowls of porridge on sidewalk altars, and carefully navigate a month bound by ancient taboos.

This is the Vietnamese Ghost Month, known locally as Tháng Cô Hồn.

Occurring during the seventh lunar month, it is one of the most culturally significant periods in Vietnamese spiritual life. While often lumped together with Western Halloween or Latin American celebrations of the deceased, Vietnam’s Ghost Month operates on a completely distinct framework of cosmology, filial piety, and spiritual traditions. To truly understand Vietnam, one must look beyond the surface of this quiet, smoke-filled month and explore how a culture honors its ancestors while appeasing the restless spirits that walk among the living.

1. The Lunar Calendar and the Opening of Hell’s Gates

To understand the Ghost Month, you first have to understand how time and the afterlife interact in East Asian tradition.

Unlike Halloween, which always falls on October 31st based on the solar calendar, the Ghost Month is calculated using the traditional lunisolar calendar. It spans the entirety of the seventh lunar month, typically landing between late July and September.

According to traditional beliefs, the underworld is ruled by King Yama, the sovereign judge of the dead. On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the gates of the underworld are thrown open. For roughly thirty days, all spirits, both loved ancestors and forgotten souls, are released from the netherworld to roam the realm of the living.

The month reaches its spiritual peak on the 15th day of the lunar month, during the Full Moon. On this day, the gates open widest, and the concentration of spiritual energy in the human world reaches its apex. By the final day of the month, the gates close, and the wandering spirits are summoned back to the underworld until the following year.

The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month marks the spiritual focal point of the season, when families visit temples and pay respects to ancestors and the departed. | Source: Thanh Niên News

2. A Tale of Two Altars: Ancestors vs. Forgotten Souls

The defining characteristic of this month is the distinction between two fundamentally different types of spirits: loved family ancestors and lonely, wandering ghosts. This dual nature creates a unique spiritual rhythm that plays out on two separate altars in every traditional Vietnamese home.

The Indoor Altar: Vu Lan and Filial Piety

Source: VietNamNet

For family ancestors, the middle of the month coincides with Vu Lan (Ullambana), a holiday often called the Vietnamese Mother’s Day or Ancestor Day. Rooted in traditional Buddhist lore about a devoted son who descended into the underworld to rescue his suffering mother, this day is a celebration of ultimate family gratitude.

On the full moon, families clean their internal home altars, light incense, and lay out lavish feasts. These indoor offerings include cooked meals, fresh fruit, sticky rice, and tea. The mood is respectful, warm, and intimate. At local temples, practitioners pin fresh roses to their shirts: a red rose if one's mother is still alive, a white rose if she has passed away. Here, the dead are welcomed back as cherished family members who continue to protect and guide their descendants.

The Outdoor Altar: Feeding the Wandering Souls

Source: Eva.vn

The atmosphere changes completely when dealing with forgotten spirits.

These are souls who died tragic, premature, or violent deaths – far from home, in accidents, or without surviving descendants to perform ancestral rites. Lacking a spiritual home or an altar of their own, they wander the earth hungry, cold, and forgotten.

To prevent these restless spirits from causing misfortune, illness, or mischief, Vietnamese families set up a secondary altar outside their front gates, on the sidewalk, or along the roadside. The distinction is crucial: you never invite wandering ghosts inside your home.

The outdoor offerings are deliberate and symbolic:

Watery Rice Porridge: According to folklore, hungry ghosts have throats as narrow as a needle's eye, making it impossible to swallow solid food. Thin porridge is the only sustenance that can pass through their parched throats.

Paper Money and Hell Banknotes: Stacks of symbolic paper currency, paper clothes, and daily items are burned so the spirits have funds and material goods in the afterlife.

Popcorn, Raw Rice, Salt, and Fruits: Simple, unprocessed foods that can be easily shared among a large crowd of unseen guests.

After the outdoor ritual is complete, the householder takes a small bowl containing raw salt and rice and scatters it into the street in all four directions. This symbolic act signals to the spirits that the feast is over and that they must move along, leaving the household in peace.

3. The Atmosphere: Taboos, Caution, and Daily Life

If Halloween is characterized by excitement and the Day of the Dead by exuberance, the Vietnamese Ghost Month is marked by a palpable sense of caution and spiritual vigilance.

Because millions of unattached spirits are believed to be roaming the streets, living humans take steps to lower their spiritual profile and avoid drawing unwanted attention. Over centuries, a comprehensive list of cultural taboos has developed around the seventh lunar month.

During this time, people commonly follow these traditional guidelines:

No Buying Real Estate or Vehicles: Major financial investments or real estate transactions are widely postponed. Moving into a new house during this month is thought to invite wandering spirits to move in with you.

No Weddings or Big Events: Couples rarely host weddings in the seventh month, fearing that jealous, single spirits might curse the marriage.

Don’t Hang Clothes Out at Night: It is believed that lingering spirits might try on wet clothes hung outside after dark, trapping spiritual energy inside the fabric.

Avoid Swimming in Open Water: Rivers, lakes, and the ocean are viewed with suspicion; drownings during this month are often attributed to water spirits dragging swimmers down to take their places.

Don’t Call Names at Night: Shouting a friend or child’s name outdoors after dark allows listening spirits to memorize the name and potentially torment or possess the individual later.

Avoid Looking Back in Dark Streets: If you hear someone whisper your name or feel a sudden chill down your spine on an empty road, looking back is believed to expose your vital energy to spirit interference.

4. The Ritual Scramble: A Vibrant Street Spectacle

While much of the month is serene and contemplative, the street rituals surrounding outdoor offerings produce one of the most energetic public spectacles in urban Vietnam: the scramble for ghost offerings.

Once a family or business finishes reciting their prayers for the street spirits outside their premises, the food, candy, small coins, and real money laid on the outdoor table must be given away. It is considered bad luck for the household to bring these offerings back inside the home.

After the prayers end, “giật cô hồn” begins — a tradition where offerings for wandering spirits are given away, symbolizing the sharing of blessings beyond the household. | Source: Didongviet.vn/Gạo Phương Nam

Traditionally, neighborhood children would gather around the outdoor altar, waiting for the host to throw the coins or announce that the ritual was complete. The moment the signal is given, a joyous scramble ensues as kids dive to grab fruits, sweets, and loose bills.

In modern commercial hubs, this tradition has evolved into a high-stakes event. Major merchants and store owners light massive bundles of incense and toss actual cash into crowds of dozens, sometimes hundreds, of eager gatherers.

Far from being seen as disrespectful, this ritual is viewed as a win-win spiritual transaction: the gatherers get free goods and money, the store owner successfully disperses the spirits' food away from their doorstep, and the energetic commotion is believed to chase away remaining negative energy.

5. What International Visitors Should Know

If you happen to travel in Vietnam during the seventh lunar month, there is no need to be alarmed. You are not in danger, and the month is not a time of hostility toward outsiders. In fact, observing these traditions offers an incredible window into the depth of local culture.

Here are a few simple tips for navigating Vietnam during this time:

Be Respectful Near Altars: If you see a small table set up on the sidewalk with bowls of porridge and incense sticks, do not step over it, touch the offerings, or kick the burned ash on the ground.

Mind the Ashes: Be mindful when walking past storefronts in the late afternoon. Families often burn paper money in metal buckets or on sidewalk edges, creating small plumes of smoke and floating ash.

Participate with Gratitude: If you visit a local temple during this month, you may be offered a small plastic rose to pin on your shirt. Accept it gracefully. It is a warm invitation to partake in a deeply human celebration of family love.

Don’t Worry About Superstitions: While locals might avoid buying property or planning a wedding, tourists are not expected to follow daily superstitions. Basic travel awareness is all you need.

The Heart of the Ghost Month

At first glance, the Ghost Month reads like an uncanny folk tale – a month shadowed by restless specters, lingering taboos, and the drifting smoke of burnt paper. Yet beneath its eerie veneer, the tradition is undergoing a quiet, cosmopolitan rebirth. As modern Vietnam reaches skyward with high-rise condos and digital innovation, its ancient spiritual landscape is shifting from fear to profound empathy.

For younger generations, Ghost Month is increasingly less about fear and more about remembrance, gratitude, and family connections. | Source: Tuổi Trẻ News

In the bustling arteries of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, glass towers and urban fire regulations have subtly reshaped sacred rituals. The crackle of street fires is yielding to quieter acts of grace: young city dwellers light digital incense on virtual altars, while families swap heavy stacks of paper currency for real charitable donations and warm meals for the living poor. For the younger generation, fear of the unknown has softened into a heartfelt focus on family roots, turning the season into a gentle, Mother’s Day-style tribute to aging parents.

Yet, no matter how bright the city neon shines, the soulful pulse of the season endures. Walk down any alley at twilight during the seventh moon, and you will still catch the sharp, sweet resin of incense hanging in the humid air, a fragrant thread binding two worlds together.

At its core, this month is a grand act of radical compassion. It is a quiet promise that no soul, no matter how lost or forgotten, walks in the dark alone. By feeding both cherished ancestors and nameless wandering spirits, Vietnam offers a timeless lesson to a modern world that moves too fast: that memory is a bridge, kindness has no borders, and love outlasts the grave.

Which Vietnamese City Should You Actually Move To?

Thư Trần — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 05:05:22 +0000

*This guide was written and updated as of August 2026.

Moving to Vietnam is one decision; deciding where in Vietnam to settle is another entirely.

In Ho Chi Minh City, an ordinary Tuesday begins in gridlock traffic and ends at a rooftop bistro that didn’t exist six months ago. In Hanoi, life unfolds around lakes, centuries-old alleyways, and true seasonal shifts. In Da Nang, finishing work and stepping onto the sand before sunset is simply part of your weeknight routine.

Three cities, three distinct ways of living.

For years, people moving to Vietnam relied on a simple formula: HCMC for business, Hanoi for culture, and Da Nang for an affordable beach escape. While there is a grain of truth in those stereotypes, they miss the nuanced realities of daily life, especially as infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and modern working models reshape the country.

And even if Vietnam isn’t entirely new to you, living here can be. A city remembered from childhood, family visits, or a previous chapter abroad may feel very different once work, rent, commuting, healthcare, and everyday routines enter the picture.

Visiting a city as a tourist is about its highlights; relocating to one as an expat is about the mundane realities. Before signing a long-term lease, ask yourself a fundamental question…

What Kind of Life Are You Moving to Vietnam For?

Ho Chi Minh City: Where Opportunity Hits Top Speed

Ho Chi Minh City pairs dense urban life with a rapidly evolving transit network, making where you live increasingly important to how you commute. | Source: Vietnam Tourist

If your primary reasons for moving center on career growth, networking, varied dining, and sheer endless options, Ho Chi Minh City remains the most dynamic starting point.

Housing & Renting: HCMC offers the widest and most variable spectrum of housing. Thao Dien and An Phu remain foreign favorites for their expat-friendly apartment complexes, international schools, and Western-style amenities. District 7 (Phu My Hung) provides suburban-style residential compounds, while Binh Thanh puts you closer to the commercial core with a blend of local and modern living.
Dining & F&B: The defining feature here is choice. Breakfast can be a $1.50 street-side cơm tấm, followed by specialty pour-over coffee, high-end Japanese for lunch, and a craft cocktail at a hidden speakeasy by midnight.

From street-side staples to Japanese dining and fine-dining tables, Ho Chi Minh City’s food scene reflects the sheer range of choices that defines life in the city.

Transit & Connectivity: Ride-hailing apps (Grab, Be, Xanh SM) remain king, but the transit landscape reached a milestone with Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien). Serving over 30 million passenger trips since early 2025, living along the line dramatically cuts commute stress.
Work & Business: HCMC is the commercial heartbeat of Vietnam. The market density is unmatched across tech, fintech, venture capital, advertising, consumer goods, and corporate management.

Best For: Career-driven professionals, entrepreneurs, and those who thrive on big-city energy.

Think Twice If: Traffic noise, dense crowds, and non-stop urban hustle exhaust you.

Hanoi: Living In The Cultural Capital

Though both are major urban centers, Hanoi feels world’s away from HCMC. It is defined by leafy lakes, ancient architecture, and real weather cycles.

Hanoi moves between two rhythms: the restless streets of the Old Quarter and the slower, greener pace around its lakes, all shaped by the capital’s distinct seasons.

Housing & Renting: Tay Ho (West Lake) is the focal point for international residents, offering lakeside apartments, organic cafes, and a close-knit community. Ba Dinh puts you nearer to embassies and government hubs, while neighborhoods like Cau Giay offer high-value local living.
Dining & F&B: Where HCMC wins on breadth, Hanoi excels in depth and routine. Eating here is intimately tied to neighborhood habits: finding your go-to phở stand, frequenting a favorite bún chả courtyard, or grabbing an egg coffee in the Old Quarter.

In Hanoi, food is more than a meal — it is a daily ritual built around familiar streets, family-run stalls, and local favorites like phở, bún chả, and egg coffee.

Transit & Connectivity: Hanoi’s urban rail system features two active routes: the Cat Linh-Ha Dong line and the elevated section of Nhon-Hanoi Station. Positioned well, a metro-adjacent apartment transforms the morning commute.
Work & Business: As the political capital, Hanoi’s economy revolves around government institutions, diplomatic missions, international NGOs, education, and heavy manufacturing hubs in nearby northern provinces.

Best For: Educators, diplomats, NGO professionals, and lovers of history, distinct seasons, and rich heritage.

Think Twice If: Drizzly, cold winters (10°C-15°C) and hot, humid summers sound unappealing in Southeast Asia.

Da Nang: The City That Gives You Room To Breathe

Da Nang offers something rare in modern Asia: a fully functional city scale balanced with immediate access to natural landscape.

Da Nang’s appeal lies in its balance: a modern, livable city where beaches, mountains, and urban conveniences exist within easy reach of everyday life.

Housing & Renting: Desirable beachside enclaves like My Khe and An Thuong feature modern serviced studios and ocean-view high-rises. Moving just across the Han River toward the Hai Chau city center drops rent significantly while keeping you within 10 minutes of the coastline.
Dining & F&B: Central Vietnamese cuisine brings rich regional flavors mì Quảng, bún chả cá, and fresh seafood markets. Alongside local spots, the coastal side hosts a growing collection of vegan cafes, health bars, and international eateries.

Da Nang’s food culture brings together the bold flavors of Central Vietnam, from mì Quảng and bún chả cá to fresh seafood, while its growing dining scene adds modern cafes and international options.

Transit & Connectivity: Da Nang lacks a metro, but it compensates with manageable scale. Commutes across town rarely take more than 15 minutes by electric scooter or cab.
Work & Business: Historically a remote-worker stronghold, Da Nang’s job landscape is shifting. With the opening of the Vietnam International Financial Center alongside local investments in AI and semiconductors, the city is steadily expanding beyond tourism and digital nomadism.

Best For: Remote workers, digital nomads, location-independent founders, and active outdoor lifestyles.

Think Twice If: You are moving without a job and need an expansive local employment market immediately.

Beyond Rent: What Does Daily Life Actually Cost?

Vietnam can still feel affordable compared with many global cities, but your lifestyle matters more than the national average. HCMC generally becomes the most expensive of the three if you choose premium apartments, international restaurants, imported groceries, and frequent nightlife. Hanoi can offer better value depending on the neighborhood, while Da Nang generally gives you more space for your housing budget.

@chocojizi khám phá q1 chưa bao giờ là hết thú vị 😎🫶🏻 #vlog #saigon #jadify #bamienkyuc #quan1 ♬ original sound - chocojizi

The better question isn’t simply “Is Vietnam cheap?”, but “Can I afford the version of Vietnam I want to live in?”

Healthcare, Family, And Community Matter Too

For long-term residents, lifestyle isn’t just about restaurants and rent.

Healthcare & Education: HCMC and Hanoi offer the broadest selection of international hospitals (e.g., FV Hospital, Raffles Medical, Vinmec), specialist healthcare, international schools, and family services. Da Nang covers most everyday needs while offering a quieter lifestyle, though specialist medical or educational options are naturally more limited.
Social Networks: HCMC has the biggest pool of professional and corporate networks. Hanoi’s international community often overlaps with diplomatic, education, NGO, and cultural circles. Da Nang’s smaller scene tends to revolve around remote work, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and outdoor lifestyles.

Essential Living Tips For Expats

Navigating daily life as a long-term foreign resident involves practical mechanics that tourists rarely encounter:

Legal Status & Employment: Entering Vietnam as a tourist and legally working here are two different legal frameworks. Under Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP, work permits and exemptions for foreign workers are governed by specific requirements. Make sure your employer or business entity handles the appropriate paperwork before you start working.
Banking & Foreign Transfers: A local bank account becomes useful for rent, utilities, QR payments, and daily transfers. Requirements vary by bank and immigration status, while sending locally earned income overseas may require documentation proving legal income and tax compliance.
Currency & Payments: Vietnam is increasingly cashless for daily retail through QR bank transfers, but cash remains useful for wet markets, parking, and small street vendors. Learn the polymer notes quickly, confusing VND 20,000 with VND 500,000 is an expensive mistake.
Renting: Don’t judge an apartment from one viewing. Check the neighborhood during rush hour and after dark, ask about management and utility fees, test the internet, and look for nearby construction or flooding risks before signing a long lease.
Micro-Climates Matter: Do not pack for "tropical Vietnam" as if it were a single climate zone. HCMC is warm year-round with distinct wet and dry seasons; Hanoi has cool, damp winters and hot summers; Da Nang combines beach weather with Central Vietnam’s late-year rainy and storm season.
Communication Essentials: Get a local SIM or eSIM registered to your passport soon after arrival. A local number makes ride-hailing, deliveries, banking, and other everyday services much easier.
Language & Respect: You can survive in Vietnam using English, but learning basic Vietnamese changes your integration entirely. Simple phrases like xin chào (hello), cảm ơn (thank you), xin lỗi (sorry/excuse me), and bao nhiêu? (how much?) can bridge everyday cultural gaps.
Safety & Environment: For many newcomers, traffic is a bigger everyday adjustment than crime. Learn how to navigate Vietnamese roads, protect phones and valuables in crowded areas, and understand how your neighborhood handles heavy rain before settling in.

