Sofitel Saigon Plaza : Culinary Concepts 2025

7 days ago6 min read

Introduction

Sofitel Saigon Plaza, situated right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, is truly a haven for discerning travellers and it is aptly defined by its Parisian style, bevy of multiple Food and Beverage concepts, restaurants, cafe and bar, it's very warm hospitality and service and it's clear initiatives of plastic-reducing and food-redistributing sustainability.

Its' suites and rooms are adorned with polished hardwood floors balanced by warm cream hues and it provides for an uninterrupted view of the glittering Saigon skyline, along a busy Le Duan street' the wondrous and enchanting blend of French and Vietnamese luxury invites and welcomes the global visitor to Saigon.

The rooms are exceptionally distinguished and charming, the service is excellent, the checkin and checkout process is seamless with an awesome front office team and concierge team along with the wonderful Club Milleseme service team and a great F&B service team at Le17 Bistro and ST25 by KOTO and a caring breakfast F&B team.

Club Milleseme

We were invited to partake the benefits of this lovely club on the 18th floor of the hotel, being a guest of their Club room and so we spent our afternoons and evenings at this elite lounge, with exclusive private check-in and checkout, and it was ideal for me to have my work meetings in this Club lounge, which is easy-going with complimentary high-speed WiFi, relaxing over afternoon tea with my work partners and also savouring a nice sumptious meal and free-flow evening beer, wine, bubbly and cocktails on the terrace. Simply Amazing! The wholesome Club Milleseme Lounge experience is so relaxing and chill as they played great soft music, good wines, sumptuous meals, cool decor, great ambience; I can literally spend the whole day here.. and I did that.. honestly..

Le Gouter

We discovered and spent a lovely and Chic Afternoon Tea at Sofitel Saigon Plaza, with Le Gouter and Le Gourmand, 2 brand new concepts tailored specially for the high tea reception at Sofitel Saigon Plaza.

Ho Chi Minh City — Sofitel Saigon Plaza is delighted to once again present the exquisite French-inspired afternoon tea experience Le Goûter. Following the overwhelming success of their pastry collection at Boudoir Lounge, they are proud to unveil a new menu, meticulously crafted by renowned French chef Robin Mouquet.

Le Goûter is served from Tuesday to Sunday every week between 14:00 and 17:30 hours at Le17 Bistro. Every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, Chef Robin Mouquet will be present at Le 17 Bistro to personally serve guests and share the inspiration behind the Le Goûter menu.

Chef Robin is a wonder and so lovely and bubbly with his little antics as he went about his paces in describing the origins of each afternoon dish, prepared meticulously by him and his team; his ready assistant, Minh drives the innovation together with Chef Robin in each of the delights for the afternoon session. I like the fact that the Chef prepares each dish in front of me, which is distinctly different from the other offerings from other cafes and their hi-tea sets in other luxury hotels in Saigon; it makes me feel special and entitled!

As an invitation to embrace Sofitel’s authentic and vibrant food and beverage concept with a touch of French zest, Le Goûter promises a captivating selection of refined pastries, stylishly presented on a sophisticated white trolley. It features a range of sweet treats as well as fresh pastries. We just delved into the art of French patisserie with two highlights from the Le Goûter collection. The first was the Le Mont Blanc - with a crispy meringue base, the Mont Blanc is enhanced with a hint of blueberry tartness to complement the rich chestnut purée. The second was the Le Paris Brest - a bed of Golden choux pastry, creamy hazelnut mousseline, all this promises to create that fantastic and wonderful French High-Tea experience.

Also to be found is a collection of "gâteau de voyages", soft cookies, mignardises, essential pound cake and the brand new signature thin waffles garnished with local Vietnamese flavors Kumquat and Coffee, a special creation. We also had the savoury part, aptly termed Le Gourmand and it was presented in the afternoon tea formula with the creation of 3 original sandwiches with salmon and crab. Each exquisite creation is freshly prepared daily, allowing customers to personally choose from an array of delights beautifully presented on the trolley. Just Brilliant!

