highlights

What’s On

El Toro: Designed for Taste, Built for Connection
More than a steakhouse, El Toro is a place where evenings unfold gently. Soft lighting, natural textures, and perfectly executed dishes create an atmosphere that feels both elegant and grounded - a space made for conversation, depth, and lingering moments.

What’s On

Noriboi Omakase: A Dialogue Between Two Cultures
At Noriboi, Japanese omakase tradition is interpreted through a distinctly Vietnamese lens. Premium ingredients, quiet architecture, and thoughtful storytelling come together to create a tasting journey where precision meets emotion - honouring heritage, craftsmanship, and nature in every composed bite.

Dining

Casinha: A Table Without Interpretation
In Ho Chi Minh City’s fast-moving dining landscape, tradition is often treated as material to be transformed, reinterpreted, or adapted to contemporary tastes. Casinha adopts a quieter posture. It does not seek to reinvent Portuguese cuisine, nor to contextualise it. It presents it simply, as it is.

Interviews

Chef Benjamin Werge Jensen: From Copenhagen to the Clouds of Sapa
Chef Benjamin Werge Jensen’s path was not scripted. Drawn first by curiosity, then by purpose, he journeyed from Nordic kitchens to Vietnam’s mist-covered mountains, where classical technique now meets remote landscapes, local communities, and a growing sense of belonging.

Dining

Square One: The Quiet Art of Refined Dining
Tucked inside Park Hyatt Saigon, Square One embodies a more intimate expression of luxury - cuisine guided by precision, ingredients chosen with reverence, and an atmosphere that feels poised yet deeply inviting. Vietnamese and French traditions meet with grace, offering a dining experience that lingers quietly, long after the last course.

Gourmet Traveller

Where Stillness Becomes the Journey with Bhaya Soul
In the silent embrace of Ha Long Bay, Bhaya Soul introduces a new expression of cruising - one shaped by wellness, flavour, and calm awareness. More sanctuary than ship, it invites travellers to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and experience the bay through balance, gentleness, and deeply intentional design.

Events

The Rising Collective
Vietnam’s Highly Recommended Culinary & Hospitality Stars
The Highly Recommended distinction of the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 celebrates more than excellence it honours the voices, visions, and values shaping Vietnam’s evolving gastronomic identity. From spirited bistros to world-class resorts, this distinguished collection reflects creativity, resilience, and the nation’s growing confidence on the global stage.

Events

Gourmet Vietnam Awards
Celebrating the Stars of Vietnam’s Gastronomy and Hospitality
Bringing together Vietnam’s most influential chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and industry leaders, the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 celebrated excellence across gastronomy and hospitality. From fine dining and world-class resorts to visionary individuals, the evening honoured creativity, craftsmanship, and the evolving spirit of Vietnam’s culinary scene.
Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion: A Journey Back to Balance
Just outside Huế, Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion by Fusion unfolds like a tranquil retreat grounded in water and forest. From mineral hot springs to immersive mindfulness programs, every element is crafted to restore the body, soothe the spirit, and gently realign one’s sense of inner equilibrium.
Inside Dubai’s Sohum Wellness Sanctuary

In the heart of Al Quoz, an unexpected cradle of creativity and calm, Sohum Wellness Sanctuary rises as one of Dubai’s most refined destinations for holistic healing. Awarded Best Luxury Ayurvedic Wellness Spa in Dubai 2025 by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, this sanctuary invites guests into a world where ancient Ayurvedic wisdom meets contemporary elegance, transforming wellness into an art form.

A Sparkling Mid-Autumn: Swarovski’s First Mooncake Hamper in Vietnam

Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort, a flagship property of Accor on Vietnam’s Pearl Island, proudly unveils its exclusive Mooncake Hampers to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival 2025. This is not just a seasonal offering; it is a radiant symbol of refinement, crafted with heart and destined for distinction. 

 

Casinha: A Table Without Interpretation
In Ho Chi Minh City’s fast-moving dining landscape, tradition is often treated as material to be transformed, reinterpreted, or adapted to contemporary tastes. Casinha adopts a quieter posture. It does not seek to reinvent Portuguese cuisine, nor to contextualise it. It presents it simply, as it is.
Mayfair’s Most Seductive Hidden Bar

Tucked discreetly beneath the polished glamour of Burlington Arcade, London’s most historic luxury shopping strip, lies a speakeasy so seductive it feels almost imagined. No Regrets, the newest and arguably most intriguing addition to Mayfair’s drinks scene, is a blood-red hideaway concealed beneath British rock ’n’ roll jeweller Stephen Webster’s boutique, a bar that demands you seek it out, not stumble upon it.