The Final Verdict

Choose Ho Chi Minh City if you want maximum career mobility, non-stop nightlife, and deep networking pools.
Choose Hanoi if you seek historical depth, distinct seasonal changes, and a career anchored in diplomacy, education, or institutional sectors.
Choose Da Nang if you prioritize lifestyle balance, access to the sea, shorter commutes, and already have a stable source of income.

The city that works for you on a sunny weekend also needs to work during rush hour, heavy rain and the ordinary routines that make up most of life. | Source: Tuoi tre news

One final piece of advice: don’t lock yourself into a one-year lease during your first week. Stay somewhere temporary, test your real-time rush-hour commute, buy groceries, walk the neighborhood after dark, and see what happens when it rains.

Whether Vietnam is completely new to you or somewhere you’re returning to, familiarity is not the same as everyday compatibility.

Visiting a city is about what it has to offer; choosing a place to live is about how an ordinary Tuesday feels.

Royal Arctika’s Experimental Approach To Beer Earns Three World Beer Awards 2026 Medals

Thư Trần — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:46:13 +0000

Two Styles, One Spirit Of Experimentation

One beer is crafted for light, easy-going moments at the dining table. Another is a stronger expression, with layers of aroma inspired by long-aged whisky. Royal Arctika began its story with two distinctly different products.

Behind the brand is more than 35 years of brewing experience accumulated across Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Russia. Royal Arctika brings this heritage into two beers from its Polar Signature Collection: Day Chiller 4.7% ABV and Night Strong 6.3% ABV.

Day Chiller is a Light Lager developed with food experiences in mind. The product applies Arctic Frost Effect™, a technology currently undergoing patent registration in Europe, designed to create a refreshing sensation and cleanse the palate between dishes.

If Day Chiller embraces lightness, Night Strong takes an almost opposite approach. This Strong Lager draws inspiration from long-aged whisky, with layered notes reminiscent of whisky, brandy, vanilla, and fermented honey.

One at 4.7%, the other at 6.3%. One designed to complement a meal, the other exploring deeper and bolder flavor profiles. Despite their different directions, both share the same spirit: experimenting with how beer can be created and experienced.

That spirit extends beyond the products themselves.

In 2026, Royal Arctika co-organized Rising Chefs Challenge 2026 with Vietcetera as part of Flavors Vietnam, a platform for young chefs aged 19 to 30 to explore and reinterpret Vietnamese cuisine through their own generation’s perspective.

Joining a culinary platform aligns closely with the direction Royal Arctika is pursuing with Day Chiller: bringing beer closer to food pairing and dining experiences, rather than positioning beer solely as a familiar refreshing beverage.

World Beer Awards And The Search For Outstanding Beers Around The World

These experiments have now earned Royal Arctika a new milestone at the World Beer Awards 2026.

World Beer Awards is part of the World Drinks Awards system, a global competition that selects and recognizes outstanding products across internationally recognized beverage categories.

Introduced by TheDrinksReport.com - an online platform serving beverage industry professionals - World Drinks Awards aims to identify, award, and promote remarkable products to both consumers and the global drinks industry.

Within this system, World Beer Awards focuses specifically on beer. Products are evaluated and awarded according to individual beer styles, allowing different categories of beer to compete within their own groups rather than being ranked in a single overall list.

At the World Beer Awards 2026, both Royal Arctika products received recognition.

Day Chiller 4.7% won a Silver Medal in the Experimental category. Night Strong 6.3% received a Bronze Medal in the same category. According to Royal Arctika, Night Strong also earned another Bronze Medal in the New Launch category, bringing the total achievement to three medals.

Two Beers, Three Medals, And The Meaning Behind “Experimental”

Một Huy chương Bạc, hai Huy chương Đồng là những con số đáng chú ý. Nhưng có lẽ chi tiết thú vị hơn nằm ở chính hạng mục mà cả Day Chiller và Night Strong cùng được vinh danh: Experimental.

The recognition is notable, but the category itself tells an interesting story. Both Day Chiller and Night Strong were awarded in the Experimental category, a reflection of the different directions Royal Arctika is exploring.

Day Chiller experiments by bringing a Light Lager into a culinary setting, creating a beer designed to complement food and refresh the palate. Night Strong explores a different side of brewing, using richer aromas and flavors inspired by whisky, brandy, vanilla, and fermented honey to create a stronger identity.

Two different styles, two different experiences, but both built around the same idea: experimenting with what beer can become.

With Night Strong also receiving recognition in the New Launch category, the awards mark another step as Royal Arctika continues developing its presence in Vietnam.

For Royal Arctika, the three medals at World Beer Awards 2026 represent more than an achievement. They reflect an ongoing exploration of flavors, occasions, and new ways for people to experience beer.

Because choosing a beer is not only about asking “Which one should I drink?” It can also be about asking: When should I enjoy it? What should I pair it with? And how can the experience become something more?

Rising Chefs Challenge is part of Flavors Vietnam 2026. This year's competition is co-organized by Royal Arctika, bringing new culinary experiences while continuing to celebrate Vietnam's vibrant F&B culture.

Rising Chefs Challenge 2026 officially opens for applications from July 12 to August 23, 2026. Apply HERE.The Grand Finale will take place on:
Date: September 18, 2026
Venue: Saigontourist Hospitality College, Ho Chi Minh City
Our sincere thanks to the sponsors and partners of Flavors Rising
Chefs Challenge 2026: Gold Sponsor: Royal Arctika; Bronze Sponsor: SpeedPOS; Trusted Partners: V Horeca, H Cookware, and Lý Gia Viên.

18+ Drink Responsibly.
Please do not share with those under legal drinking age.

The Unexpected Reasons Your Vietnamese Colleagues May Suddenly Leave Work Early

May Ng — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:30:00 +0000

It’s 4:30 p.m. and your Vietnamese colleague is already packing up. No meeting, no announcement, no obvious emergency.

To someone used to strict nine-to-five schedules and formal leave requests, it can be puzzling. But in Vietnam, leaving early doesn’t necessarily mean slacking off. A family ceremony, sudden downpour, or football match can be reason enough, as long as the work still gets done. It’s a flexibility that has rarely challenged the reputation of Vietnamese workers as hardworking, responsible, and committed to getting the job done.

Here is a look inside the real, hyper-local reasons your Vietnamese teammates might suddenly duck out of the office early, building up to the biggest cultural event of them all.

The Sacred Unsaid: Family Obligations That Require No Explanation

In many Western corporate environments, taking time off or stepping away early requires a detailed explanation. You might feel obligated to explain to your boss that your child has a mild fever, your plumber is arriving between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, or you have a dental appointment.

In Vietnam, family structures and filial responsibilities operate on a deeper, often implicit level. The concept of “việc gia đình” (family business) carries immense social and cultural weight.

Family matters in Vietnam encompass a vast array of responsibilities: tending to an aging parent, preparing ancestor worship altars for an anniversary, meeting a relative who just traveled from the countryside, or handling an urgent domestic situation.

Crucially, Vietnamese workplace etiquette respects personal privacy around family matters. When an employee tells their manager, “Em xin phép về sớm vì có việc gia đình” (I request permission to leave early for family business), it is considered rude and micro-managerial to cross-examine them for specifics.

The implicit trust in Vietnamese corporate culture assumes that family obligations take priority when necessary, and that an adult employee will manage their time responsibly to ensure their professional duties are fulfilled regardless. This dynamic reflects the collective nature of Vietnamese society, supporting an employee’s need to care for their family fosters deep organizational loyalty, which yields far better long-term engagement than rigid adherence to desk hours.

The Skies Opened: Monsoons, Extreme Storms, and Urban Flooding

If you come from a city where a heavy rainstorm simply means grabbing an umbrella or taking a slightly slower subway ride, you have yet to experience the sheer apocalyptic power of a Southeast Asian monsoon.

In Vietnam, tropical downpours—especially during the rainy season from May to November—are not merely weather events. They are logistical disruptions that can freeze an entire metropolis within twenty minutes.

In Vietnam, tropical downpours can freeze an entire metropolis within twenty minutes.Source: Báo Chính Phủ

When dark, bruised-purple clouds gather over the city skylines of Saigon or Hanoi, a collective radar goes off in the minds of local workers. They know that once the skies break, key arterial roads will transform into rivers. Scooter engines will ingest water and stall. Alleys will fill up to knee level. A commute that usually takes twenty minutes will instantly stretch into a grueling, two-hour ordeal through exhaust fumes, rising water, and bumper-to-bumper traffic.

When a Vietnamese colleague glances out the window, sees the palm trees whipping in the wind, and starts packing their bag at 3:30 PM, it is an act of pure survival and practical efficiency. They are attempting to outrun the storm front.

In Vietnamese work culture, there is an implicit understanding between managers and employees regarding extreme weather: it is far better to let someone leave thirty minutes early to travel home safely than to force them to sit at a desk until 5:30 PM, only to have them trapped in a dangerous flood. Once home, they will open their laptops and finish their work in safety. If you see the sky turning black, follow your team’s lead, grab your raincoat, and get on the road before the waters rise—unless, of course, your scooter doubles as a speedboat when the streets turn into rivers.

The Bureaucracy Sprint: Navigating the Phường and Municipal Administrative Hours

Anyone working in Vietnam eventually encounters the maze of local administration, whether it is registering a temporary residence, applying for a work permit, or getting a document notarized. But for Vietnamese citizens, dealing with municipal bureaucracy is an ongoing, lifelong necessity.

Anyone working in Vietnam eventually encounters the maze of local administration | Source: Đình Sơn/Thanh Niên

Whether it is updating personal documentation, registering property, handling family administrative books (sổ hộ khẩu historically, now integrated digitally), or acquiring certified true copies (công chứng) of personal documents, everything must be done in person at local ward (phường) or commune (xã) offices.

Here is the catch: government offices in Vietnam operate on strict, traditional administrative schedules. They typically close earlier than private sector offices, often wrapping up public service windows by 4:30 PM, 5:00 PM or even sooner, and they do not open on weekends. Furthermore, queues can be unpredictable, and missing a deadline by ten minutes can push an urgent family transaction back by days.

When your colleague mentions they need to step out early for “lên phường” (ward office business), there is no negotiation. Everyone in the office—from the junior intern to the managing director—knows the drill.

There is an unwritten rule of empathy around these administrative tasks. Managers know that these errands are unavoidable, time-sensitive, and inherently tedious. Nobody takes an early departure for government administrative work as a leisure break. Your teammate will likely sprint through traffic, wait in a crowded waiting room, navigate complex paperwork, and appreciate the company’s flexibility deeply enough to make up for the lost hours later that night.

The Unannounced Gridlock: Event-Based Traffic Meltdowns

Traffic in Vietnam’s major urban centers is a delicate, fluid ecosystem. It relies on a continuous, self-organizing flow of millions of motorbikes. However, that flow is easily disrupted by external events.

It might be a visit from a foreign head of state that prompts sudden police blockades along major thoroughfares like Nam Ky Khoi Nghia or Nguyen Van Troi in Saigon. It could be the route preparation for a marathon, a major infrastructure construction detour, or a high-profile festival happening downtown.

Source: Tỷ Huỳnh/VOV

While foreign colleagues might rely on official news outlets or municipal announcements to stay informed, often published too late or buried in official Vietnamese text, local staff rely on a hyper-connected network of real-time information. A quick update in a family Zalo group, a warning shared on a neighborhood Facebook forum, or a word-of-mouth heads-up from the office security guard can alert the team to a major traffic jam hours before it hits peak time.

When a local colleague realizes that their usual route home is about to be gridlocked by an event, they will leave early to navigate roundabouts and back alleys while they are still passable.

In Vietnam, time management is rarely about adhering rigidly to clock hours; it is about managing energy and efficiency. Sitting idle in a motionless sea of idling motorbikes for two hours serves no one. Leaving early to avoid the gridlock allows your colleagues to arrive home relaxed, grab a meal, and catch up on emails during the evening without burning out.

The Ultimate Priority: When Vietnam’s National Team Plays

While weather, traffic and bureaucracy can explain the occasional early exit, nothing clears a Vietnamese office quite like a big game for the national football team.

Football in Vietnam is more than a sport. When the Golden Star Warriors play, especially in a major final, the match can become a shared national ritual. This year, that means the ASEAN Cup final, when offices, restaurants and cafés across the country may start emptying well before kickoff.

The shift is easy to spot. Morning conversations turn to predictions and lineups. Group chats fill with football banter. By mid-afternoon, the question is no longer whether you’re watching, but where.

Because when Vietnam plays, leaving work early isn’t necessarily slacking. It may simply mean you know where you need to be when the whistle blows.

There’s no rule saying Vietnamese companies have to let employees leave early for a national team match. But when the football fever is high enough, some employers choose to make an exception.

A memorable example came in 2018, when Vietnam’s U-23 team made an extraordinary run at the AFC U-23 Championship in China. The team’s success sparked nationwide celebrations, with some offices closing early or organizing group viewings so employees could watch the matches together.

There’s no rule saying Vietnamese companies have to let employees leave early for a national team match. But when the football fever is high enough, some employers choose to make an exception. | Source: Báo Lao Động

The message is less about a formal workplace policy than a cultural reality: when the national team gives an entire country something to rally behind, even the workday can bend a little.

If you’re new to working in Vietnam, don’t be the person sitting alone in an empty office the next time the national team plays. Grab a red shirt, head out with your colleagues, stay safe, and experience the culture from the inside out.

Ho Chi Minh City Reels In VND524 Trillion in Foreign Capital, DatVietVAC Races Toward HoSE Listing

Genesia Ventures — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:00:00 +0000

Vietnamese AI Startup N2TP Secures Backing From Touchstone Partners

Hanoi-based deep-tech startup N2TP has raised a seed round from Touchstone Partners to scale AI4Science, its platform that applies AI across the scientific research cycle — from hypothesis development and simulation to experiment design and data collection. The company will use the funding to expand its patent portfolio and integrate AI4Science with automated laboratory equipment.

The round follows a productive first year for the four-year-old startup: N2TP has produced 12 research papers, three Q1 journal publications, and seven patent applications over the past 12 months. Its work is concentrated in AI infrastructure, biomedicine, and biotechnology — fields where turning research into protected, commercially viable technology is often harder than the research itself.

N2TP's representative at NIC Scale X, a startup accelerator program backed by the Japanese government. | Source: N2TP Fanpage

That focus points to N2TP's broader ambition: moving beyond applying AI to existing problems and toward building foundational technology and intellectual property of its own. Combining domain expertise in biomedicine and biotechnology with computational capability is a demanding mix for any team, let alone one based in Vietnam, where deep-tech IP development remains nascent. Continued investment in R&D and automated research infrastructure will be the real test of whether N2TP can carry that technology from the lab bench to commercial deployment — and whether Vietnamese deep-tech ventures more broadly can compete on IP rather than just execution.

DatVietVAC Gears Up For $23M IPO, Betting On IP Beyond Traditional Media

Vietnamese media and entertainment group DatVietVAC is preparing to raise around $23.2 million (VND611 billion) through an IPO on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, offering 11.15 million shares and targeting a listing in October 2026. The deal would value the company at roughly $211 million before issuance and $234 million after.

The IPO caps a shift already underway inside the company: DatVietVAC is moving beyond traditional media production toward a broader entertainment ecosystem built around intellectual property, artists, live entertainment, and direct-to-consumer businesses. That evolution is backed by scale — the group has around 270 million digital followers, 67 billion annual views, and more than 2,000 protected IP assets — even as content production remains its main profit driver, generating VND3.2 trillion ($122 million) in revenue and VND379 billion ($14.5 million) in net profit in 2025.

An overview of the Anh Trai "Say Hi" Concert Day 9 - Reply 2024, held this past April. | Source: Anh Trai Say Hi Vie Channel Fanpage

IPO proceeds will go mainly toward the media and entertainment business, including content production and capacity expansion. The listing illustrates a path other established Vietnamese media companies could follow: rather than raising capital purely to produce more content, DatVietVAC is using its existing audience and IP base as the foundation for a more diversified, scalable business — and the public market as the mechanism to fund that next stage.

Banks Are Watching Cash Flow, Not Pitch Decks

One Vietnamese startup grew its bank credit line tenfold in 18 months — from an initial VND3 billion loan to VND8 billion after six months and VND30 billion after a year and a half — simply by giving its bank a clear, growing track record of transactions, cash flow, and repayment.

The case illustrates a pattern many founders overlook: banks typically only enter the financial picture once a startup urgently needs capital, rather than earlier, when a relationship could be built on lower stakes. As the bank gained visibility into the startup's operations and repayment capacity over time, its willingness to extend larger credit lines grew in step. For founders approaching banks, the requirements are specific — a clear business model, realistic financial assumptions, a credible repayment plan that accounts for downside scenarios, and tangible evidence such as signed contracts, payment history, confirmed orders, and actual cash flows.

Ms. Hoang Thi Kim Dung, Country Director of Genesia Ventures Vietnam. | Source: Genesia

That evidence-based approach reflects a partnership between OCB and Genesia Ventures in Vietnam, which connects startups with banking relationships as part of a broader effort to link venture capital and banking perspectives at different stages of a company's growth. For founders, the practical implication is to treat banking as a relationship built over time through real transactions, rather than a source of capital to approach only when cash is running low.

