Christmas Eve 2024, we were dining in a cosy Italian Restaurant, in Hoi An, Vietnam. It felt like we were in some little nook of Manhattan.

We got speaking to the owner, Tu Nguyen, to find out more about her business and how she learned to make delicious authentic Italian Food, like an Italian Grandmother would make.

She is a trained Barista, who taught herself how to make Greek and Vegan Yogurt to sell online and survive financially during Covid. 

She then learned how to cook rather exceptional Italian cuisine from YouTube videos, cooking shows and recipe books. 

She now owns The Lions Room, Italian Restaurant and The Piatti Cafe, in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Her story really inspired me. 

An absolutely courageous young woman, who also had the confidence to speak to me in English, in my first ever in-person Podcast interview.

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• What inspired her to become a Barista
• Surviving financially during Covid
• Using YouTube to study
• Starting an Italian restaurant in Vietnam
• The difficulties of running a business
• Challenges in retaining staff
• How to keep staff happy
• What is life like in Vietnam
• Her Grandparents involvement in the Vietnam War
• How she fell in love with coffee 

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

 

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Tu Nguyen: 

• Instagram - The Lions Room
• Instagram - Piatti Cafe

Discussion Links  

• Hoi An, Vietnam
• Vietnam War

Music By

• Matthew Parker

 

Right Hook Request

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