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.
.jpg)
Some journeys begin with ambition. Others begin quietly, almost by accident. For Benjamin Werge Jensen, the turning point arrived with a simple recruitment post - a chance invitation from Topas Travel that led from Copenhagen to Greenland, and ultimately to Vietnam. What began as curiosity slowly unfolded into calling.
Raised in a family deeply rooted in hospitality, Benjamin grew up understanding that kitchens demand both discipline and humility. Training at the Copenhagen Hospitality College refined his foundation - French precision, Nordic restraint, an instinct for balance. Yet he sensed there was more to learn beyond familiar borders.
Vietnam met him like a rush of sound and colour. Hanoi’s intensity was overwhelming at first - then magnetic. Over time, the unfamiliar became grounding. The country moved from destination to home.
Today, as Executive Chef of Topas Ecolodge, Benjamin leads a team of 34 with calm assurance. Many of his cooks come from ethnic minority villages nearby; mentorship, for him, is not about hierarchy, but shared purpose. He believes consistency, patience, and effort shape craft far more than talent alone.
Life in the mountains has reshaped his cooking. Without immediate access to the sea, he turned to the land - black cardamom, smoked buffalo, wild herbs, seasonal vegetables gathered at dawn. His cuisine feels thoughtful and restrained, allowing nature to speak while technique offers quiet refinement.
The work is less about invention than about listening - to place, to ingredients, to people.
.jpg)
In December 2025, this evolving philosophy received meaningful recognition at the Gourmet Vietnam Awards, where Benjamin Werge Jensen was honoured as Rising Star Chef, and Restaurant 360° was awarded Highly Recommended – Best Resort Dining 2025.
.jpg)
A journey that began with chance now continues with intention - carried forward by commitment, curiosity, and the mountains that have become home.