Vietnam-Japan Forum Sets Up UAV Lab, Semiconductor Talent Working Group

Vietnam and Japan are moving to build shared technology infrastructure rather than continue with looser cooperation, with a joint Innovation Hub set to launch at the National Innovation Center (NIC) in Hoa Lac following an Innovation Forum held on August 13.

The hub will serve as a platform for joint R&D, technology testing, incubation, and investment connections between the two countries, spanning semiconductors, startups, and technology research. It will also include a dedicated UAV lab, while NIC and cybersecurity firm ViSecurity will jointly develop a training and testing platform for that sector. In parallel, Vietnam and Japan agreed to form a working group specifically on semiconductor talent development, linking industry needs with the training and research capacity of four major Vietnamese technology universities.

Representatives from Vietnamese and Japanese organizations exchange a cooperation agreement, witnessed by former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung. | Source: CafeF

The initiatives mark a shift from resource and knowledge exchange toward co-development and real-world technology implementation. Whether that shift translates into lasting value will depend on execution: shared spaces, testing infrastructure, and talent programs only create economic impact if startups, universities, and companies actually use them to test, validate, and commercialize technology jointly, rather than treating them as one-off cooperation projects.

HCMC's New Financial Hub Attracts $20 Billion Six Months In

The Ho Chi Minh City International Financial Centre (VIFC-HCMC) has attracted around $20 billion (VND524 trillion) in investment and partnerships in its first six months of operation, while Ho Chi Minh City itself climbed 11 places to rank 84th out of 120 cities in the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 39).

The centre is building out several areas at once — fund and asset management, international capital markets, green finance, fintech, digital assets, and international banking — reflecting an ambition to compete as a regional financial hub rather than specialize narrowly. That ambition now faces its harder test: moving from legal framework-building to generating actual capital flows, financial products, and cross-border transactions.

Delegates propose solutions to draw capital into Ho Chi Minh City's International Financial Centre. | Source: Tin Tuc Newspaper

Whether VIFC-HCMC can make that transition will hinge on how quickly clear regulations, effective regulatory sandboxes, and financial infrastructure mature. If those foundations hold, the centre could open new channels of capital for startups and businesses in Vietnam — but the $20 billion figure and the ranking jump so far reflect early momentum and commitments, not the deeper test of sustained capital flow that lies ahead.

Study Abroad Through A Looking Glass: Trọng Trương on the Things We Don't Talk About When Growing Up Abroad

Thanh Trúc — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 03:34:06 +0000

For many Vietnamese students going abroad, the journey is less of a blank canvas and more of a pre-painted portrait. It is the obvious next step, a path carved out by loving parents who have prepared everything from tuition to expectations since their child’s early years. It is an undeniable privilege, a ticket to the "big ocean". Compared to their peers, they have nothing to complain about, so they pack their bags and head to the airport, even if they don't quite know who they are yet.

But what happens when that obvious choice rushes at you so quickly that, even if you were prepared, the moment the plane takes off, you feel like you've stepped through a looking glass?

Trọng Trương sat with us in an online meeting, sharing the raw, less-talked-about side of studying abroad. At 21, he is a recent graduate of Boston University in Economics and Psychology.

Trọng Vương on the other side of the study-abroad story. | Source: Provided| Source: Provided

On paper, his journey is a textbook study abroad story. But as we spoke, we uncovered a fascinating internal world: a story of a young man who didn't choose his departure, who found his superpower in deep isolation, and who chose to redefine a historically negative cultural term, "đua đòi" (greed/chasing trends), into his personal fuel for growth.

A lot of students spend months counting down the days to their flight, saying emotional goodbyes. But your journey started in a very different, almost bizarre way. You've described it as "waking up in America." What actually happened?

It was completely sudden. It was during COVID-19, and Vietnam was in strict lockdown. I wasn't really attending my online classes. My parents thought I needed a more structured, in-person environment, where I would actually have to show up, go to class, and take responsibility for myself. Since schools in America were still doing in-person classes, they decided that was the right environment for me at the time.

When it happened, I had started grade 11 online, then moved to the U.S. to continue the school year. I didn't even have to pack because they had already packed my bags for me. Literally, the night before, I was in my room in Saigon doing my homework, and the next morning I was on a plane to America, taking a school bus to a brand-new school. My mind was completely blank on the plane. I just had to tell myself: "New life, here we go. There’s nothing I can do about it, so might as well".

When the plane finally landed and you realized this was your new reality, what was that initial adjustment like?

It was a massive culture shock. First of all, the school was a very strict, small Christian school. We had to study the Bible and wear Christian style uniforms every day. It felt so restrictive. I kept breaking down, thinking, "Why am I wearing this? Why can’t I just be free?". I grew up watching American high school movies where everyone looked so cool and free, but my reality was very different.

The school was also highly cliquey. At lunch, everyone sat in rigid, separate groups. The American kids at one table, the basketball players at another, the teachers at their own, and the Asian kids had their own table. Back in Vietnam, I was used to feeling welcome at every table. Suddenly, I didn't know where to go or who to hang out with. I spent grade 11 feeling completely alone.

That level of isolation in high school would make many people want to run straight back home. But instead, you chose to stay in the US for college. What shifted in you?

When high school ended, my parents didn't give me a strict guideline for college. For the first time, the decision was mine. I could have stayed in Virginia near my older brother, but I decided to completely branch out. I chose to move to Michigan because some of my childhood friends from Vietnam were going to college there.

That move was the first time I took ownership of my life. Living in a dorm with my old friends, navigating a "fully white" Western culture where we ate pizza for lunch and had to search the entire town for the only two Asian restaurants. It was an eye-opening, bonding experience.

Being reunited with childhood friends in a completely new environment must have felt like a breath of fresh air. How did that change your perspective on growing up?

It made me grow up very fast. Back home, I had always been the "chill, comfortable" kid. I was content, and I always figured, "My parents have got this, I don't need to worry about anything" . But in Michigan, as I got closer to my friends and listened to their personal struggles, like their complicated family issues, their love lives, their anxieties about the future – I realized that everyone carries their own heavy burdens.

Trọng had always been the "chill, comfortable" kid. | Source: Provided

I started looking at myself and thinking, "I have my own issues, too. Why am I not thinking about them?". I realized that stepping into adulthood is incredibly hard, and I couldn't just coast along anymore. I needed to take real responsibility for my actions. I had been a person who took very slow, steady steps, and suddenly these rapid changes were hitting me. But instead of fearing the fast pace, I realized I actually liked the change. I wanted to become highly adaptable.

Speaking of wanting change, you didn't stay in Michigan. You pushed yourself even further by transferring to Boston University. Why Boston?

Going to BU was actually me keeping a promise to my 9th-grade self . Back in middle school, a friend told me she was going to Boston, and it was the very first university name I had ever heard. I locked it into my mind and promised myself: "No matter what my path looks like, I am going to BU".

Once you arrived in Boston, did it live up to the expectations of that 9th-grade promise?

Transferring to BU was a wholesome time because my friends and family supported me so much with my essays and applications. But once I settled into Boston, I entered what I call my "lonely period".

The last few years of college became deeply impactful, but not in a typical social way. I shifted back to trying to understand myself. I stopped talking to a lot of people and began doing everything alone. I would go to restaurants alone, walk through the city parks alone, and just explore everything by myself. At first, it was incredibly challenging because I always wanted company, but people weren't always free or willing. So I told myself: "Might as well be strong and just explore everything by myself".

Many people find doing things alone, like eating at a restaurant, deeply uncomfortable. How did you handle that discomfort?

I literally started having deep, internal dialogues in my head. When I was cooking or walking, I would split my thoughts and have conversations with my own "frontal lobe". I don't journal because I prefer to keep my thoughts alive in the moment, and I have a very strong memory.

Those conversations helped me understand who I actually was. Before studying abroad, I was always defined by my surroundings and my family. Sitting in that loneliness in Boston was the first time I actually understood my own needs, my own values, and what I wanted out of life. I grew to love that loneliness. It taught me how to be truly free.

Was this "lonely period" purely about seeking independence, or did it also come from a place of not knowing how to bridge the gap with others?

Honestly, it was a mix of both. I didn't know how to open up because sharing my feelings made me feel emotionally weak compared to others. To me, venting about my own struggles can be seen as a form of "đua đòi": chasing towards a common feeling and being relatable, even though my experience might be different or not as serious. I thought, "Everyone has their own heavy burdens, why should I bother them with my emotions? Isn't that just seeking attention?". Because of that, I kept everything locked inside. I lived with the assumption that people simply wouldn’t understand me, so I dismissed my feelings before anyone else could.

I still struggle to share how I feel. I avoid those emotions and seek independence through isolation, finding comfort in loneliness. But sitting alone with my thoughts in Boston made me confront a kind of defeat: carrying everything alone wasn’t making me stronger. Now, I’m trying to be gentler with myself and accept that growth can also mean letting others in.

Speaking of "đua đòi" (greedy/chasing trends), you’ve mentioned in the pre-form interview that your family often used the word "đua đòi" when you were growing up. Culturally, that's a very negative word. How did that word shape your relationship with them?

Yes, I heard "đừng có đua đòi" (don’t chase trends) all the time. In my family, the age gap is massive. My oldest sister is 41, my brother is 32, and I’m 21. My siblings and parents grew up during Vietnam's harder economic times, where the daily focus was strictly on survival, money, and financial security.

Our differences aren't just mental or generational; they are infrastructural and economic. I was born into a different era; I am an "iPhone kid". I grew up with technology and access to a developing, modern world, whereas my family's childhood was vastly different. Because of this, wanting to try new things, buy certain clothes, or visit places like France after seeing them online, my parents would naturally look at it through their survival lens and think I was being "đua đòi". They'd say, "Saigon has everything, why do you need to go to France?". It wasn't that they didn't care; it's just that they didn't understand why I wanted more than basic comfort.

That generational friction is something so many young Vietnamese relate to. How did you learn to take that word, "đua đòi"?

I realized that my family's definition of "đua đòi" came from a place of love and protection. They raised me with the philosophy of "hòa nhập không hòa tan" – to integrate but not dissolve, meaning to adapt to the world without losing your core values.

But as I grew up, I decided to reframe "đua đòi" for myself. Today, it doesn't mean blindly copying others just to fit in. To me, "đua đòi" is a powerful, motive-driven trait—it is the fuel to change, to personalize your life, and to strive for more than just settling. I studied Economics and Psychology at BU because I was genuinely fascinated by what motivates people to chase their desires. I realized that having a healthy "greed for growth" is what prevents us from staying stagnant. It is about having the courage to want more out of life, but wanting it in your own unique, personalized way.

You are now a BU graduate, living out of a suitcase, and planning to travel to almost every state in America. You’ve compared yourself to a bird that has just escaped its cage. Would you fly wherever the wind takes you?

Flying with the wind is simply too easy, I think. I choose to fly against the wind because my life has already had enough sudden storms, and those storms made me strong. I want to use my 20s to face the elements, to struggle, to adapt, and to actively grow, rather than coasting along a comfortable path.

Graduated, unboxed, and ready to fly against the wind. | Source: Provided

But flying against the wind doesn't mean being a wild, irresponsible rebel. It’s a purposeful choice, my choice at least. I actually rushed to graduate from college early specifically because I wanted to help my parents. They are older and tired; they want to retire and travel the world, and they’ve been waiting for me to finish school so I can support them. For the next few years, I am dedicating myself to being a "good child" and putting my own concrete long-term plans on hold to stand by them.

That is my "đua đòi": choosing to live on my own terms, exploring the vastness of the world, while being completely dedicated and responsible to the people who raised me. I want to show that you can carry a fierce desire for independence and a deep sense of family duty at the same exact time.

You have a very strong sense of commitment to the things you choose for yourself. You can be spontaneous about where you want to go, but once you decide on something, you seem almost stubborn about making it happen. You chose Boston University because of a "silly" promise you made in ninth grade, and eventually you found a way to get there. Is that something you recognize in yourself?

(Laugh) Actually, I’ve never told my parents that I went to BU because of a promise I made in ninth grade. To them, choosing a university has to be highly practical and logical. But for me, that promise was a commitment to myself. I actually got rejected by BU the first time, so I chose Michigan, where I already knew people and felt I would be less alone. I also have the chance to experience life in a college town and begin university without spending two years at community college. Still, I never let go of Boston. I had this relentless drive to eventually transfer there.

I think that’s probably the funny thing about me: I’m able to follow my “dreams” and be spontaneous about it.

So with all this constant movement between Vietnam, Boston, Michigan, and various US states, between different purposes to pursue, where do you actually feel a sense of belonging? Where is "home" to you?

I've realized that I don't want a single place called "home" anymore. Living in America for so long, you realize there is no perfect sense of belonging. It’s a constant contradiction, a constant fight between cultures.

If I can't fit in anywhere, I might as well find 20 different places to fit in. I don't want to find a physical spot on a map to call home. To me, home is carried in the people I love. Wherever my friends and family are, that's where I'll be.

And this is the first time I've ever shared these thoughts with anyone, not even my family knows this side of me. In Vietnam, we rarely talk about our inner emotions. When people talk about studying abroad, they only share academic achievements or career milestones.

I chose to do this interview because I want to change that with myself first. I want my friends in Vietnam and America to see this side of me and know that "their" Trọng is not just a chill, carefree kid, but someone who carries deep thoughts and who would love to share and connect more deeply with them. I want to bridge that gap. Maybe this isn't just a reflection of my past, but a beautiful starting point, a way for me to open up, step into a new version of myself, and let the people I love truly see who I am underneath.

To wrap things up, what does your plan to "fly against the wind" actually look like in the immediate future? What are the concrete goals you’re chasing next?

In the very short term, it's a mix of spontaneous travels and hands-on creative projects. My lease in Boston ends on August 31st, and even though I haven't packed a single box, I’m heading to New York, and soon after, I’m off to Seattle, Oregon, Yellowstone, and Alaska. After my travels, I’m heading to Virginia for my brother's wedding in November, and then I’m returning to Vietnam.

Beyond that, I’m still uncertain about the next few years. For now, I’ll be traveling with my parents, learning more about my strengths and skills along the way. I hope to turn what I gain from traveling and spending time with my family into creative projects of my own.

A kid at his very heart. | Source: Provided

I want to use my 20s to face the wind, to struggle, to adapt, and to carry my responsibility to my parents. I’m going to run as fast as I can now so that by the time I'm 30, I can finally "retire" and go back to being that chill, relaxed kid I've always wanted to be.

Giving Photographs A Place To Breathe: Tran Thanh Thao And The Story Behind 224 Space

Thư Trần — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:00:43 +0000

Midway through our conversation, Tran Thanh Thao posed a question that left me in total pause:

“Have you ever gazed at a photo of your family, your friends, or a breathtaking landscape for longer than a single minute?”

I instinctively opened my phone’s library, an archive of over 20,000 moments buried under endless timestamps. I shook my head, knowing very few of us could genuinely say “yes.” We impulsively capture a warm dinner, a getaway, or a cherished face, only to swipe away a second later.

To Tran Thanh Thao, this captures the central paradox of our modern existence: we are flooded with visuals, yet starved of feeling.

After more than 20 years working in creative fields, from advertising and design to event production, Tran Thanh Thao entered photography as a new challenge for herself. She does not see it as a career change, but rather as an extension of her creative journey, making it “more exciting and full of colors.”

Her first solo exhibition, “224 by Tran Thanh Thao - Rebirth,” became the first milestone in her deeper exploration of fine art photography. From there, the number 224 took on another form: 224 SPACE, a dedicated photography-focused art space in Saigon.

We sat down with Thao to explore why images need to step out from behind the glass, the lost art of the lingering gaze, and her modest dream for 224 SPACE: to serve as a quiet gathering place for kindred spirits.

Tran Thanh Thao - Creative Director, Photographer, and Founder of 224 SPACE and NO2 STUDIO | Source: Photographer Do Sy

If Someone Had Never Heard Of You Before, How Would You Introduce Tran Thanh Thao?

I am someone who loves beauty, draws energy from silence, and does not like talking too much about myself.

Between Your Three Roles - Creative Director, Photographer, And Founder - Which One Best Represents Who You Are?

All three are different expressions of the same Tran Thanh Thao. Perhaps each role is simply another way for me to pursue the creative work that I love.

What Brought You To Photography?

After more than 20 years working in creative fields including advertising, design, and event production, there came a moment when I wanted to challenge myself with a new role and a new discipline.

I see photography as a step forward in my own creative journey. As for how far or how long this journey will take, I cannot say. I only know that I will continue doing my best to pursue what I believe in.

“Creative Director, photographer, and founder - all three roles are simply different expressions of Thao.” | Source: Photographer Do Sy

What Did Your First Solo Exhibition, “224 By Tran Thanh Thao - Rebirth,” Mean To Your Journey?

It was the first foundation that encouraged me to go deeper into photography and better understand my personal perspective on fine art photography. Photography has also helped me overcome certain limitations - in my health, in the way I see life, beauty, and even my own capabilities.

But photography did not change my career path. It simply made that journey more interesting and colorful.

“For Thao, photography represents a new step in her ongoing creative journey.” | Source: Photographer Do Sy

You Once Said That Today We “Look At More But Feel Less.” What Experiences Led You To This Perspective?

We are living in a digital age where we exist through images so much that we take them for granted. Creating and consuming images has become incredibly fast and effortless. And when something becomes too abundant, it gradually loses its sense of value.

Have you ever looked at a photograph of your family, friends, or a beautiful landscape for more than a minute?

Long enough to remember the scene, the stories, and the moments behind that image?

If not, it becomes difficult to truly “feel” a photograph. Today, we interact with images in a rather possessive way: creating more, collecting more, treating them almost like physical objects. Yet in the end, many of those images become invisible in our memories.

