Passion, precision and purpose define the Rising Star Chef category at the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025. From Saigon’s vibrant kitchens to Phu Quoc’s island shores, these 24 chefs illuminate the evolving story of Vietnamese cuisine with creativity, vision and heart, shaping the nation’s gastronomic future one plate at a time.
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Every chef begins with a spark, a quiet moment of inspiration that grows into mastery through discipline, creativity and courage. The Rising Star Chef category at the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 celebrates this very spirit: a generation of culinary talents redefining Vietnam’s dining landscape with bold innovation and timeless craft.
From the energetic pulse of Ho Chi Minh City to the tranquil coastlines of Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc, and the misty highlands of Lao Cai, these chefs represent the heart of Vietnam’s new culinary era, daring, imaginative and deeply rooted in authenticity.
Ho Chi Minh City: The Cradle of Creativity
In the ever-evolving gastronomic capital, innovation thrives at every table.
At Pickles Eatery, Chef Lucas Fays showcases a refined yet playful approach, blending modern European sensibilities with local charm. Chef Doyle Alphonso of The Blacksheep at Malandro brings cosmopolitan flair and storytelling to his menus, while Chef Quốc Hùng of Tales By Chapter crafts dishes that read like poetry, each one balancing memory, culture and taste.
Chef Vũ Xuân Trường of P’Ti Saigon channels the soul of French-inspired comfort, while Chef Alain Phạm of Aiii House Saigon and Chef Kelvin Chia of Hao Phong Mi Gia infuse creative energy into casual fine dining, turning simple moments into elegant experiences.
At Upstairs Tasting Room, Chef Hiệp Trương masters modern tasting formats with precision, while Chef Patron Cường Nguyễn of An’s Saigon expresses emotional depth through refined flavours and immaculate presentation. Chef Nguyễn Văn Tiên of Okra Foodbar brings urban vibrancy to every dish, reimagining contemporary Vietnamese dining with personality and balance.
The city’s rising innovators continue with Chef Trư Lang of Mùa Craft Sake, whose fusion of Japanese minimalism and Vietnamese heart defines culinary artistry. Chef Francis Thuận Trần of Nephele Restaurant explores texture and tone with artistic finesse, while Chef Thạnh Nguyễn (Nguyễn Như Thạnh) of Bờm Kitchen & Wine Bar celebrates conviviality through soulful, seasonal cooking. At Sóno, Chef Kiên Phan (Phan Trịnh Việt Kiên) redefines modern dining with avant-garde imagination, while Chef Bùi Việt Trung of Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon brings a refined mastery honed in luxury hospitality.
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Other Cities and Regions: Passion Beyond the Metropolis
Across Vietnam’s diverse landscapes, emerging talents bring new dimensions to fine dining.
In Da Nang, Chef Huỳnh Văn Hiền of Danang Marriott Resort & Spa, Non Nuoc Beach Villas and Chef Nguyễn Minh Quà of Mercure Danang French Village Bana Hills combine precision and creativity to elevate coastal cuisine. Further south, Chef Nguyễn Đức Lâm of The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh showcases technical excellence paired with an instinct for flavour balance, while Chef Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp of Six Senses Ninh Van Bay transforms sustainability into art through his thoughtful culinary philosophy.
Chef Ngô Văn Duyệt of Angsana Ho Tram draws on Vietnam’s natural abundance, crafting plates that echo the coastal rhythm of Vung Tau. In the northern highlands, Chef Benjamin Werge Jensen of Topas Ecolodge, Lao Cai merges Nordic restraint with Vietnamese warmth, translating nature’s serenity into culinary form.
And in Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s island of renewal, four rising chefs are defining destination dining: Chef Stephen Lê (Lê Văn Bảy) of Meliá Vinpearl Phu Quoc, Chef Đồng Trần of Sandals, The Market, Chef Dương Quốc Dũng of InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort and Chef Phùng Văn Trường of New World Phu Quoc Resort. Each one celebrates the island’s vitality with dishes that reflect both oceanic grace and contemporary artistry.
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A New Dawn for Vietnamese Cuisine
These 24 chefs embody the future of Vietnamese gastronomy, where tradition meets transformation and passion becomes purpose. Their work reflects a nation in motion, confident, creative and deeply connected to its roots.
As the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 recognises these Rising Star Chefs, it celebrates more than individual achievement; it honours the collective spirit of a new generation who dare to dream, create and inspire through the art of cuisine.