Chef Benjamin Werge Jensen: From Copenhagen to the Clouds of Sapa
Chef Benjamin Werge Jensen’s path was not scripted. Drawn first by curiosity, then by purpose, he journeyed from Nordic kitchens to Vietnam’s mist-covered mountains, where classical technique now meets remote landscapes, local communities, and a growing sense of belonging.
Rose Ang: Culinary Trailblazer
An international career specialising in Japanese cuisine, extensive stakeholder management experience, and the ability to create a cohesive and effective operational flow between front of house and kitchen are just some traits that define Chef Rose Ang.
Mauro Santarelli: Reimagining South American Flavours At Chupacabras Bali
Set in the heart of Bali, Chupacabras is where South American culinary flair finds its bold, modern expression. At the helm is executive chef Mauro Santarelli whose roots and journey span agronomics, European kitchens, and the vibrant traditions of South America. In this exclusive interview, he shares how Chupacabras Bali reimagines regional classics with creative twists—blending culture, technique, and local Indonesian ingredients to offer a truly distinctive dining experience.
Rommel Fuentebella: Rewriting the Branding Playbook
As Senior Director for Premium Brands and Execution at Carlsberg Asia, Rommel Fuentebella leads the charge in shaping how brands like 1664 and the Beyond Beer portfolio connect with consumers across the region. Drawing on over two decades of experience in beauty, beverages, FMCG, and luxury, he shares insights into the art of blending emotional storytelling, cultural nuance, and disciplined execution—crafting brand experiences that resonate deeply in Asia’s complex and fast-evolving markets.
Christine Galle-Luczak: Redefining Luxury for the Modern Traveller
With more than 20 years bridging the world’s most exclusive destinations with Asia’s discerning elite, Christine Galle-Luczak, Founder of Heavens Portfolio, reflects on the true essence of luxury. In this candid interview, she shares how purpose, emotion, and storytelling are shaping a new era of hospitality. 
The Glenlivet’s Majestic 56-Year-Old Release
Where Time Turns to Gold

The Glenlivet has once again stepped into the rarefied air of ultra-aged Scotch, unveiling a 56-year-old expression that stands as the second chapter of its Eternal Collection. Emerging in the glow of last month’s Distillers One of One auction where the 60-year-old Spira shattered expectations at £650,000, the new release arrives with quiet confidence, rooted in heritage yet elevated through contemporary artistry.

Gen Z And The New Wine Renaissance
The wine world, long steeped in heritage and ceremony, now stands at a subtle yet irreversible inflection point. While older generations continue to sip, swirl, and collect, the next wave of drinkers has entered the room with little fanfare—and a completely different philosophy.
So Sexy Wines: Elevating the Spanish Wine Experience in Vietnam
So Sexy Wines, the pioneering wine importer established in 2015, proudly stands as the only company in Vietnam specializing exclusively in Spanish wines. With a commitment to quality and sustainability, So Sexy Wines has cultivated an extensive selection of organic and natural wines sourced from small, family-run wineries across Spain. 
From Legendary Bravery To An Iconic Whisky Heritage

Born from an act of extraordinary courage by a Mackenzie Chief more than seven centuries ago, The Dalmore has soared to become a globally celebrated whisky icon. The brand’s commitment to superior quality fully embodies the spirit of valor and the perfectionism maintained over centuries.

After Japan & Australia
Wagyu Goes Global

When people hear “Wagyu”, its birthplace Japan springs to mind, along with Australia – now the world’s second largest Wagyu producer. But over the past two decades, Wagyu cattle have been raised in many other parts of the globe. And while purists still swear by Kobe or Mishima, the Wagyu gene pool has officially gone global. 

Bottled Legacies, Brewed Futures

Across Asia, drinking culture is in transformation. Craft beer and traditional wine are no longer fringe indulgences; they have become markers of taste, identity, and lifestyle. From Tokyo’s neighbourhood breweries to Vietnam’s rising natural wines, the movement blends innovation with heritage, shaping how Asia drinks today and tomorrow.