“Photography has helped Thao overcome certain limitations in her health, the way she sees life, beauty, and even her own capabilities.” | Source: Photographer Do Sy

From The Beginning, What Experience Did You Imagine 224 Space Would Offer Visitors?

I have always believed that simplicity and comfort help bring things closer together. I hope visitors who step into this space will spend more time observing, listening, and having conversations with each photograph.

“Thao believes that simplicity and comfort have a way of bringing people and ideas closer together.” | Source: Photographer Do Sy

What Makes 224 Space Different From A Traditional Photography Gallery Or Studio?

It was created from my emotions, aspirations, questions, and determination. Is that enough to make it different?

That may sound a little dramatic. But honestly, I have never tried to create something simply to be different. What I care about more is creating connection and empathy through photography.

“Honestly, Thao has never tried to create something simply for the sake of being different.” | Source: Photographer Do Sy

How Do Architecture, Lighting, And Sound At 224 Space Shape The Viewer’s Emotions?

A quiet space with focused lighting that highlights each artwork, accompanied by instrumental music and subtle scents… All of these elements are designed to encourage people to stay longer.

And when you stay long enough, you begin to feel deeply enough.

Why Is It Important To Bring Photographs Beyond The Screen?

It is similar to the difference between chatting with someone through Facebook or Instagram and actually sitting together with that person in a beautiful café with music and lighting. It is still the same person, but the experience is completely different.

A photograph is the same.

When it is printed, placed within a physical space, surrounded by light, and given distance from the viewer, our relationship with that image changes. Perhaps the most important thing is still the amount of time we dedicate to it.

During Your First Solo Exhibition, You Were Also Announced As The Leica M11 Ambassador In Vietnam. What Does This Milestone Mean To You?

When I take photographs or choose equipment, I have never thought: “One day, I must become an ambassador.” But if my efforts and dedication are recognized, I feel incredibly grateful and honored. It also becomes motivation for me to continue the journey I have chosen.

“Thao never approached photography or chose her equipment with the thought: ‘I have to become an ambassador.’” | Source: Photographer Pham Quynh

You Once Said 224 Space Is Not Just A Gallery. What Do You Hope This Place Will Become?

I have never thought of 224 SPACE as only a gallery.

To me, this is a space where people who love photography can meet, exchange ideas, and inspire one another. I hope photographers, especially young photographers, will see 224 SPACE as a stop along their creative journey.

Not a place to prove themselves or seek recognition, but a place where they can share perspectives, listen to stories, and continue developing their own voices.

I am a person from Saigon, and I love Saigon.

If 224 SPACE is a small photograph within this city’s photography and art community, I simply hope it will be an image with meaning and its own sense of beauty.

“For Thao, 224 SPACE is more than a space for photography, it is a place where people can meet, exchange perspectives, and inspire one another.” | Source: Photographer Do Sy

After Visiting An Exhibition At 224 Space, What Do You Hope People Will Take Away?

This may sound practical, but I truly hope people will spend more time visiting photography exhibitions. Look at more photobooks.

That is one way photographs can have a life beyond the screens of electronic devices.

I believe photography carries a mission of connection: connecting cultures, connecting lives, and connecting hearts.

This interview was conducted in August 2026.

224 SPACE is a photography-focused art space in Ho Chi Minh City founded by photographer Tran Thanh Thao. Built around three core elements - light, color, and flexibility - the space aims to create an immersive viewing experience where audiences can slow down, observe, and engage more deeply with photography.

Beyond exhibitions, 224 SPACE serves as a creative hub connecting photographers, artists, and visual storytelling enthusiasts through exhibitions, conversations, and photography-related programs.

Slow Food, Fast Talk: The Unshakeable Logic Of Vietnam’s Sub-Dollar Snail Stall

Vũ Anh — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:30:00 +0000

To pull up a low plastic stool in a Saigon alleyway, enveloped in clouds of lemongrass steam and garlic, is to confront a strange culinary paradox. A steaming plate of ốc (snails) arrives at your metal table for 20,000 Vietnamese dong (roughly 80 US cents).

Seafood sold at the price of a bottled soda feels less like a local bargain and more like a statistical impossibility and mistakes. Yet, I've eaten 20,000-dong plates of snails in Vietnam more times than I can count. And, so far, I've been fine.

So what's actually going on?

The Anatomy of a Cheap Shell

To understand the $0.8 dish, one must first realize that snail culture in Vietnam is split into two distinct venue tiers. The financial logic changes entirely depending on whether you are sitting at a sidewalk pop-up, or a fully established, multi-space snail restaurant.

Walk down an alleyway and you will frequently spot humble roadside stalls hanging a flat-rate sign: "Ốc đồng giá 20K" (All snail plates: 20,000 VND). At these micro-outlets, most dishes on the menu hover around 20k because the vendor curated their inventory around accessible species, smaller harvests, and simple preparations. The menu relies on budget-friendly staples and compacted portion sizes. Some exceptional delicacies like small ốc hương or other sea snails might break the flat-rate rule to command 40 – 50,000 dong (around $2).

The menu of these sub-dollar snail stalls rely on budget-friendly staples and compacted portion sizes. | Source: Hạnh Ngân

Step into a standard, full-scale snail restaurant, however, and that entry-level 20k plate vanishes. These larger venues operate on fluctuating daily market rates dictated by shell grade, catch size, and culinary complexity. Here you will find meaty freshwater snails, giant sea snails, and other premium seafood. At a proper restaurant, even the absolute cheapest baseline dish starts around 60,000 dong, with luxury options quickly reaching 150,000 dong or more.

The 20,000-dong dish therefore represents an entirely separate tier of street gastronomy – one built on small portions, modest species, and a flat-rate business model designed for quick, democratic access.

An Edible Form of Punctuation

To an uninitiated foreign diner, a mountain of tiny river snails can feel less like a meal and more like a cruel test of manual dexterity. After five minutes of frantic digging with a bent safety pin, you extract a speck of meat barely the size of a peppercorn. The instinctual tourist reaction is mild outrage: Where is the rest of the food? Why bother for so little reward?

For Vietnamese diners, however, that low-yield frustration is precisely the point. Raised on freshwater harvests, locals possess a lifelong muscle memory for lể ốc—the delicate, almost subconscious art of prying meat from tiny shells. It is a sensory ritual that outsiders frequently misread. Where a foreign palate might demand immediate culinary gratification, Vietnamese snail culture is built entirely around lai rai, the cherished practice of lingering over drinks and small bites where conversation strictly outpaces consumption.

Ultimately, the snail serves as a social tool. A thick steak or a meaty scallop is devoured in minutes, bringing an abrupt, natural end to the table’s momentum. A bowl of tiny snails, by contrast, buys you three hours of uninterrupted gossip.

The Sidewalk Business Model

To understand how a vendor survives on 20,000-dong plates, you have to look past the individual dish and examine the stealthy financial logic of Vietnamese street food. In local restaurant terminology, the cheap snail dish functions as a culinary funnel. It is an entry-level hook designed to draw crowds and fill plastic chairs.

Once a diner sits down, the true profit engine kicks into gear. Nobody visits a snails vendor alone, and virtually nobody stops at a single plate. A table of three will inevitably stack their surface with four or five varieties of shellfish, stir-fried morning glory (rau muống xào tỏi), crusty bánh mì to mop up rich sauces, and, most importantly, multiple rounds of cold beer or iced tea. In street gastronomy, beverages and low-cost side dishes carry the highest profit margins. The 20,000-dong snail plate brings customers through the door; the third round of drinks and garlic butter sauces pay the vendor's rent.

Nobody visits a snails vendor alone, and virtually nobody stops at a single plate. | Source: Thật Thà 95

Underpinning this strategy is a masterclass in hyper-lean operation. Roadside stalls carry almost no fixed overhead. There are no decor budgets, no air conditioning bills, and labor is often kept within the family. Behind the burners, prep work relies on modular kitchen efficiency. A vendor prepares a few universal flavor bases which are then combined interchangeably across various molluscs. This cross-utilization keeps ingredient waste near zero and allows a single cook to pump out dishes in minutes.

By shifting their profit margin away from the main ingredient and onto high-turnover drinks, sides, and sheer table volume, vendors turn what looks like an impossible price tag into a remarkably resilient business.

Then, Again, Cheap Doesn't Automatically Mean Safe

There is, of course, another question lurking beneath all this: Does a sub-dollar price tag compromise safety?

An honest answer is not really. My own experience of eating cheap snails without getting sick is not evidence that all vendors is safe.

Food safety in Vietnam remains a real public-health concern, particularly for street food. In February 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Health reminded street-food businesses that they still have to meet food-safety requirements even though they are not generally subject to the same certification regime as other food establishments. The government also intensified food-safety inspections and prevention efforts in 2026, while the Ministry of Health ordered an investigation into suspected food poisoning linked to street food in Ho Chi Minh City in March.

Like any fresh seafood, snails are only as good as the way they are sourced, cleaned, stored and cooked. A low price does not make them dangerous, just as a higher price does not make them safe. What it does tell you is something about the scale and style of the operation, and makes that improbably cheap 20,000-dong plate actually possible.

How to Eat Shellfish Street-Side Without Regret

If the low price tag still triggers digestive anxiety, the secret to surviving, and thriving in, a 20,000-dong snail vendor lies in reading the street rather than the menu. Local seafood safety relies on a few unwritten, time-tested rules:

First, follow the local crowd, not the stainless steel. In Vietnam's street food economy, high turnover is the ultimate hygiene rating. A chaotic alleyway stall spilling onto the curb with plastic stools and discarded shells means the vendor is cycling through inventory every few hours. Live molluscs never sit long enough to spoil. Conversely, an empty stall where live seafood rests idle in warm basins is best avoided.

Second, stick to piping-hot prep methods. Shellfish at roadside stalls are rarely eaten raw or lukewarm. Order dishes flashed in high-heat woks or boiled to order, like ốc hấp sả, steamed with aromatic lemongrass, ginger, and lime leaves, or ốc xào me, tossed in a bubbling tamarind glaze. The intense heat neutralizes potential pathogens, while pungent roots like ginger and chili double as natural digestives in traditional culinary practice.

Stick to piping-hot prep methods. Shellfish at roadside stalls are rarely eaten raw or lukewarm. Order dishes flashed in high-heat. The intense heat neutralizes potential pathogens. | Source: Châu Dương Hoàng Lâm

Finally, embrace the dipping sauce as a protective partner. The ubiquitous nước chấm ốc—a fiery elixir of fish sauce, kumquat juice, minced garlic, and sliced red chili—is more than just seasoning. Its high acidity and capsaicin act as culinary antiseptics, balancing what traditional Vietnamese medicine classifies as the "cooling" (tính hàn) nature of seafood.

Look for the steam, follow the noise, dip generously, and that sub-dollar plate of snails becomes one of the safest, most memorable culinary rituals in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The Insider’s Playbook: How to Order Like a Local

Once you accept that cheap seafood isn't inherently dangerous, pulling up a plastic chair becomes an art form that one built on knowing which shells offer the best value and which preparations to avoid.

If you are stepping up to a neighborhood 20k stall for the first time, here is my recommendation:

The Safe, Non-Negotiable Baseline (Nghêu hấp sả): Clams in Vietnam are cheap, abundant, and exceptionally mild on the stomach. Steamed to order over high heat with lemongrass and red chili, they provide a clean, comforting starter with virtually zero health risk.
The Carby Heavyweight (Mì gói xào ốc móng tay): Razor clams (ốc móng tay) offer significantly more meat than round mud snails. Flashed in a searing wok with instant noodles, morning glory, and crispy fried garlic, this dish transforms a leisurely snacking session into a satisfying, legitimate meal.
The Smart Value Swap (Sò dẹo over Chem chép): Small mussels (chem chép) can quietly creep up to 40,000 or 50,000 dong even at flat-rate stalls. Skip them in favor of sò dẹo (grooved cockles)—they are meatier, cheaper, and delicious when charred over open charcoal with sizzled green onion oil (mỡ hành) and crushed peanuts.
The Sauce Vehicle (Ốc mỡ xào me): Mud snails (ốc mỡ) tossed in a thick tamarind glaze are a street classic. The mandatory pro move here is ordering a fresh, warm bánh mì on the side to mop up every drop of the sweet-and-sour glaze long after the shells are picked clean.
Handling the Premium Shell (Ốc hương xào tỏi): If you decide to splurge on revered sweet sea snails (ốc hương), skip the trendy salted-egg yolk sauce (sốt trứng muối). Budget stalls often struggle with rich emulsion sauces, resulting in a greasy mess. Instead, order them xào tỏi—flash-fried with fragrant minced garlic. It lets the crunchy texture and natural sweetness of the expensive mollusc shine without inflating the bill.

On nights when dinner plans fall through, I head down to Tôn Đản Street in Saigon’s District 4, a vibrant strip packed with five or six competing sub-dollar stalls. My standard setup costs roughly $2 USD: a plate of mì gói xào ốc móng tay (stir-fried instant noodles with razor clams) for 30,000 dong, alongside a steaming bowl of nghêu hấp sả (steamed clams with lemongrass) for 20,000 dong. On nights when I am feeling luxurious, I’ll add an order of garlic sweet snails.

My humble dinner with a plate of stir-fried instant noodles with razor clams for 30,000 dong, alongside a steaming bowl of steamed clams with lemongrass for 20,000 dong. | Source: Vũ Anh

And just like that,the sub-dollar price tag stops feeling like a gamble and starts looking like the smartest dinner in Saigon.

Drinks, Bites And Everything In Between: A Guide To Drinking And Snacking Your Way Through Vietnam

May Ng — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:35:00 +0000

As dusk falls across Vietnam, sidewalks bloom with low plastic stools, ice-cold beers, and the aroma of sizzling woks. If you are traveling during a national holiday, getting pulled into one of these bustling gatherings is practically inevitable, whether by new acquaintances, welcoming locals, or simply sharing a packed table in a crowded alleyway.

This is the world of nhậu, a celebrated social ritual centered on lively conversation, cold drinks, and an endless progression of savory snacks (mồi). If you find yourself pulled up to a stool this holiday season, here is your essential guide to navigating the table and ordering like a local.

Understanding the Philosophy of Nhậu

To understand why food plays such a central role in Vietnamese drinking culture, one must understand the unwritten rules of the table. In Vietnam, drinking without eating is considered a missed opportunity, if not an outright mistake. Alcohol is rarely, if ever, consumed in isolation.

The concept of mồi nhắm refers specifically to foods designed to accompany alcohol. Unlike heavy main courses meant to fill you up quickly, these dishes are engineered for slow, continuous grazing over several hours. They strike a delicate balance of contrasting textures (crunchy, chewy and crispy), and bold, punchy flavors powered by garlic, chili, lime and fish sauce. The acidity cuts through the richness of fried foods, the spice sparks thirst for another cold sip, and the protein ensures that no one succumbs too quickly to the effects of the drinks.

Equally important is the communal spirit of the table. Communal dishes are generally placed in the center of the table, meant to be shared rather than claimed individually. Everyone takes small portions with their chopsticks, creating a shared rhythm that encourages conversation to flow as freely as the drinks.

Classic Dishes You Must Try

While every region and venue boasts its own specialized menu, certain classic dishes have earned legendary status across the country as the ultimate mồi. If you find yourself holding a menu at a local drinking spot, these options represent the absolute gold standard.

Sụn Gà Chiên Nước Mắm: Deep-Fried Fish Sauce Chicken Cartilage

If there is a single dish that captures the essence of modern Vietnamese drinking culture, it is deep-fried chicken cartilage tossed in caramelized fish sauce. Taken from the knee joint or breastbone of the chicken, this cut offers a unique textural experience that Western dining often overlooks.

The deep-fried chicken cartilage tossed in caramelized fish sauce is the most common snack to pair with drinks. | Source: iStock

The cartilage is lightly coated in cornstarch and flash-fried until the exterior shatters upon impact, while the center retains a satisfying, resilient crunch. Once fried golden, the cartilage is tossed in a piping-hot wok with a sticky, aromatic glaze made of high-grade fish sauce, butter, garlic, sugar, and sliced chilies. Scallions and sweet onions are folded in at the very last second to retain their crispness.

The result is an addictive combination of crunch, savory richness, and garlic aroma. The intense umami profile of the caramelized fish sauce pairs effortlessly with crisp, ice-cold local lagers, making this plate the ultimate opener for any evening out.

Khô Bò, Khô Gà Vắt Chanh: Spicy Dried Beef and Chicken Jerky with Fresh Lime

When a table wants something simple to nibble on while deep in conversation, dried meats are the default choice. Vietnamese jerky differs significantly from its Western counterparts, opting for thin, aromatic shredding rather than thick, smoky strips.

Khô bò consists of lean beef marinated in five-spice powder, chili flakes, lemongrass, and garlic before being dried and shredded into tender, ruby-red threads. Khô gà lá chanh features hand-shredded chicken breast dried with fragrant, shredded kaffir lime leaves and chili, resulting in a lighter bite with a distinct herbal aroma.

Jerky tastes much better with fresh lime or kumquat juice. | Souce:

What elevates these simple bar snacks from packaged bites to proper culinary offerings is the addition of fresh lime wedges or kumquat juice. Squeezing fresh lime juice over the dried meat just before eating transforms the dish instantly. The sharp, vibrant citrus acidity cuts through the concentrated sweetness and heat of the spice rub, waking up the palate and keeping your appetite sharp between drinks.

Nem Chua: Fermented Cured Pork with Garlic and Chili

For food lovers seeking a deep dive into traditional preservation techniques, fermented pork rolls represent one of the most intriguing bites on the menu. Originating as a regional specialty from central and northern provinces like Thanh Hoa, this fermented delicacy has become a staple at drinking tables nationwide.