Robin Mouquet, who has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens alongside culinary legends such as Alain Ducasse, Pierre Gagnaire, Alain Passard and Pierre Hermé, is renowned for his innovative fusion of pastry techniques with the rich flavours of Vietnam, delivering an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

For a truly gourmet experience, Le Goûter can be paired with Dilmah’s exceptional The Teamakers Private Reserve collection. Renowned for their rare and refined flavours, these teas are hand-selected from the world’s finest tea plantations, embodying the pinnacle of tea craftsmanship. Guests can also savour the nuanced richness of sustainable Vietnamese coffee, lovingly cultivated at Folliett Coffee, which perfectly complements the fine pastries.

ST25 by KOTO

Within the pages of this extraordinary cookbook lies the embodiment of a remarkable journey that began with a single question: "Why not?" The answer to that question gave birth to KOTO - Know One, Teach One, an organization that has not only transformed over 1700 lives but has woven an intricate and inspiring tapestry across Vietnam.

At the heart of this incredible story stands a visionary, Jimmy Pham, whose indefatigable spirit and unwavering determination ignited a revolution of empowerment through culinary art. His humble food stall in Hanoi marked the inception of KOTO, a pioneering institution that transcends boundaries and stands as Vietnam's first social enterprise.

Over the years, under Jimmy's visionary leadership, KOTO has grown into a thriving ecosystem, touching countless lives and fostering a community that champions knowledge and compassion.

From its origins, KOTO's purpose was clear - to teach disadvantaged youth culinary skills and provide them with opportunities for a brighter future. But the impact transcended the kitchen. As you dive into the recipes and stories in this cookbook, you'll see how KOTO has evolved, influencing not only the culinary landscape but also the social fabric of Vietnam. It's a testament to the incredible potential that lies in education, empowerment, and unwavering dedication. This education and training had evolved and produced numerous disciples, each charged with a mission to deliver and bring back the goodness they have achieved, back into society and into their hospitality domains that they now work in, like Sofitel Saigon Plaza.

KOTO's influence extends beyond culinary education, too. The organization's expansion into co-founding Vietharvest, a food rescue initiative, exemplifes its commitment to nourishing not just lives but also the environment. The focus on sustainability, and economic empowerment for ethnic minorities, and rural women make KOTO a true pioneer in the social enterprise landscape.

At the heart of this transformation is the woman who helped shape the destiny of KOTO, the author of this cookbook, Tracey Lister. Her early involvement, when Jimmy Pham asked her to train the first few cohorts, laid the foundation for the culinary excellence that defines KOTO today. Despite geographical distances, Tracey remains closely tied to KOTO's mission, demonstrating that the spirit of KOTO knows no bounds.

As one explore the delectable recipes and absorb the stories within these pages, and also embark on the food menu at KOTO, one is truly embarking on a culinary adventure and a journey that transcends through the heart and soul of an organization that continues to leave an indelible mark on Vietnam.

The KOTO cookbook is a testament to how, in the hands of visionaries like Jimmy Pham and Tracey Lister, food becomes a catalyst for transformation, nurturing lives, sustaining dreams, shaping a brighter future, and much much more. As one enjoys this remarkable culinary journey through the flavors of KOTO, one would be inspired to believe that change is possible, one person at a time.

The menu that we tasted was simply amazing, full of texture and structure, bursting with umami and powerful flavours, reminiscent of a typical local Vietnamese kitchen, but presented with elegance and finesse in this lovely restaurant, KOTO by ST25 at Sofitel Saigon Plaza.

Breakfast

As we embarked on their global breakfast adventure at their open kitchen buffet, we simply loved diving straight into their local Vietnamese delights like pho and banh mi, and also savoured French pastries, and indulged in hot breakfast classics along with their signature croissants and a sip of the famed ca phe sua da during breakfast!

Accolades

We would love to extend our thanks and appreciation to Alistair Minty, General Manager, Esteban Jacquet, Director Ops, Eban, Thy and Ginny at the Front Office, Rick and Fox at the concierge team, Marcus at the Club Millesime, Trang Nguyen - Breakfast, Thanh Truc at Le 17 Bistro, Chef Robin Mouquet chef and Minh at Le Gouter along with Yen Nhi at Le17 Bistro, as well as Le Hieu mgr and also Xuan Thuy at ST25 by Koto.