Flame, Smoke, and Steel
The Five Barbecue Icons

As longer days beckon us outdoors and evenings stretch into firelit feasts, the humble barbecue has undergone an evolution. No longer just the domain of charred sausages and burnt corn, today’s grill masters demand precision, versatility, and design as sleek as their indoor counterparts. Whether you’re orchestrating a sunset dinner party or simply upgrading your weekend ritual, these five top-tier grills represent the new language of outdoor culinary excellence.

Chocolate & Caviar
A Dialogue of Decadence
In the world of fine dining, true culinary magic often comes from contrasts, the interplay of texture, flavor, and even culture. Few combinations embody this principle as elegantly, and as surprisingly, as the union of chocolate and caviar. At first glance, it is a pairing that feels almost rebellious: one is the epitome of sweet indulgence, the other a jewel of the sea, brimming with briny sophistication. But for those willing to take the leap, the result is nothing short of revelatory.
A New Era of Island Grace
New World Phu Quoc Resort presents a refreshed vision of island living, one shaped by refined dining, thoughtfully designed spaces, and experiences created to bring people together. Rather than marking time, the resort continues to evolve with clarity and purpose.
A New Symphony Of Taste
To understand Vietnamese cuisine is to understand the search for balance. It is a conversation between flavours - herbs cooling the warmth of chilli, broth lifting the lightness of noodles. We look for “thanh”, the purity and harmony that leave the palate refreshed.
Sun-Gria

Cuca’s take on the classic summer cocktail is refreshing and punchy. As the tropical fruit ice cubes melts, the flavour intensify and it transforms the cocktail, from sparkling red wine into a fruity punch.

Classic Daiquiri

This three-ingredient drink is so easy to put together. Here, Davide Boncimino, bar operations manager of Sugarhall, brings herbal and citrus nuances to a classic with the addition of two rums in equal portions.

The Paloma

Shelley Tai at Nutmeg & Clove puts a tropical spin on the Paloma, for an ideal hot weather thirst-quencher

Galangal Panna Cotta

Aromatic and fruity, this gochujang-spiked dessert has a piquant, Korean cuisine-inspired kick in addition to its galangal and apricot notes.

Calisson

Trinkets and bijou usually sit pretty in trays, but these shallow receptacles can be statement pieces too. Mould your own beautiful – edible – vessels to present delicate morsels.

The Rising Collective
Vietnam’s Highly Recommended Culinary & Hospitality Stars
The Highly Recommended distinction of the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 celebrates more than excellence it honours the voices, visions, and values shaping Vietnam’s evolving gastronomic identity. From spirited bistros to world-class resorts, this distinguished collection reflects creativity, resilience, and the nation’s growing confidence on the global stage.
Gourmet Vietnam Awards
Celebrating the Stars of Vietnam’s Gastronomy and Hospitality
Bringing together Vietnam’s most influential chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and industry leaders, the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 celebrated excellence across gastronomy and hospitality. From fine dining and world-class resorts to visionary individuals, the evening honoured creativity, craftsmanship, and the evolving spirit of Vietnam’s culinary scene.
Green Bay Phu Quoc Resort & Spa
A Coastal Wonderland

This most beautiful time of the year, Green Bay Phu Quoc Resort & Spa invites esteemed guests to immerse in A Coastal Wonderland, where the holiday joy embraces the gentle beauty of the sea. Under the canopy of swaying palms and a sky glittering full of stars, the golden glow of festivity blends seamlessly with the deep navy calm of the ocean. 

Billecart-Salmon Shines at Zuma New York

A select circle of New York’s most discerning tastemakers gathered for an evening where legacy, artistry, and the rarest expressions of champagne converged. Hosted by Haute Wine Society and Haute Living, the intimate dinner at Zuma New York honored Mathieu Billecart—seventh-generation custodian of Champagne Billecart-Salmon, one of France’s most revered family maisons since 1818.

Singapore Scores 7 Spots At Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025
For the second year running, Seoul played host to one of Asia’s most prestigious culinary events — the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards — held on 25 March 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. With chefs, critics, and restaurateurs flying in from across the region, the evening cemented the South Korean capital’s growing status as a dynamic food destination — not just for Korean cuisine, but as a hub for cross-cultural innovation and excellence.
The Soul of Sentosa
Amara Sanctuary’s Biophilic Rebirth

Following a tranquil transformation led by design studio FARM, Amara Sanctuary Sentosa unveils a renewed vision of rest and refinement. Nestled in Sentosa’s lush hillside, the resort celebrates heritage, nature, and soulful connection—setting a new benchmark in hospitality and hosting the closing cocktails of IMM Asia 2024 with TravMedia.