Fermented pork rolls represent one of the most intriguing bites on the menu. | Source: Thế giới Di Sản

Made from finely minced lean pork mixed with thin ribbons of boiled pork skin, roasted rice powder (thính), garlic, and fresh guava leaves (lá ổi) or đinh lăng leaves, the mixture is tightly wrapped in banana leaves and left to ferment naturally for a few days. The natural lactic acid fermentation cures the meat without heat, giving it a distinctive sour tang, a firm yet springy texture, and a pale pink hue.

Typically served unwrapped on a platter alongside fresh cloves of raw garlic, fiery bird's-eye chilies, and aromatic herbs, each bite offers an explosion of flavor. The sourness of the cured pork acts as a natural palate cleanser, while the bite of raw garlic provides a sharp kick that cuts right through the yeastiness of cold beer or traditional grain spirits.

Đậu Tẩm Hành: Crispy Fried Tofu in Scallion Fish Sauce

A beloved staple across Vietnamese homes and roadside bia hơi joints, đậu tẩm hành proves that humble ingredients can create some of the absolute finest snacks on the menu. This classic dish takes simple blocks of fresh tofu and transforms them into an addictive, aromatic bite engineered specifically to go with cold beer.

Crispy fried tofu in scallion fish sauce is some of the absolute finest snacks on the menu. | Souce: Đường Tường Sơn/FB

Fresh tofu is cut into thick cubes and deep-fried in bubbling oil until the exterior turns a vivid golden hue with a delicate, crackling crust, while the center remains pillowy and soft. The real artistry happens immediately upon removal from the fryer: while still scorching hot, the tofu is dunked straight into a bowl of savory-sweet fish sauce heavily laden with finely chopped raw scallions. The intense residual heat of the tofu instantly blanches the green onions, softening their raw edge and releasing an intoxicating herbal aroma into the warm, seasoned dip.

The resulting dish offers a wonderful textural contrast—crispy on the outside, silky on the inside, and drenched in a warm, fragrant scallion glaze. It is comforting, rich yet light enough to graze on for hours, making it a timeless favorite across drinking tables countrywide.

Xiên Bẩn Mắm Tỏi: Street-Style Fried Meatballs in Garlic Fish Sauce Glaze

Xiên bẩn is a colloquial Vietnamese term for a category of inexpensive, street-style fried skewered snacks, including fish balls, beef balls, shrimp or seafood balls, sausages, and other bite-sized processed foods. These snacks are particularly associated with street vendors, school areas, markets, and casual late-night food stalls, where they are popular among students and young diners.

Street-style fried skewered snacks can be an excellent treat paired with your beer. | Source: Nhanh

A typical serving features a colorful assortment of bite-sized foods—such as fish balls, beef balls, sausages, seafood balls, and tofu—fried in hot oil until crisp and lightly golden. The skewers are commonly served with dipping sauces such as chili sauce, dark soy-based sauce, or saté.

For a sauced version, the fried skewers can instead be tossed in a savory-sweet glaze made with fish sauce, garlic, chili, and sugar. The sauce clings to the crisp exterior, adding a punch of salty, sweet, spicy, and aromatic flavor.

The result is quintessential Vietnamese street-food comfort: inexpensive, casual, crunchy, intensely savory, and designed for sharing. It is best enjoyed hot, either straight from the fryer or tossed with the garlic fish-sauce glaze and eaten from the skewer.

Mực Chiên Nước Mắm: Crispy Garlic Fish Sauce Squid

Seafood plays a monumental role in coastal and riverfront drinking spots, and fried squid tossed in garlic fish sauce is widely considered the pinnacle of maritime snack.

Kitchens prepare this dish using either fresh baby squid or semi-dried squid (mực một nắng)—a local delicacy sun-dried for a single day to yield a tender yet satisfyingly toothsome chew. The squid is scored to allow heat and marinade to penetrate deeply, lightly dusted, and fried until the edges curl and crisp up. It is then wok-tossed with minced garlic, crushed red chilies, spring onions, and a rich fish sauce reduction that coats every fold of the meat.

The natural sweetness of the squid contrasts beautifully with the pungent, caramelized garlic coating. This make a super drink snack. | Source: Dân Trí

The natural sweetness of the squid contrasts beautifully with the pungent, caramelized garlic coating. Because it is rich, savory, and aromatic, it is a dish that invites slow, deliberate pacing. Take a piece, enjoy the chew, take a sip of your drink, and repeat.

Expanding the Table: Shellfish, Greens, and Balance

While fried and dried snacks form the backbone of the menu, an authentic gathering rarely stops there. As the night progresses, a well-curated table expands to include a wider spectrum of temperatures, cooking techniques, and ingredients.

Shellfish venues represent an entire ecosystem within drinking culture. Sitting down at a dedicated street vendor offers access to an array of sea snails, clams, and scallops prepared in countless ways. Scallops grilled over open charcoal with scallion oil and crushed roasted peanuts deliver a smoky, nutty richness. Clams steamed in a light broth infused with crushed lemongrass, ginger, and chilies provide a clean, warming break from heavier fried dishes.

To prevent sensory fatigue from intense savory flavors, locals always balance the table with a plate of fresh greens or simple stir-fried vegetables. Morning glory stir-fried with generous amounts of crushed garlic is almost mandatory. The bright green, hollow-stemmed vegetable absorbs the savory wok aromatics while providing a clean, refreshing crunch that keeps the overall meal light and digestible.

Liquid Companions: What to Drink with Your Snacks

Understanding the food is only half the equation; knowing how drinks are served and paired completes the experience.

The Ice Culture and Local Lagers

If you order a beer in Vietnam, expect it to arrive alongside a bucket of solid ice cylinders or a large block placed directly into your glass. To Western visitors accustomed to cellar-temp ales or ice-free pints, putting ice in beer might initially seem unusual. However, in Vietnam's warm climate, it is a brilliant practical innovation.

Beer with ice is common in Vietnam. | Souce: Vietnam Airline

Ice serves two functions: it keeps the beverage ice-cold during long outdoor sessions and dilutes the alcohol slightly, allowing people to pace themselves across hours of socializing without getting overwhelmed. Local light lagers are specifically brewed to pair well with ice, maintaining a crisp, refreshing profile that cuts through spicy and fried foods seamlessly.

The Craft Beer Revolution

Over the past decade, Vietnam, particularly cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, has transformed into one of Asia's most dynamic craft beer hubs. Modern venues now specialize in pairing local flavors with innovative brews.

Craft beer is the trend embraced by young people. | Source: Pasteur Street Brewing Company

The pairing possibilities are endless: a light, tart Gose crafted with local passion fruit balances the sour fermentation of cured pork rolls, while a punchy double IPA cuts cleanly through the caramelized garlic glaze of fried chicken cartilage.

Rice Spirits and Botanical Infusions

For more traditional gatherings, high-proof rice liquors take center stage. Clear, unaged rice spirits offer a clean flavor that acts as a canvas for house-made infusions featuring plum, ginseng, or local herbs. These spirits are poured into tiny shot glasses and consumed collectively as part of group toasts rather than sipped individually.

Navigating the Table: Etiquette for First-Timers

Joining a table for the first time can feel overwhelming due to the energy and noise, but keeping a few basic cultural etiquette rules in mind will ensure you fit right in.

First, remember that drinking is entirely synchronised. It is unusual to take a sip from your glass completely alone. Instead, wait for someone to initiate a toast, or catch the eye of a neighbor, raise your glass, and initiate one yourself.

The classic local toast is a rhythmic, chanted ritual that builds excitement across the table. Someone will call out the countdown: "Một, hai, ba, zô!" (One, two, three, drink!). On the word zô, everyone clinks glasses in the center before taking a drink together.

@ama.vietnam.blog 1 2 3 Dô!! This is how most Vietnamese cheer when drinking. We raise our glasses, shout 1-2-3 Dô (literally “1 2 3 Cheers”), and take a sip, or go straight bottoms up! And yes, we do this every single time we sip. 😂 If you ever visit Vietnam, join the locals and enjoy the vibes of our drinking culture. 😎 #vietnam #vietnameseculture #123do #123cheers #vietnamesedrinkingculture ♬ original sound - Ama.vietnam

When clinking glasses with someone older or held in high esteem, local custom suggests holding your glass slightly lower than theirs using both hands as a subtle sign of respect.

Finally, pace yourself. The ultimate goal of a Vietnamese evening is not rapid consumption, but sustained togetherness. Eat plenty of đồ nhắm, drink plenty of water alongside your beverages, take breaks to talk, and enjoy the communal atmosphere.

Pulling Up a Stool

At its heart, exploring Vietnam’s drinking and snacking culture is about far more than just enjoying delicious street food and cold beverages. It offers an authentic window into the warm, generous, and deeply communal spirit of Vietnamese everyday life.

Whether you find yourself tucked into a bustling alleyway in Hanoi or sitting along a river breeze in Saigon, pulling up a low plastic chair, sharing a plate of garlic-glazed mồi, and joining in a cheerful chorus of toasts is one of the most memorable ways to experience the country. The food is bold, the drinks are cold, and the table is always open to newcomers.

Nguyen Phuoc Khanh: The Man Who Doesn’t Direct Shows, But Designs What Remains

Cao Vy — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:06:28 +0000

Nearly two decades ago, when the events industry was largely measured by the scale and spectacle of a single night, Nguyen Phuoc Khanh chose a different path — one that began with a question few others were asking: Is an event that runs smoothly the same as one that truly leaves something behind?

It would take far more space than this article allows to list all the projects Khanh has worked on. From corporate events and artistic productions to MICE experiences, Nguyen Phuoc Khanh has consistently pursued one belief: "We don’t create events. We create experiences."

That perspective has guided Khanh and 2RES Event Agency through nearly 20 years of disciplined craft, resilience, and a belief in sustainable creative value. For every project, he follows one standard: every touchpoint must be clear, consistent, and refined enough to withstand scrutiny down to the smallest detail, what he calls “high resolution.”

As the Founder & CEO of 2RES Event Agency, Khanh also takes on the role of Live Experience Director, an approach that places the audience’s entire journey and emotional experience at the heart of every event.

In 2026, he and the 2RES team were recognized at The Marketing Events Awards in Singapore, marking a significant milestone for a Vietnamese event agency on the Asia-Pacific stage.

Audiences rarely see the experience blueprint, the countless rehearsals, or the hundreds of decisions made behind the scenes. But for Nguyen Phuoc Khanh, it is precisely these unseen details that shape what audiences ultimately feel. And after 20 years in the industry, this remains the question he continues to pursue: What should an event do for a brand beyond simply running successfully?

To understand that answer, perhaps we should begin with a moment that remains deeply personal, a moment Khanh still remembers vividly after nearly two decades.

Nguyen Phuoc Khanh is the Founder & CEO of 2RES, with nearly 20 years of experience in the events industry. He is among the pioneers in shaping the role of Live Experience Director in Vietnam and, together with the 2RES team, won recognition at The Marketing Events Awards 2026 in Singapore. | Source: Photographer Tran Thanh Thao and the No2 Studio team

There is one question Nguyen Phuoc Khanh has never been asked throughout his nearly 20 years in the industry: Which moment still gives you goosebumps whenever you think back on it?

He paused for a long time before answering.

“It was one evening when the stage lights had just gone out. It wasn’t a technical issue. It was a deliberate decision written into the script, three seconds of complete silence among hundreds of people. No music. No host. No visual effects. Just darkness, and a face slowly appearing on the giant screen.

At that moment, my intention was simple: I wanted to capture the audience’s emotions and curiosity. Those three seconds of silence were a test, silence in a crowd always creates a certain tension. And that empty space forces people to pay attention, to wonder what is about to happen next.

I stood in the technical control area, watching the countdown clock and holding my breath as if it were my first day in the industry. For those three seconds, the entire room fell silent in the same rhythm.

It was only later, looking back, that I realized what I had created. Those three seconds were not merely a staging technique. They were the first time I truly created a live experience for an audience, a moment when they were not just watching, but genuinely experiencing it with us.”

That realization, born from a small stage experiment, gradually became the guiding principle of his career: an event has never been the destination. An event can end on time, follow the script, and stay within budget, but what a brand truly needs is not simply a successful evening. It is for attendees to carry with them emotions, images, and messages that linger long after the lights have gone out.

“That night, I knew I would never look at this work as simply ‘organizing an event’ again. I was creating something that would remain with people.” | Source: Photographer Tran Thanh Thao and the No2 Studio team

Before Becoming A CEO

Before becoming the CEO behind nearly two decades of 2RES, Khanh was once a young person standing backstage at a major production, not because he dreamed of working in events, but simply because he needed a job.

His biggest fear at the time was simple: that he was just an unnecessary piece in the machine - someone replaceable.

The events industry had no clear educational path. There was no degree that could prove someone’s ability. The only way to learn was by being in the right place, at the right moment, and making sure nothing went wrong.

Then one evening, just before a show began, a piece of equipment malfunctioned. Khanh watched the entire team handle the crisis within minutes. The audience below never knew anything had happened. That moment changed something in him.

He realized this was not just behind-the-scenes logistics. It was a profession that required judgment, composure, and responsibility. Years later, another question began following him. He had worked on events that were executed perfectly - the schedule was right, the process was right, everything went according to plan. Yet one week later, nobody remembered anything.

That question became the beginning of a belief: An event could be more than what the market expected it to be. And that belief eventually became the foundation of 2RES.

I didn’t establish 2RES because I believed we could do things better than everyone else. I built it because I believed an event could leave something behind in people, instead of simply passing by in one evening.

2RES is an experience and brand activation agency with nearly 20 years of expertise in corporate events, entertainment & arts, and MICE in Vietnam. | Source: Photographer Do Sy

The Cost Of Saying No

The journey of 2RES has been shaped not only by what Khanh chose to pursue, but also by what he chose to reject. One of the company’s earliest turning points came when Khanh and his team decided to stop accepting every project simply because “there was a brief.”

They began becoming more selective. Instead of starting with:
“What do you want us to produce?” They started with: “What problem does your brand need to solve?”

That decision led Khanh to a belief that, by his own admission, cost 2RES many potential contracts: A bigger budget does not automatically create a better experience.

“Many clients come to us believing that if they invest more money, the experience will automatically become better. But I have seen too many large-scale events with enormous budgets where nobody remembers a single detail after a week. At the same time, I’ve seen smaller productions create genuine emotional connections that stay with people for years.”

“The difference is not the number on the budget. It is whether every touchpoint has been intentionally designed.”

That belief came with a price.

“There was a period when I turned down a very large project because the client only wanted a spectacular evening. They were not interested in discussing what that experience would leave behind for their brand.”

“In the short term, we walked away from significant revenue. But I believed that if we accepted it, we would only be selling time and manpower, not practicing the craft we truly believed in.”
For Khanh, this is what “high resolution” means: caring about every small detail.

“The difference is not the number on the budget. It is whether every touchpoint has been intentionally designed.” |Source: Photographer Tran Thanh Thao and the No2 Studio team

From the way a guest is welcomed at the entrance, to the atmosphere they feel when they step into the space. Because in his view, an experience is not created by one grand moment. It is built through hundreds of small decisions that people may never consciously notice, but will remember emotionally.

A Philosophy That Became A Profession

In the events industry, the person responsible for leading creative direction, technical execution, and overall production is often referred to as an Event Director or Show Director - titles borrowed from theater and television.

But at some point, Nguyen Phuoc Khanh realized those titles no longer fully described the work he was actually doing.

“An Event Director answers one question: Does the show run according to the script? Does it start on time? Does it follow the process?”

“Those are operational questions. They focus on what happens on stage.”

“But the real work my team and I do goes beyond that. It is about designing the entire experience journey from the moment someone enters a space, interacts with the content, feels the atmosphere, and eventually leaves the event. Every moement throughout that journey needs to be intentionally designed.”

In the events industry, the role overseeing the entire creative, technical, and operational team is often referred to as an Event Director or Show Director, titles borrowed from the worlds of stage and television. But at a certain point, Khanh realized that these titles no longer fully described the work he was actually doing.

“An Event Director answers a set of questions: Is the show running according to script? Is it on time? Is everything following the right process? These are operational questions, and they tend to focus on what happens on stage. But the work my team and I actually do goes beyond that. It is about designing the entire experience journey - from the moment a guest enters the space, interacts with the content, and experiences the atmosphere, to the moment they leave. Every moments along that journey needs to be designed with intention.”

That realization led Khanh to define his role at 2RES as Live Experience Director. He explains this perspective through an analogy with the resolution of a photograph: a low-resolution image may look beautiful from a distance, but once enlarged, the details begin to break apart. Many events work the same way. From afar, they may appear impressive, but when examined closely, the smaller touchpoints can lack consistency.

For Khanh, “high resolution” means paying attention to even the smallest details - from the way a staff member greets a guest to the atmosphere they feel when they first walk through the door.

This way of thinking eventually led a 2RES project to win at The Marketing Events Awards 2026 in Singapore - an international recognition of a philosophy that is inherently difficult to quantify.

At The Marketing Events Awards 2026 in Singapore, 2RES was honored with a Silver Award alongside other event agencies from across the region in the Best Recurring Event category for Google Asia Pacific’s Google Marketing Live 2025 – Southeast Asia, recognized for its approach to designing a holistic brand experience journey rather than simply delivering an event.

The Legacy Lives In The First Question

If he were to start over today, Khanh says there are many things he would do differently - operations, technology integration, even his approach to people management in the early years. But one thing he would never alter: the unwavering conviction that an event is never the end goal, but a medium to build something that lasts.

“The tools of the trade will continue to evolve. But the question I ask after the lights go out - ‘What will people carry away with them?’ - is one I know I would ask in exactly the same way, no matter when I started.”

And if there is one message he wants to leave for the next generation of Live Experience Directors at 2RES, the ones who will write the chapters ahead, he points back to that three-second silence in the dark from the beginning of the story.

