The Art of Atmosphere at CoCo Dining

“This season is about the chef exploring the world,” marketing director Vicky Lam explains. “It’s like a training arc in an anime. Unlike other restaurants that may only change a few dishes when they update the menu, our concept-based menu requires much more work — storytelling, installation and research.”

Design and Storytelling as a Silent Ingredient

A hallmark of Vuong’s cooking is the way his Vietnamese spirit shines through, even when French techniques or imported ingredients are involved. “We do the reverse of going hyperlocal,” Vuong says. “We may use the best ingredients from around the world, but we use them to highlight the flavors of Vietnam. Whether it’s a Western, Japanese or Chinese ingredient, when it comes to me, it will still taste like Vietnam.”

Dainty dishes speckled with flowers, such as Tra Que herbs, often look almost too pretty to eat. But beyond flavor and aesthetics, tremendous thought also goes into the crockery and the emotions it evokes. “It usually starts with a memory and ends with a memory,” he says of his menu design process. “An example is our star eel dish. We plated it in many beautiful ways, but it didn’t match my memory of carrying it in a tin box to eat in the rice paddy field. That’s why we switched to using a French gamelle (lunchbox) made of ceramic. The extra step we always take is asking, ‘Does it evoke any emotion?’”

To illustrate the breadth of Vietnam’s diversity, the restaurant sources plates and serving ware from across the country, including pieces crafted by ethnic groups such as the Champa people. But CoCo Dining doesn’t limit itself to domestic artisans — it also looks internationally to find the very best.

A striking floral logo carved into wooden panels greets diners at the entrance to the CoCo Saigon complex. Inside the dimly lit CoCo Dining, the modern industrial space plays with rust-patterned metalwork, black stone tabletops, textured brick walls and custom wooden panels bearing the CoCo floral motif. Honoring local heritage, the restaurant highlights artwork and installations by Vietnamese artists, achieving a sophisticated polish by setting everything against black tones and one-of-a-kind table lamps.

Black sintered stone was chosen not only for its luxurious look, but also for its function on kitchen counters. “It’s one of the easiest materials to work with for cleanliness and for temperature control,” Vuong says. “With a light warmer, you can heat a specific area so you can easily create warm stations or cold stations.”

For Managing Director Daniel Dang, the devil is in the details when it comes to creating an upscale environment — whether it’s customized menu boxes, luxurious black stone dining tables, or intentionally dim lighting. “To put a customer through dinner for three hours is not common in Vietnam, although it’s starting to be,” says Dang, who co-founded CoCo Saigon with Vuong and mixologist Duc Tran. “We had to work a lot on the customer journey to make them feel as comfortable as possible — even by moving them around the restaurant, which we do. They arrive and go to the bar for complimentary champagne before moving to the dining room. Then they finish with dessert back at the bar, so throughout the three-hour journey, it doesn’t feel like three hours. The dim lighting helps distract them, so they don’t keep looking at their watches. It creates a sense of exploration — they can’t see everything in one go.”

Born in Vietnam, Crafted for the World

By carefully curating the food, drinks, materials and design, every element at CoCo Dining comes together to create a chic and memorable evening. While the restaurant clearly reflects an international sensibility, what the team is most proud of is the homegrown talent behind it. “We didn’t have any foreign investments, consultations or big branding companies,” Dang reveals. “We are very proud that this project is created and run by Vietnamese people.”

Like CoCo Dining and other leading Vietnamese restaurants, Vasta Stone — a proudly Vietnamese sintered stone brand — is deeply committed to creating spaces that are welcoming, contemporary and rooted in heritage. Blending Vietnamese pride with Italian technology, the brand combines traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art manufacturing and innovative design to showcase the highest standards of sustainability and excellence.

“We have moved on from the war and no longer want to frame Vietnam around poverty or survival food,” Lam says. “What we appreciate is that we didn’t receive a MICHELIN Star right after opening. We worked hard and only earned it this year. There was progress — and the story is as real as it gets for Vietnam as a country, and for the chef.”

As Vietnam gains greater recognition on the global stage through its culinary talents, Vasta Stone is proud to walk alongside — ensuring that the spaces where these moments unfold are as unforgettable as the dishes themselves. The leading luxury sintered stone brand in Vietnam and an official partner of The MICHELIN Guide Vietnam, Vasta Stone is known for its innovation, sustainability and craftsmanship. Its sintered stone surfaces are visually striking, durable, anti-scratch and easy to clean.

By combining refined Italian design with traditional techniques, Vasta Stone creates premium products that elevate luxurious bathrooms, modern kitchens and outdoor spaces. With a commitment to sustainability and high-end luxury, the brand exemplifies quality and environmental responsibility — proudly made in Vietnam.