‘The Tooth Fairy’ Ngô Kim Uyên Takes Hanoi Cocktails To The World

"The Tooth Fairy" is the endearing nickname given to Ngô Kim Uyên, bar manager at Nê Cocktail Bar, by her team and colleagues. The name perfectly reflects her friendly, ever-smiling nature. Yet behind that is a professional with calmness.

2024 not only marks Kim Uyen's seventh year in bartending but also marks a milestone in her career as the first World Class Vietnam female champion.

World Class is an annual bartending competition hosted by Diageo, where winners from each country will gather for the global final. This year, Kim Uyên represented the Vietnamese bartending community at the World Class Global finals, held in Shanghai (China) this past September.

Let’s hear her reflections after the competition.

If the journey to World Class championship was a book with many chapters, the first chapter for you would be…

It started when I was 18. At that time, instead of going to university like my peers, I chose a different path, one less traveled. My love for Hanoi brought me from Thái Nguyên to the capital to study culinary arts, and from there, I discovered bartending, a profession I’ve followed ever since.

What does a bartender’s typical day look like?

My shift begins at 5 p.m., ending at 1 a.m., when the city has quieted down. After the last guest leaves, I tidy up—cleaning bar tools and arranging tables. While it’s nice to skip the traffic at 1 a.m., the empty streets often feel hauntingly quiet, a bit lonely even, but it’s a part of the job I’ve come to accept.

What sets the cocktail culture in Hanoi apart?

There are not many cocktail bars in Hanoi, but you can always find a place that matches your vibe. The cocktail experiences here are incredibly varied. For example, at Nê Cocktail Bar where I work, every drink is a labor of creativity. We use local ingredients to tell stories about Vietnamese culture and its people to customers.

Aside from Nê Cocktail Bar, which three bars would you recommend for nightlife in Hanoi?

Use Bar, The Haflington, and The Old Well are my top picks.

What inspired you to compete in World Class 2024?

This is my first time representing Vietnam on the global stage, but my journey with World Class began 2 years ago when I made it to the finals of World Class Vietnam 2022. While I didn’t take home the top prize, I earned the ‘Rising Star’ title.

The excitement and thrill of those two final days still stand out vividly in my memory. Those moments inspired me to keep improving, and now, two years later, here I am (smiles).

What cocktail are you most proud of bringing to the World Class Global finals?

That would be "Pitch In," a cocktail made with Ketel One vodka. ‘Pitch In’ is also the name of the project I and Nê Cocktail Bar launched for the bartender community in Hanoi. True to its name, the Pitch In community aims to raise awareness among Hanoi's bartenders about sustainability in the bartending industry.

So, when I received the challenge from World Class Global, I knew "Pitch In" was the perfect name to honor the community we’ve built in Hanoi.

What did you gain from participating in Diageo World Class 2024?

World Class is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of the global bartending community. For me, it was an opportunity to not only expand my knowledge but also to share Vietnam’s unique cocktail culture on an international stage. The experience taught me how to enhance our local industry and connect it to global trends.

This year felt even more special, as it marked the 15th anniversary of World Class. Being part of such a rich, multigenerational community was truly an honor and a reminder of the legacy we all contribute to.

A piece of advice from the World Class Vietnam 2024 champion?

I’m still growing in the industry, so I’m not in a position to give advice. However, I encourage bartenders to pour their passion and dedication into elevating Vietnamese cocktail culture. I believe the younger generation will build on the foundation laid by those before them, and Vietnamese cocktails will continue to evolve and reach new heights.

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