"In some professions, success is measured by revenue. In ours, I believe it should be measured by the number of times a stranger in the crowd sheds a tear over something genuine, rather than a stage gimmick...

My only wish for the next generation is to hold onto one fundamental rule: Never ask 'how do we make this grander?' before asking 'what will this leave behind?' If you keep those questions in the right order, everything else technology, budgets, scale will serve as tools to support the purpose, and never be mistaken for the purpose itself.

About 2RES

2RES is an event and brand experience agency with nearly 20 years of experience in corporate events, entertainment, arts, and MICE experiences in Vietnam.

The $1.3B Paradox: Why Global Beverage Chains Keep Struggling In Vietnam

Lê Lang — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:34:00 +0000

Vietnam is a nation fueled by drinks.

Coffee is a fundamental socio-economic institution. Cafés across the country double as remote offices, informal boardrooms, and neighborhood social hubs. Tea culture is equally pervasive, and milk tea has firmly anchored itself as a staple among younger demographics. Crucially, Vietnamese consumers are increasingly trading up, demonstrating a strong willingness to pay premium prices for specialty beans, artisanal brews, and elevated atmosphere.

A specialty coffee shop in Hanoi. | Source: Skylar Lindsay

On paper, this environment represents an investor’s dream. In 2025, Vietnam’s modern coffee and tea chain market reached an estimated valuation of $1.34 billion, solidifying its position as the third-largest market in Southeast Asia. Sector expansion continues to outpace regional averages, with coffee chains accounting for $725 million (up 27% year-on-year) and tea chains reaching $617 million (up 28%).

Yet this booming demand is precisely what makes Vietnam one of the most hostile operating environments for international beverage franchises.

The core challenge for foreign entrants is market displacement. The issue is neither a lack of consumer spending power nor an aversion to global brands. Rather, foreign chains are entering a mature, hyper-localized ecosystem where consumer preferences are deeply entrenched, domestic competitors are remarkably agile, and an exceptional cup of coffee can be purchased on almost any city block.

For global beverage franchises, there are many ways to fail in Vietnam.

Starbucks: When Global Prestige Surrenders to Local Craft

When Starbucks launched in Ho Chi Minh City in 2013, its primary asset was not its roast profile, but its brand halo. The iconic siren cup offered Vietnamese consumers a tangible slice of Western cosmopolitan status: a clear, aspirational step up from traditional neighborhood cà phê stalls.

A decade later, that status moat has effectively evaporated. The strategic limits of relying on global brand equity in Vietnam are starkly visible in market footprint numbers. By the end of 2024, Starbucks had managed to expand to just 125 stores nationwide. By contrast, domestic market leader Highlands Coffee reached 985 locations by year-end 2025, while mass-market player Milano Coffee claimed a footprint of roughly 2,500 units.

The fundamental challenge facing Starbucks is not simply that its light, Arabica-heavy menu contrasts with Vietnam’s strong Robusta tradition. The broader structural shift is that Vietnam’s domestic coffee ecosystem has premiumized from within.

A menu in a Starbucks outlet in Vietnam. | Source: @stevenbng/Threads

As a global coffee-producing powerhouse, Vietnam has built a sophisticated indigenous café culture around signature serves like cà phê sữa đá, bạc xỉu, coconut coffee, and egg coffee. Today, a wave of domestic specialty roasters and third-wave operators is elevating those foundations. Hanoi’s recent recognition as the No. 2 coffee city globally in Food & Wine’s 2026 Global Tastemakers Awards underscores how aggressively local operators are winning on craft, experimenting with high-grade local Robusta, artisanal roasting, and modern conceptual design.

This domestic elevation fundamentally alters the consumer value equation. Where customers once faced a simple trade-off between a cheap, informal local coffee stall and an expensive, polished international brand, today’s market presents a much more competitive matrix. A consumer allocating 80,000 to 100,000 VND (approx. $3.20–$4.00) for a drink is no longer paying purely for status at a global chain. They can spend that exact same discretionary budget at a homegrown specialty café offering superior bean provenance, distinct localized flavor profiles, and a far more tailored hospitality experience.

A menu from a specialty coffee in HCMC. | Source: TripAdvisor

Under this new dynamic, Starbucks is no longer the default standard for premium coffee; it must actively explain why its standardized global offering commands a price premium over superior local craft.

Compounding these core product-market challenges are geopolitical headwinds. As a high-visibility American multinational, Starbucks has absorbed consumer boycotts linked to geopolitical conflicts, introducing macro reputational risks that domestic competitors never have to manage.

Starbucks remains viable, however, crossing its 150th store milestone in January 2026 while pivoting toward second-tier cities and incremental menu localization.

Chagee: Flawless Product Alignment, Severe Geopolitical Friction

If Starbucks illustrates the challenge of product-market mismatch, Chinese tea titan Chagee represents a far more complex strategic failure: achieving near-perfect product alignment while incurring catastrophic brand liability.

On paper, Chagee’s market entry playbook was built for success in Vietnam. Founded in Yunnan in 2017, the chain built its enterprise model around modernizing traditional Eastern tea culture, scaling to 7,453 global stores by the end of 2025. Unlike Western coffee chains attempting to shift local habits toward Arabica, Chagee’s core portfolio of premium, fresh-milk teas naturally aligned with regional palate preferences and existing tea-drinking routines.

Yet Chagee ran into a structural wall completely unlinked to product quality or supply chain execution.

In March 2025, during a pivotal expansion phase, Vietnamese consumers discovered that Chagee’s official digital channels displayed imagery containing China’s controversial "nine-dash line", a direct violation of national sovereignty sentiment in Vietnam. The backlash was instantaneous: an intense viral boycott erupted, and the company's proprietary app was swiftly removed from domestic app stores.

This crisis exposed a fundamental vulnerability in consumer lifestyle branding, shifting the corporate challenge from product merit to baseline social acceptability. While Starbucks must continuously justify why its menu commands a price premium, Chagee was forced into the far more precarious position of defending whether its brand was socially acceptable to consume at all.

Modern beverage retailing relies heavily on social signaling; a branded cup acts as a "badge product" that consumers carry through public spaces, post on social media, and use to broadcast identity. Overnight, the geopolitical controversy flipped Chagee's packaging from an aspirational lifestyle accessory into a distinct public liability.

The resulting operational fallout created severe, lasting friction across Chagee’s primary go-to-market channels. Functional restrictions across dominant third-party delivery ecosystems like ShopeeFood and GrabFood severely pinched a high-margin digital revenue stream crucial for modern tea chains.

Simultaneously, corporate marketing campaigns were heavily constrained, as mainstream influencers and commercial partners distanced themselves to dodge public blowback and online harassment.

Finally, this reputational drag introduced friction into franchise capital allocation; while existing stores remain operational across Ho Chi Minh City and key urban centers, broader expansion velocity is constrained as prospective franchisees weigh solid unit-level beverage sales against immense corporate risk.

Chagee’s continued persistence proves that strong underlying product-market fit can preserve a baseline of consumer demand even through acute political crises. However, its trajectory serves as a definitive case study for global expansion strategy: Unlocking local taste preferences is meaningless if you miscalculate local sovereign sentiment. An international franchise can iterate on an imperfect menu, but building a scalable lifestyle brand is nearly impossible when the logo itself becomes a social liability.

Beverage Franchise Struggling In Vietnam: Many Such Cases

Starbucks and Chagee are not isolated anomalies; they represent a systemic pattern across foreign beverage entrants. Even Asia’s largest corporate chains have repeatedly failed to translate regional scale into Vietnamese market dominance.

Thailand’s Café Amazon, despite operating over 4,400 stores across Southeast Asia, shuttered its remaining Vietnamese locations in November 2025 after five years of sluggish expansion, demonstrating that massive regional infrastructure cannot overcome local market saturation.

Conversely, Chinese value giant Mixue built a regional network of over 4,900 outlets, yet has spent recent quarters consolidating its store count in Vietnam after hyper-aggressive franchising triggered intra-brand cannibalization.

Meanwhile, mid-tier regional pioneers like Gong Cha, KOI Thé, The Alley, and Tiger Sugar have maintained loyal followings but remain capped at modest footprints of 50 to 70 outlets.

By entering the Vietnamese market before local chains fully scaled, KOI Thé established a loyal following that newer foreign entrants are now struggling to replicate. | Source: Dân Trí

Foreign franchises frequently find a viable niche in Vietnam, but almost universally fail to achieve category-defining scale.

The Hyper-Choice Matrix and the Fallacy of Price Sensitivity

A common misdiagnosis of foreign brand underperformance in Vietnam is that consumers are strictly price-sensitive. In reality, consumer behavior demonstrates a clear willingness to spend 100,000 VND (approx. $4.00) or more on a single beverage, provided the product craft, store atmosphere, or social experience justifies the outlay. What Vietnamese consumers refuse to pay for is foreign origin as a standalone value proposition.

The core market dynamic is hyper-choice. Domestic heavyweights dominate every tier of the real estate and pricing spectrum, from Milano Coffee’s mass-market footprint of roughly 2,500 locations to Highlands Coffee’s 985 stores, alongside rapidly scaling players like Phúc Long, Katinat, and ToCoToCo (~1,000 locations).

Furthermore, Vietnam’s domestic retail ecosystem possesses exceptional product agility: when an international entrant introduces a novel beverage concept, local operators copy, localize, and elevate the drink within months. As a result, global entrants do not enjoy a technology or product monopoly; they are simply thrown into a dense, highly competitive field where local alternatives consistently deliver equal or superior value.

Strategic Implications: The Real Winner in a $1.34B Ecosystem

Vietnam’s modern coffee and tea market reached $1.34 billion in 2025, buoyed by strong 27% and 28% year-on-year growth across its coffee and tea segments respectively. The market is not rejecting international entrants, but absorbing them into the periphery while domestic operators retain the center of gravity.

Every standard foreign expansion play has encountered its structural limit in Vietnam:

Neutralized by the rapid elevation of domestic specialty coffee and third-wave roasters.
Vulnerable to low entry barriers, rapid local imitation, and franchisee margin erosion.
Susceptible to geopolitical tail-risk and the social costs of brand association.

For international beverage executives, the fundamental strategic question in Vietnam is no longer whether local consumers will drink the product, but why they should choose a global franchise over hundreds of agile, culturally aligned local options. In a market where domestic chains own the real estate, understand the supply chain, and define the culture, international scale is no longer an automatic competitive advantage, it is merely an expensive ticket to a very crowded room.

Discover Vietnam Through Its Contemporary Music

Gấm Võ — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:40:00 +0000

In recent years, Vietnamese artists have increasingly turned to traditional culture as a source of inspiration, weaving folk melodies, regional sounds, and cultural motifs into contemporary genres. The result is a growing body of music that bridges generations - bringing elements of Vietnam’s cultural heritage to new audiences while giving artists room to experiment with modern sounds and forms. If you’re curious to hear how that sounds, here are some contemporary artists and songs to add to your playlist.

1. Phương Mỹ Chi - Thiên Đường Với Người Thương

Released in August 12th, Thiên Đường Với Người Thương is one of Phương Mỹ Chi’s latest explorations of Vietnamese cultural heritage. The music video draws heavily from the music, traditional dance, writing and spiritual practices of the Southern Khmer community, with filming taking place in Trà Vinh and An Giang. The Southern Khmer community numbers more than 1.3 million people, primarily living across Vietnam’s southwestern provinces.

The MV brings Southern Khmer culture to life through the love story and coming-of-age journey of its two main characters - Định and Chi. Growing up in a phum sóc (Khmer village), Chi eventually becomes a dancer and teaches traditional dance to children. Viewers can spot familiar forms such as Rom Vong and Robam, as well as Phương Mỹ Chi’s portrayal of an Apsara dancer, wearing the distinctive golden Mokot crown and ornate traditional jewelry.

Phương Mỹ Chi’s portrayal of an Apsara dancer, wearing the distinctive golden Mokot crown and ornate traditional jewelry. | Source: MV Thien duong voi nguoi thuong

The MV also features the Yeak mask, a powerful symbol in Khmer spiritual culture. Despite its fierce appearance, the Yeak represents once-hostile forces that have been subdued and transformed into protectors of goodness and the community, reflecting the Khmer philosophy of compassion and transformation.

Yeak mask, a powerful symbol in Khmer spiritual culture. | Source: MV Thien duong voi nguoi thuong

Beyond art, MV also highlights Khmer spiritual and cultural traditions. In the wedding scene, the two characters wear traditional ceremonial attire, with the bride dressed in a silk sampot and a sbay draped across her shoulder. One particularly meaningful detail is the red-string wrist-tying ritual, performed by an Achar (ceremonial leader), a blessing commonly seen in Khmer ceremonies.

The entire MV is rooted in the culture of the Southern Khmer community, taking viewers into a traditional wedding filled with fresh flowers, golden ceremonial umbrellas, traditional costumes, and more. | Source: MV Thien duong voi nguoi thuong

The cultural references continue in the lyrics. Phương Mỹ Chi sings some of Khmer phrases such as “Bong srolanh oun te?” (“Do you love me?”) or “Mình đua ghe xong ăn cá kèo mắm me” (“After the boat race, let’s eat goby fish with tamarind fish sauce”) - which evokes both the vibrant Ngo boat race festival of the Khmer community and the everyday flavors of Southern Vietnam.

This is far from the first time Phương Mỹ Chi has woven Vietnamese cultural heritage into her music. In 2023, she released Vũ Trụ Cò Bay, a 10-track album inspired by literary works and characters familiar to generations of Vietnamese students. The album brings together traditional influences from Quan họ folk singing, Ca trù and Southern Vietnamese folk music, reimagining them alongside pop, dance-pop, disco and electronic sounds.

August 27 will also mark the release of another track from her Dân Chơi Dân Ca album, following the success of Thiên Đường Với Người Thương. The album is set to expand its musical landscape from north to south, spanning sounds from the highlands to the lowlands.

Hoàng Thùy Linh - Tứ Phủ

Hoàng Thùy Linh can be seen as one of the artists who have reshaped how Vietnamese music reaches international audiences, from viral hits like See Tình to songs deeply rooted in Vietnamese folk traditions. Pick almost any of her recent releases, and you’re likely to find a blend of contemporary pop and distinctly Vietnamese cultural elements. Tứ Phủ - one of the opening tracks from her album Hoàng, is an example.

Tứ Phủ is a vivid celebration of Vietnamese cultural heritage, drawing from the centuries-old practice of Mother Goddess worship. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the tradition brings together music, ritual, costume and history - elements that Hoàng Thùy Linh weaves into the visual and sonic world of the music video.

The Four Palaces are also represented through a distinctive color system, reflected in the costumes worn by deities during ritual performances and in ceremonial objects. Red represents the Heaven Palace, yellow the Earth Palace, white the Water Palace, while blue, indigo and purple represent the Forest Palace.

Hoàng Thùy Linh appears as a cô đồng, dressed in elaborate costumes and jewelry inspired by the ritual tradition. At the heart of Mother Goddess worship is hầu đồng, a ceremonial practice in which a medium serves as an intermediary between the human and spiritual worlds. During the ritual, the medium is believed to embody different deities through a series of ritual performances, allowing worshippers to seek guidance for the future, healing, protection from misfortune and blessings of wealth and prosperity.

Hoàng Thùy Linh in the official music video Tứ Phủ. | Source: Tu Phu

Beyond Tứ Phủ, listeners interested in Hoàng Thùy Linh’s fusion of contemporary pop and Vietnamese cultural influences can explore Bánh Trôi Nước (traditional poetry and imagery), Để Mị Nói Cho Mà Nghe (the culture of Vietnam’s Northwest highlands) or See Tình (the riverine culture of the Mekong Delta).

Hòa Minzy - Bắc Bling

Before talking about cultural elements woven into the music video, let’s take a look at the remarkable success Bắc Bling has achieved. Hòa Minzy’s hit quickly went viral worldwide, surpassing 63 million views within two weeks of its release and topping multiple online music charts in Vietnam. It also reached No. 15 on the global weekly streaming chart and ranked among the 20 most-streamed songs in markets including Australia, Singapore, South Korea,...

One of the most distinctive cultural elements in Bắc Bling is Quan họ, a traditional folk singing style from Bắc Ninh. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Quan họ is traditionally performed as an exchange of songs between male and female singers, often accompanied by rituals of hospitality and courtship. The influence is woven throughout the song, from its melodies and vocal delivery to lyrics inspired by classic Quan họ verses such as Mời Trầu and Người ở đừng về.

Hòa Minzy in Bắc Bling. | Source: Bắc Bling

Bắc Bling also draws its lyrics from famous Vietnamese proverbs and traditional sayings, such as “Ta về ta tắm ao ta/ Dù trong dù đục ao nhà vẫn hơn”, while its music video brings a range of local cultural traditions to life. These include Đông Hồ paintings, the Hữu Chấp tug-of-war festival, Quan họ singing at the Lim Festival, as well as customs such as betel chewing, teeth blackening and Mother Goddess worship. The MV also features several cultural landmarks across Bắc Ninh, including Dâu Pagoda, Đô Temple, the Bắc Ninh Quan họ Folk Song Theatre and Phù Lãng pottery village.

The culture, landmarks and people of the Quan họ homeland are brought to life with striking and evocative imagery in Bắc Bling. | Source: Nghệ An Provincial People’s Council Representative

MONO - Em Xinh And Công Tử Văn Thơ

It is hard to deny that drawing on cultural heritage as an anchor for artistic expression is nothing new, nor is MONO the only young Vietnamese artist exploring this approach. Still, he stands out among a new generation of artists doing it particularly well. Two examples are Em Xinh and Công Tử Văn Thơ, the latter released in June this year.

First, Em Xinh is a track from MONO’s 2023 EP Đẹp. The MV incorporates elements of chèo, a traditional Vietnamese form of musical theater, with remarkable subtlety. Originating in Northern Vietnam, chèo brings together folk singing, dance, music, theatrical performance and storytelling, making it one of the region’s distinctive cultural art forms.

One of the MV’s most striking details is MONO’s recreation of The Young Woman with Lilies, the iconic work by the late Vietnamese painter Tô Ngọc Vân and one of the defining pieces of 20th-century Vietnamese fine art. The original painting captures a young woman surrounded by soft, muted colors, creating an understated yet melancholic sense of beauty. By reimagining this image in a contemporary music video, MONO bridges Vietnam’s artistic heritage with the present, while continuing a long-standing celebration of feminine beauty across generations.

MONO’s recreation of The Young Woman with Lilies, the iconic work by the late Vietnamese painter Tô Ngọc Vân. | Source: Em Xinh

In Công Tử Văn Thơ, MONO takes a different approach to cultural storytelling, drawing inspiration from objects deeply rooted in everyday Vietnamese life. These include paper kites - a familiar symbol of childhood for generations of Vietnamese people, paper fans - reminiscent of mothers fanning their children to sleep on hot summer afternoons and traditional crafts such as ceramic and mother-of-pearl inlay.

The MV also stands out for its filming location. MONO became the first Vietnamese singer to premiere and screen a music video from inside the Imperial City of Huế, with the iconic Ngọ Môn (Meridian Gate) as its centerpiece. As the main gateway to the Imperial City and a defining example of Nguyễn Dynasty architecture, the site carries significant heritage value and rarely appears in mainstream entertainment productions.

Hình ảnh MV Công Tử Văn Thơ của MONO tại Hoàng thành Huế. | Source: Cong tu van tho

Double2T - À lôi

This is a fun fact: many Vietnamese listeners didn’t understand the meaning of “À lôi” before Double2T’s breakout hit. The song was released before he went on to win Rap Việt, the competition that later brought him nationwide recognition.

The phrase itself comes from the Tày language, spoken by the Tày people, one of Vietnam’s major ethnic groups concentrated in the northern mountainous region. Simply, “à lôi” is an exclamation of surprise, similar to “huh?” or “oh my God!” in English.

In the song, Double2T takes on the role of a young man from the mountains who falls for a girl from a neighboring village after meeting her in a valley. He confesses his feelings - “lỡ bị em gây thương nhớ, bắn vào tim mà không súng” (“you made me fall for you, like a bullet to the heart without a gun”) - only for her to respond with two words: “À lôi!”

Throughout the track, Double2T also weaves in affectionate expressions from the Tày language. He calls the girl “Noọng,” a familiar and intimate way of addressing someone in Tày.

Double2T’s “zero to hero” story is therefore about more than winning Rap Việt. His music has helped bring the culture of his home region to audiences across Vietnam, turning his roots into a source of artistic expression rather than something to leave behind. Growing up in a remote mountainous area with limited internet access and modest resources, he still managed to build a career on his own terms - while staying closely connected to the place and culture that shaped him.

Double2T and Masew -the artists behind the hit À Lôi. | Source: Znews

The cultural references extend beyond the lyrics. Producer Masew gives the track a distinctly northern mountain sound, opening with the recognizable tones of the khèn and sáo mèo, traditional wind instruments associated with the region. These sounds are then layered into an EDM-driven production, creating a modern rap track without losing its regional identity.

If you enjoy Double2T’s distinctive mountain-inspired sound, let’s check out a few of his other tracks, including Người Miền Núi Chất, Chài Điếp Noọng (I Love You, featuring Hòa Minzy and DươngK), and Thanh Âm Miền Núi (featuring Vũ Thảo My).

In Photos: September 2, 1945, When Vietnam Declared Independence

Thanh Trúc — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000

September 2, 1945, marked the declaration of Vietnam’s independence, as Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence before a crowd gathered at Ba Đình Square in Hanoi.

In Vietnam, the date is officially commemorated as National Day (Quốc khánh). But the story of that day stretches far beyond Hanoi. In the days leading up to September 2, the August Revolution had already brought revolutionary forces to power across the country.

Let’s revisit those moments through archival images, tracing the road to September 2 and its aftermath, from the August Revolution and the declaration in Ba Đình to Cần Thơ, where French forces returned just weeks later. Even as war resumed, the meaning of September 2 endured, with Vietnamese continuing to mark the day through the years that followed.

The Day Vietnam Declared Independence

President Hồ Chí Minh reads Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence at Ba Đình Square in Hanoi on September 2, 1945. | Source: Archival Photo/Ho Chi Minh Museum

Copy of the Declaration of Independence. | Source: National Archives Center III

Millions of people carrying red flags with yellow stars gather at Ba Đình Square in Hanoi to witness Vietnam’s declaration of independence on September 2, 1945. | Source: Archival Photo/VNA

The National Defense Army and residents of Quảng Ngãi gather to listen to President Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence over loudspeakers on September 2, 1945. | Source: Archival Photo/VNA

Although technical difficulties prevented the broadcast of President Hồ Chí Minh’s Declaration of Independence from reaching Saigon, millions of people still gathered at Norodom Square on September 2, 1945, to celebrate independence. When the broadcast failed, Trần Văn Giàu, chairman of the Provisional Administrative Committee of Southern Vietnam, stepped onto the platform and addressed the crowd instead. | Source: Ho Chi Minh City Museum

On September 2, 1945, people gather in Saigon to celebrate Vietnam’s independence. | Source: Archival Photo/VNA

Saigon schoolgirls line up for an honor guard at a rally celebrating Independence Day on September 2, 1945. | Source: Archival Photo/VNA

President Hồ Chí Minh (front, center) with members of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam following the success of the August Revolution in 1945. | Source: Archival Photo/VNA

Before the New Dawn

The August Revolution in Hanoi on August 19, 1945, marked a decisive turning point on the road to independence. The photograph shows the façade of the Bắc Bộ Phủ (Tonkin Palace) on Ngô Quyền Street, Hanoi. | Source: Photo by Vũ Năng An.

On August 14, 1945, the Ba Tơ Guerrilla Unit marched toward Quảng Ngãi town to join local forces in the uprising, as revolutionary movements were already spreading across Central Vietnam ahead of the August 19 uprising in Hanoi. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

The spirit of August 19 spreads southward: tens of thousands of people in Thừa Thiên Huế and members of the Cứu Quốc forces march toward Huế Stadium on August 23, 1945. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

As the August Revolution swept across the country, the movement reached Saigon. On August 25, 1945, revolutionary forces carrying sharpened bamboo stakes gathered in the city as workers, farmers and young people from Saigon and surrounding provinces joined the uprising to seize power. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

The momentum of the August Revolution continued into the Mekong Delta. On August 26, 1945, people in Cần Thơ prepared sharpened bamboo stakes as the city rose up to seize power. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

Copy of Emperor Bảo Đại’s letter announcing his decision to abdicate on August 28, 1945, as the August Revolution swept across Vietnam. Source: National Archives Center III.

A photograph of the abdication ceremony of Emperor Bảo Đại. | Source: The archives of the Republic of France.

On August 30, 1945, Liberation Army units from the Việt Bắc resistance bases made their public debut in Hanoi, gathering with local self-defense forces and thousands of residents at the Opera House Square. The ceremony showcased the revolutionary forces that would help defend the newly established government, just days before the Declaration of Independence. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

The Days That Followed September 2nd, 1945

The celebrations were barely over when the work of building a new country began. On September 3, 1945, just one day after independence was declared, President Hồ Chí Minh and the Provisional Government held their first meeting at Bắc Bộ Phủ, taking on the urgent challenges facing the newly independent nation. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

A newly independent country had more than a government to build. On October 8, 1945, President Hồ Chí Minh attended the opening of the first Bình dân học vụ training course in Hanoi, part of a nationwide effort to bring literacy to a population where more than 90 percent were estimated to be unable to read or write. | Source: Archival photo/National Museum of History

On September 30, 1945, former Emperor Bảo Đại, then serving as Supreme Advisor Vĩnh Thụy, presided over the auction of a portrait of President Hồ Chí Minh at the Hanoi Opera House. The auction was held on the final day of the “Gold Week,” a nationwide fundraising campaign for the new government. The portrait was purchased by businessman Đỗ Đình Thiện for one million Indochinese piastres. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

As the new government confronted widespread hunger, the “Hũ gạo cứu đói” campaign called on people across the country to set aside a handful of rice from each meal to help those in need. The movement spread nationwide in 1945–46 under the spirit of “A handful of rice in times of hunger is worth a bundle when we are full.” | Source: Archival photo/VNA

Just three weeks after independence was declared, the new republic faced a new threat in the South. British forces began arriving in Saigon on September 6, 1945, under the Potsdam arrangements to disarm Japanese troops south of the 16th parallel. But the mission soon became entangled in the French return: British forces helped rearm and support French troops, who moved to retake Saigon on September 23. A multilingual pamphlet from a survival kit issued to British servicemen deployed to French Indochina in 1945, asking local civilians to help stranded soldiers reach Allied units. | Source: National Army Museum, London

Officers and men of the 1st Battalion, 1st Gurkha Rifles (1/1 GR), part of the British forces deployed to Saigon in 1945, rest by the Saigon River. | Source: The Gurkha Musem

When the Southern Provisional Administration refused to hand over its headquarters, tensions escalated. On September 23, French forces launched an attack on Saigon, marking the beginning of the Southern Resistance. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

Hanoi residents rally at the Opera House Square on September 24, 1945, protesting the British mission’s use of force in support of the French return to Cochinchina. | Source: Archival photo/National Museum of History

The return of French forces reached the Mekong Delta on October 30, 1945, when the French colonial warship Annamite attacked and occupied Cần Thơ. | Source: Archival photo/Cần Thơ Museum

As the Southern Resistance continued, French reinforcements arrived by sea. The Saville carries French troops to Saigon in November 1945, strengthening France’s efforts to re-establish control over southern Vietnam. | Source: Archival photo/VNA

Four years after Hồ Chí Minh declared independence in Hanoi, people in Cần Thơ were still gathering to mark September 2. In 1949, tens of thousands travelled to Bà Đầm–Thác Lác for a week-long celebration and fair, held in the middle of the resistance against French forces. The circumstances had changed, but September 2 remained a day to come together and remember independence. | Source: Archival photo/Cần Thơ Museum

BIG Lands Over VND130 Billion In Fresh Capital, Vietnam Opens Its Doors Wider To Startups And FDI

Genesia Ventures — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:10:00 +0000

BIG Lands First International Funding, EasySalon Sold to Korean Buyer

Big Investment Group (BIG) has secured a commitment of up to $5 million in equity capital from private capital firm Brookland Group & Partners - the company's first international capital raise. The funding will back planned acquisitions across hospitality, food and beverage, and entertainment in central Ho Chi Minh City, with each transaction financed separately.

BIG is also targeting a move from the UPCoM exchange to HOSE by September 2026, alongside plans to scale its hospitality portfolio using an asset-light model - from 650 hotel rooms in 2026 to 2,750 by 2029 and 8,750 by 2035.

Representatives from BIG Investment Group and Brookland Group sign a strategic partnership agreement in Ho Chi Minh City. | Source: Dien Tu & Ung Dung Magazine

In a separate deal, South Korea-listed NICE Information & Telecommunication (NICE I&T) has acquired more than 93% of EasySalon, its first M&A transaction in Vietnam and second in Southeast Asia. Founded in 2019, EasySalon provides SaaS solutions for beauty businesses and was serving more than 5,000 businesses across 34 provinces as of July 2026.

Taken together, the two deals point to sustained international investor interest in Vietnam's consumer and technology-enabled sectors. BIG's tie-up with Brookland shows how international capital can back the expansion and consolidation of local businesses, while NICE I&T's purchase of EasySalon underscores the appeal of Vietnamese platforms with an established customer base and a scalable business model - a combination that's drawing both domestic and international players deeper into the market.

NSQ Capital Backs Vietnamese Eyecare Group's Nationwide Expansion

Singapore-based healthcare investor NSQ Capital has invested in Anh Sang International Eye Group, backing its expansion from four hospitals into a nationwide ophthalmology platform. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 2009 by Professor Ton Thi Kim Thanh, Anh Sang operates four Light Eye Hospital facilities and has treated over 1.5 million patients, offering cataract and refractive surgery, myopia management, retinal and glaucoma care, pediatric ophthalmology, and advanced diagnostics. NSQ Capital will work alongside the founders on new facilities, acquisitions, medical technology, physician development, digitalization, and governance, while the founders retain a significant stake and stay involved in management.

On August 15, 2026, Anh Sang Eye Hospital System entered a new growth chapter with investment from Singapore's NSQ Capital. | Source: OCP Eye Clinic & Myopia Control Center Fanpage

The deal reflects continued private capital interest in specialized healthcare across Southeast Asia, particularly in scalable providers with consolidation potential. For Anh Sang, NSQ Capital's involvement extends beyond funding - into the operational and governance capabilities needed to grow while maintaining existing clinical standards. As demand for specialized eyecare rises, providers that can scale without compromising quality of care look set to draw increasing investor attention across the region.

InnoEx 2026 Draws Over 30,000 Attendees Across Two Days

InnoEx 2026 concluded after two days with 30,156 attendees, 315 exhibiting companies, 165 speakers and experts, and 26 activities - a scale that highlights how far Vietnam's innovation ecosystem has grown.

The event brought together government agencies, corporations, startups, investors, international organizations, and technology partners, covering AI, data, operational excellence, green innovation, supply chains, and international cooperation. Key programs included Startup Wheel 2026, the Green Innovation Summit, Impact FORUM, the Korea ICT & AI Partnership Seminar, and the Plastic Innovation Programme Demo Day, each designed to connect startups and emerging solutions with businesses, investors, and markets.

InnoEx moments before opening. | Source: CafeBiz

Startup Wheel 2026 alone attracted over 2,000 Vietnamese projects and 200-plus international projects from 28 countries and territories, with Viet Dynamic winning the Vietnam category and Aqufish taking the international title.

The turnout and range of participants point to a broader shift: innovation in Vietnam is increasingly treated as a shared business and economic priority rather than a siloed startup or technology agenda. Platforms like InnoEx can help connect local businesses and startups with investors, international partners, and new technologies - but the real test lies beyond the event itself, in whether ideas showcased on the exhibition floor make it into real business adoption and scale.

Vietnam Targets 250 Research-Based Startups by 2030

Vietnam is developing the National Startup Innovation Programme 2026–2035, built around two specific bottlenecks: commercializing research and IP, and helping startups move beyond acceleration into actual scale.

The programme will prioritize strategic and deep tech, high technology, climate tech, green industries, and the digital and data economy, with 2030 targets including 250 research and IP-based startups, 500 supported startups, 100 strategic technology companies, and 30 international founders, experts, and startups operating in Vietnam. Support will target the gap between research and market-ready products - spanning prototyping, market validation, and business model development - while growth-stage startups get help with market expansion, scale-up, fundraising, and investor connections.

The National Innovation Center (NIC). | Source: VnExpress

The push comes as Vietnam rose five places to rank 50th in StartupBlink's Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, with the government also building a stronger startup database and measurement framework to guide data-driven policy and resource allocation.

Together, the targets mark a shift in Vietnam's startup policy - from supporting startup formation toward enabling commercialization, scaling, and international competitiveness. Whether that shift delivers will hinge on how effectively the gap between research and market application actually closes, and on whether growth-stage startups get real access to the capital they need - not just formation-stage support, which is where Vietnam's policy focus has traditionally concentrated.

Vietnam Targets $200-300B FDI by 2030, Shifts Focus to Integration

Vietnam is shifting its FDI strategy from simply attracting capital and projects toward building a stronger foreign-invested sector integrated with the domestic economy, guided by Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW and a sharper focus on FDI quality and impact.

The new strategy prioritizes technology transfer, R&D, productivity improvements, and stronger links between foreign-invested and Vietnamese businesses, rather than capital volume alone. Strengthening the technological, management, and financial capabilities of domestic companies is treated as critical to their becoming suppliers and partners to multinational corporations - and to capturing more value from FDI rather than just hosting it. The government is considering performance-based incentives for R&D and supplier training, while promoting cooperation through joint ventures, M&A, and supply-chain partnerships.

Vietnam's registered FDI topped $38 billion in the first seven months of 2026 (Illustrative photo). | Source: Doanh Nghiep & Kinh Te Xanh Magazine

By 2030, Vietnam aims to become a leading ASEAN business and investment destination and attract $200–300 billion in registered FDI during 2026–2030, prioritizing high-tech manufacturing, the digital economy, green industries, and semiconductors.

The shift signals a move from "attracting more capital" to "creating more value from capital." Whether that succeeds will depend on how effectively technology transfer and supplier development actually take hold, since neither happens automatically just because a resolution calls for it. For foreign investors, though, it does point toward a more ecosystem-oriented environment - one where long-term partnerships with Vietnamese companies, talent, and supply chains may increasingly determine which investments hold up over time.

Why Does Vietnam Love Pickleball?

May Ng — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:13:43 +0000

If you step into a sports club in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi around 6:00 PM, you will likely hear a distinct sound before you see anything: a crisp, hollow pop-pop-pop bouncing off concrete courts.

Inside, under bright LED lights, you will find a multi-generational mix of people. A 20-something tech worker in sleek athleisure matches a soft, short shot with a 50-something uncle in classic badminton shorts. On the adjacent court, a group of college students pauses between games to pose for a photo, rackets held like micro-trophies.

This is pickleball in Vietnam.

Over the past two years, this paddle sport—invented in 1965 in the United States—has transformed from an obscure foreign import into the country’s fastest-growing recreational movement. Across urban areas, former tennis courts are being re-lined, badminton hubs are adding net dividers, and empty warehouse spaces are being transformed into climate-controlled indoor courts overnight.

To an outside observer, the sudden obsession might look like another fleeting internet trend driven by social media aesthetics. But dig a little deeper beneath the colorful rackets and trendy athletic gear, and you discover that pickleball fits the country’s urban culture, social habits, and modern lifestyle with uncanny precision.

What Exactly Is Pickleball?

Unlike tennis or badminton, pickleball uses lightweight paddles and a perforated plastic ball, making the sport easier for beginners to pick up. | Source: Tennis Court Supplies

For those unfamiliar with the sport, think of pickleball as a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a compact court using solid, lightweight paddles made of wood or composite materials, along with a hollow plastic ball full of holes (similar to a Wiffle ball).

The game can be played in singles or doubles, though doubles is by far the most popular format. Because the ball is light and the court is small, the game relies far less on raw power or running speed, and much more on quick reflexes, positioning, and strategy.

The Low Barrier to Entry in a High-Pace World

To understand why pickleball caught fire so quickly, you first have to look at the existing local sports landscape.

Historically, racket sports have shaped how people here spend their free time. Badminton borders on a national pastime, played out in public parks, narrow alleyways, and community centers in every major city. Tennis has long carried an executive, upscale image, while table tennis has fed the local appetite for fast, reflex-driven play.

Pickleball sits precisely at the intersection of all three, taking the accessible nature of badminton, the status of tennis, and the quick reaction dynamics of table tennis while eliminating their highest physical and technical hurdles.

Learning tennis requires months of expensive coaching just to consistently clear the net and keep balls in play. Badminton demands intense cardio and quick jumps that can wear heavily on knees over time. Pickleball, by contrast, offers immediate gratification.

The plastic perforated ball moves slower through the air, the underhand serve is intuitive, and the court—measuring 44 feet by 20 feet (13.4 meters by 6.1 meters), identical in dimensions to a doubles badminton court—drastically cuts down on sprinting distance. Within 30 minutes of picking up a paddle for the first time, a complete beginner can sustain a long, fun rally.

In a fast-moving economy where urban professionals juggle demanding work schedules, a sport that delivers fun on day one—without requiring months of technical instruction—is a compelling proposition.

Coffee Culture Moves to the Court

Social life in Vietnam centers on "third places"—spaces outside work and home where people gather. For generations, the street-side café has served as the default venue for casual chats, spontaneous catch-ups, and low-stakes business. The primary focus of these gatherings has never been the coffee itself, but the relaxed, unstructured connection it facilitates.

Pickleball has seamlessly adopted this role, transforming passive social drinking into an active ritual.

The sport’s structure naturally mirrors café dynamics. Games are fast, played to just 11 points, and standard doubles play requires a constant rotation of four players. Between short matches, players naturally retreat to side benches to drink iced tea, swap stories, and wait for the next game, maintaining the easygoing flow of a weekend coffee session.

Even the physical setup of the court fosters intimacy. The non-volley area near the net—known as "the kitchen"—extends 7 feet (2.13 meters) on either side, forcing opposing players to stand just feet apart. Unlike tennis, where opponents are separated by vast distances, pickleball brings players close enough to joke, banter, and praise a good shot in a normal speaking voice.

Ultimately, pickleball succeeded because it captured the exact essence of local café culture: low-pressure, community-driven, and endlessly social.

Much like Vietnam’s café culture, pickleball creates a casual gathering space where people come not only to play, but also to connect. | Source: Tuoi Tre

The Aesthetic and Digital Factor

No analysis of modern lifestyle trends in Vietnam is complete without considering the digital layer. The country boasts one of the world’s most dynamic and visual social media ecosystems, driven by TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Pickleball arrived fully equipped for the visual age.

Unlike traditional sports that often mandate strict dress codes or utilitarian uniforms, pickleball embraces vibrant personal style. The sport’s modern lifestyle branding—pastel paddles, retro-inspired sportswear, neon balls, and tailored athletic sets—resonates strongly with a young, design-conscious urban demographic.

Courts across major cities have adapted quickly to this demand. Moving away from rigid, functional layouts, modern facilities feature aesthetic lighting, clean, color-coordinated courts (ocean blue and deep teal are local favorites), integrated refreshment bars, and dedicated lounge areas designed specifically with photos in mind.

It is common to see players spend as much time reviewing match footage on their phones or recording casual highlights as they do playing. The sport provides a fresh backdrop for self-expression, blending physical wellness with lifestyle curation.

Urban Real Estate and Business Agility

Beyond the culture and the aesthetics, there is a pragmatic economic narrative driving the pickleball wave: local business agility.

Converting commercial real estate in bustling Vietnamese metros is notoriously challenging. A standard tennis court enclosure including mandatory run-off space requires a footprint of roughly 36.6 meters by 18.3 meters (120 feet by 60 feet).

A pickleball playing area, however, requires only 13.4 meters by 6.1 meters (44 feet by 20 feet). In the footprint of a single full-sized tennis enclosure, operators can fit two to three pickleball courts, once matching space is set aside around each court for player movement.

Pickleball court dimensions and equipment. | Source: ResearchGate

This math transformed the economics of urban sports facilities in three major ways:

Higher Density: Multiple courts mean more players—up to a dozen or more—active simultaneously in the space previously occupied by two or four tennis players.
Lower Conversion Costs: Existing badminton courts require almost no structural changes—just net height adjustments and court line additions.
Flexible Monetization: Facility owners can offer hourly court rentals, host casual open-play nights, run corporate tournaments, and operate on-site juice bars or pro shops within modest footprints.

Local entrepreneurs reacted with characteristic speed. Unused industrial plots, older sports complexes, and rooftops across urban centers were rapidly repurposed. Custom booking apps and messaging mini-programs quickly streamlined court reservations, letting players book a court in three taps.

Bridging the Generational Divide

One of the subtle charms of pickleball is its cross-generational appeal.

With simple rules and a smaller court, pickleball allows everyone to enjoy a competitive rally almost immediately.

In many Western nations, pickleball initially gained traction as a sport for retirees before sweeping younger demographics. Locally, the adoption happened almost simultaneously across age groups.

Younger generations focus on socializing, fashion, and short bursts of intense, fast-reflex play. Meanwhile, older adults appreciate the low-impact joint movement, outdoor mobility, and opportunities for multi-generational bonding.

It is common to see multi-generational families sharing a court on Sunday mornings. A teenager raised on digital entertainment can play a competitive, engaging match against their aunt or grandfather without anyone feeling sidelined by raw physical power or pace.

Because soft touch, strategic placement near the net, and tactical patience routinely beat raw overhead power, older or more experienced players often dominate younger, aggressive opponents. This balances the playing field in a way few other sports can match.

Is It Here to Stay?

Critics initially dismissed pickleball as a post-pandemic fad—a passing craze fueled by novelty that would fade once the initial media cycle quieted down.

However, the infrastructure being built tells a different story.

Local tournaments now pull sponsors from banking, real estate, and automotive sectors. A growing number of professional and open tournaments have been held across the country, including events backed by major television networks such as HTV. These tournaments bring together competitive players beyond the usual recreational crowd, signaling that pickleball is becoming more than a weekend pastime.

Da Nang hosts the Pickleball World Cup 2026, bringing the world’s fastest-growing paddle sport to Vietnam’s central coastal city. | Source: Thanh Nien

Primary schools and universities are beginning to introduce paddle sports into physical education options, while real estate developers are incorporating pickleball facilities into new residential master plans.

Pickleball succeeded because it did not ask people to change their lifestyle habits; instead, it adapted to them. It offered an active break that fits neatly into a busy workday, built a low-pressure social space for friends, and created a sport where community matters just as much as the scoreboard.

Whether you drop by for an intense competitive match or simply show up for iced coffee and conversation by the sidelines, one thing is clear: the pop-pop-pop of the plastic ball is officially part of the modern urban soundtrack.

The Heartbeat Of Vietnam: How Bolero Conquered A Nation’s Soul

Thanh Trúc — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:46:45 +0000

In the vast landscape of Vietnamese music, few genres command as enduring a presence, as universal an appeal, or as deep an emotional resonance as Bolero. Once dismissed by critics as overly sentimental, tagged with the colloquial label sến, and subjected to the unpredictable tides of cultural shifts, Bolero quietly weathered the decades. Today, it stands not as a relic of the past, but as an indispensable pillar of the nation’s cultural identity.

To understand why a rhythm originating half a world away took such deep root in Southeast Asia, one must explore its cross-continental journey, its unique musical structure, and the profound harmony between its cadence and the Vietnamese soul. This is the story of how an imported European-Caribbean beat transformed into an authentic chronicle of the Vietnamese experience, surviving wars, migrations, ideological shifts, and modern commercialization.

From Cuban Rhythms To Saigon Streets: A Transcontinental Metamorphosis

The story of Bolero does not begin in Vietnam. The romantic song form emerged in 19th-century Cuba, where it developed into a slow, lyrical style built around intimate melodies and a steady 4/4 rhythm. By the 1950s, Latin American rhythms including Bolero, Rumba, and Cha Cha Cha had entered Saigon’s rapidly evolving popular-music scene, finding audiences in nightclubs and salons de thé.

Located at the corner of Tự Do and Thái Lập Thành streets (now Đồng Khởi and Đông Du, respectively), Tự Do Nightclub was perhaps one of the most iconic landmarks in the minds of old Saigoneers, for a variety of reasons. | Source: Chip Seiple-Vietnam Center and Archive

By the early 1950s, Bolero had begun making its way into Vietnam’s rapidly evolving popular-music scene. Latin rhythms such as Bolero, Rumba, and Cha Cha Cha were finding audiences in Saigon’s nightclubs and salons de thé, while local musicians began adapting them for Vietnamese songs. One of the earliest landmarks was Lê Trọng Nguyễn’s Nắng chiều, written in 1952 in a rumba-bolero style and recorded in Saigon the following year. Its repeated broadcasts on Saigon, Huế, and Radio France-Asie helped carry the song to listeners across the region.

Lê Trọng Nguyễn’s “Nắng Chiều” became one of the early milestones of Vietnamese Bolero, transforming a foreign rhythm into a deeply personal story of memory, longing, and love. | Source: Dòng Nhạc Xưa

What followed was not mere imitation, but a masterclass in cultural absorption. Vietnamese composers slowed and reshaped the imported rhythm, combining its steady pulse with the melodic inflections of Southern folk music and the expressive traditions of cải lương (reformed opera). By the late 1950s, bolero had become a dominant musical idiom in South Vietnam.

Legendary cải lương performers Kim Cương (left) and Phùng Há (right) in Mộng Hoa Vương. The expressive storytelling and emotional depth of Southern Vietnam’s reformed opera helped shape the musical language that later influenced Vietnamese Bolero. | Source: Image provided by the family of artist Kim Cương

This cross-continental hybridity birthed the Vietnamese Bolero. Stripped of its tropical Latin exoticism, the imported rhythm became a natural vessel for local expression—intimate, evocative, and instantly recognizable to the native ear. It captured the melancholic mood of a transitional era, speaking directly to a generation navigating urban migration, wartime displacement, and profound social upheaval.

The Anatomy Of Sound: The Science Behind The Fit

The immediate, visceral connection between Bolero and Vietnamese listeners is rooted in both physical mechanics and linguistic structures:

Resting Heart-Rate Tempo: Written in a slow 4/4 time signature (typically ranging from 60 to 80 beats per minute), Vietnamese Bolero precisely mimics the cadence of a human heart at rest. This specific tempo creates an unhurried, reassuring atmosphere, offering psychological solace and a meditative pause rather than urgency or sensory overload.
Pentatonic Foundations (Thang Âm Ngũ Cung): While arranged with Western instrumentation—acoustic guitars, violins, upright basses, and the signature crying tone of the Hawaiian steel guitar (đàn hạ uy di)—the core vocal melodies rely firmly on the pentatonic scale. Because these five-note structures form the bedrock of traditional Vietnamese folk music, Bolero feels instinctively familiar and comforting even upon a first listen.

Linguistic Harmony: Vietnamese is a tonal language with six distinct phonemic tones, where pitch directly alters word meaning. Bolero vocalists utilize delicate ornamentation (luyến láy) to bend notes around these tonal shifts naturally and fluidly. As a result, the lyrics flow like musicalized speech rather than rigid, forced verse, allowing the emotional weight of the words to remain uncompromised.
The Role of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar: Introduced during the mid-20th century, the đàn hạ uy di became the voice’s emotional shadow. Its glissando technique—sliding seamlessly between notes—replicates human sobbing, creating a dialogue between the singer’s vocal cords and the instrument that heightens the song’s sorrowful beauty.

Lyrical Realism: Micro-Fiction For The Everyday Person

If melody builds the bridge, lyrics build the home. Unlike pre-war romantic music (nhạc tiền chiến), which favored abstract imagery, high-art elegance, and elite poetic aesthetics, Bolero speaks the conversational language of the street, the rural rice field, and the modest urban alleyway.

Through stories of love, separation, hardship, and longing for home, Bolero became a soundtrack for everyday Vietnamese lives. | Source: 24H

Through simple syntax, rhyming couplets, and clear narrative arcs, a four-minute Bolero song functions as vivid micro-fiction. Rather than leaning on abstract intellectualism, these songs deliver immediate emotional realism that resonates with the working class:

Unrequited Love and Parting: Tales of broken promises, ill-fated timing, wartime separations, and the quiet, dignified agony of heartbreak.
The Struggle for Livelihood: Capturing the crushing weight of poverty, the profound loneliness of rural migrants navigating the harsh concrete jungle of the city, and the quiet dignity found in honest, hard work.
Longing for Home: Deep nostalgia for quiet riverside villages, maternal sacrifice, the image of a mother waiting under a thatched roof, and the ache of living far from ancestral land.

These lyrics transformed singers into neighborhood storytellers and listeners into protagonists of their own life dramas. Many taxi driver, street vendor, and student found a mirror for their personal joys and quiet sorrows within the verses.

Reclaiming “Sến”: Emotional Honesty as a Release Valve

Throughout its history, Bolero carried the heavy social weight of cultural snobbery. Bolero has often been dismissed in some critical and middle-class cultural circles as overly sentimental or ‘sến’.

Yet this very sentimentality gives Bolero a particular emotional power. In a culture often associated with resilience and quiet strength, Bolero offers a space for tenderness: a place to dwell on love, loss, longing, and the softer emotions of everyday life. Its occasional wistfulness and uỷ mị (sentimental) are not weaknesses, but a beautiful counterbalance to the toughness required by life. In that sense, Bolero gives voice to a gentler side of the Vietnamese emotional experience.

This emotional vulnerability is not artificial—it is absolute sincerity. Modern audiences and cultural critics increasingly recognize Bolero not as lowbrow commercialism, but as a genuine urban folk tradition that faithfully chronicled the inner emotional lives of millions during times of intense historical upheaval.

Resilience, Revival, and Modern Reinvention

As social life and musical tastes changed over the decades, Bolero continued to evolve while retaining a loyal audience, particularly in Southern Vietnamese popular culture. Singers such as Thanh Tuyền, Giao Linh, Chế Linh, and Hương Lan became closely associated with its distinctive vocal style and emotional delivery, helping carry its classic repertoire across generations and into Vietnamese communities abroad.

Four iconic Bolero singers — Thanh Tuyền, Giao Linh, Hương Lan, and Chế Linh — whose voices shaped the genre’s enduring legacy in Vietnamese popular culture. | Source: Thanh Nien

In the 2010s, Bolero experienced a massive, unexpected mainstream renaissance. Prime-time television competitions, national talent shows, and digital streaming platforms brought classic tracks back to the top of national charts, introducing grand-scale production to heritage songs. Prominent contemporary singers like Lệ Quyên and Quang Lê brought polished studio production to these classic melodies, bridging the gap for a new generation of urban listeners.

Today, Bolero is no longer strictly confined to traditional acoustic arrangements or nostalgic parlor rooms. Its influence can still be heard in some of the most popular Vietnamese entertainment shows today, albeit in new forms. On Tinh Hà “Say Hi”, Secret draws on the musical sensibilities of Bolero to create a contemporary hit, while Mộng Chiều Xuân was given a fresh arrangement from Anh Trai Vượt Ngàn Chông Gai's contestant. Both examples show how the genre can move beyond nostalgia: its melodies, rhythms, and emotional vocabulary can still be reinterpreted for today's mainstream audience.

On TikTok, the phenomenon has gone even further: young creators are remixing classic Bolero songs, speeding them up, rewriting lyrics and turning them into humorous sketches about dating, deadlines and everyday Gen Z life. The trend has even been dubbed “Bolero của Gen Z” (Bolero - Gen Z version).

This revival is not limited to one-off viral sounds. Vietnamese media has noted a broader return among young listeners to Bolero, 2000s Vietnamese music and acoustic recordings, with old songs resurfacing in “retro vibe” and nostalgia-driven videos across social platforms. Contemporary musicians are likewise blending these melodies with Pop, R&B, electronic production and other modern sounds, bringing an old emotional vocabulary into a new musical era.

An Enduring Cultural Heritage

Bolero’s survival over seven decades demonstrates that cultural adoption is never passive consumption, but active, creative transformation. It stands as living proof of Vietnamese culture’s extraordinary adaptability—its unique ability to take an external art form, reshape it from the inside out, and turn it into a mirror of its own soul.

Whether played on a high-end audio system in a sleek city cafe, strummed on a battered acoustic guitar at a roadside gathering, or hummed quietly in a rural kitchen at dusk, Bolero remains the steady, comforting pulse of Vietnamese life. As long as human beings love, grieve, dream, and remember, its gentle, heartbeat cadence will continue to play across the generations.