Ngon Villa Restaurant

In a vast sea of mundane restaurants and overwhelming choices, NGON Villa offers what all tourists and food enthusiasts yearn for authenticity. NGON Villa serves as the gateway to culture, to eat well is to experience all the unique aspects of a country’s history, values, and traditions. Here at NGON Villa, Vietnamese food is more than a passing meal, it is an expression of Vietnam’s diverse culture.

NGON’s food is a fusion between the intricacy of French cuisine, mixed with the simplicity of Vietnamese culinary. Fresh ingredients are sourced from local markets, cultivated by salt of the earth, Vietnamese farmers and fisherman. It is NGON’s top chefs’ mission is to highlight the endless possibility of Vietnam’s food, pushing the limits of Vietnam’s culinary. Nowhere else can one find the simple act of eating to be a cultural experience.

Every NGON Villa is equipped to serve iconic food from all regions across Vietnam. From Hanoi’s famous Banh My, to Da Nang’s fresh and diverse choices of seafood, ending with Saigon’s must-have Che deserts, NGON captures the essence of Vietnam through its mastercraft menu. For the vegetarians, Vietnamese food with its deep roots in Buddhism offers a limitless choice of salads and rice cakes. You will find NGON Villa to be an inclusive place for all customers, both in our food and hospitality.

With an all-you-can-eat approach to dining, NGON encourages its customers to try out as many different styles of Vietnamese food as possible. Although each region of Vietnam offers a unique taste palate, through NGON’s excellent menu and our chefs’ experience in handling Viet’s ingredients, the full spectrum of possibility with Vietnamese cuisine is laid bare for all to experience.

Enjoying another culture’s cuisine can be a daunting task. With a variety of unique condiments, difficult to master utensils, and table etiquettes, the simple act of eating can be a performance in cultural appreciation.  Understanding the basics of a traditional table setting will bring you closer to
the essence of Vietnam.

Rice bowl on a small plate.
Unlike Indian cuisine, where rice is mixed directly with meat and sauce, Vietnamese cuisine prefers separating the rice into a smaller bowl. Having many dishes of different choices of foods on the table at once, you will have to grab the food you want into your rice bowl. This unique setting creates a culture for sharing and community, as the whole table join in together, while still keeping a sense of privacy.

Chopsticks
Typically made from bamboo or wood, chopsticks are used in every meal. Sometimes adorned in elaborate decorations, a pair of chopsticks can be a prized possession. Vietnamese favor chopsticks for the convince, chopsticks are the perfect utensil for any situation. Chopsticks might seem difficult
at first, but after a few drops of food, you’ll understand why Vietnamese have been using them for generations.

Spoon
For a traditional Vietnamese meal, spoons are as essential as chopsticks. Because soups are a vital component of an authentic menu, Vietnamese spoons are usually short and flat. Dishes like Bun Cha or Nem Lui, which have fish sauce as a condiment, use spoon to spill the sauce over the main
dish. Spoons can also be relied upon for those inclined to use chopsticks.

Glass of water or wine

The elderly used to say wine helps with digestion, which is why a glass of it is always nearby. Vietnamese rice wine is served in shot glasses, while Western wines are served in tall glasses. Because of influences from Indochina and French culinary, most Vietnamese cuisines are well complemented by wine.

Toothpicks
An essential for any Vietnamese restaurant, whether street-side or lavish, toothpicks can always be found on the dining table. Toothpicks are simple and cheap, and almost everyone uses them after a hearty meal. A perfect end to a meal, toothpicks signal the end of eating and the beginning of conversations.

 “Why does your Phở tastes different than mine?”- a conundrum that both northern and southern Vietnamese have been trying to solve for generations. Is there any legitimacy in believing that each region of Vietnam has a unique palate of taste? Which city can claim to have “the best”, “the most authentic”, or “have invented” a Viet’s cuisine? By taking the most iconic Vietnamese food – Phở, then closely examine the unique taste, preparation, and presentation from each region, we’ll see how diverse and distinctive Vietnamese culinary truly is.

Hanoi is an intersection for Chinese, French, and Indochina cuisine, but the city still has a deep connection to its’ Vietnamese traditions. Phở might not have originated from Hanoi, but its popularity is derived from famous Phở restaurants, whose recipes are well-kept family secrets. Phở Hanoi is easy to make, its ingredients are bountiful: phở noodles, chicken stock, fresh spring onions, and white chicken meat. Phở Hanoi is often accompanied by sliced lime, white vinegar, and mild hot sauce – it’s condiments highlight Phở’s already soulful ingredients.  But each bowl of Phở somehow tastes uniquely different, every small step in making Phở requires precision and creativity. Questions like: How long to boil the broth, what kind of phở noodles to use, what season of spring onions is being used…? Still, Phở Hanoi always revolves around these ingredients, with these cooking methods, bringing a taste that is both refreshing and delicious.

Moving along to Central Vietnam, where the hills are always green, and also the dishes. Phở Hue might not be as glamorous as Hanoi’s, but it proves itself as a wholly unique experience. Hue, with it’s bountiful green hills and tea farms, cooks its Phở with beef instead of chicken. Every part of the buffalo is used in making Phở, creating a wide variety of options through combining types of meat: tenderloin, rib, sirloin…. In contrast with Northern Vietnam’s dedication to simplicity, mostly because of its’ limited access to ingredients compared to the lush environment of Central Vietnam, Hue’s cuisine is always colorful, exotic, and varied.  It’s almost impossible to name all of Hue’s famous cuisine, because each dish is small and the people here eat several dishes per meal. Phở Hue is always served alongside several different vegetables, and 2 different cups of sauce – fish sauce and shrimp sauce. Diversity of flavors is key, and Central Vietnam is not lacking. It’s almost like Central culinary is making a bold statement, proudly asserting itself within the Vietnamese culinary scene.

Saigon, Vietnam’s most economically developed city, is the cultural center of Vietnamese cuisine. A crossroad for international travel and heavily influenced by French and American colonialism, Saigon has not lost its’ Vietnamese culinary essence, but somehow manages to improves it. In Saigon, Phở was in brought by Northern Vietnamese, and underwent years of culinary experimentation from colonialism. Phở Saigon might not be considered a regional icon, but Phở Saigon still represents the best aspect of Southern cuisine – creativity. There’s no correct way of making Phở Saigon. Like a portable all-you-can-eat buffet, Phở Saigon relies on its consumer to mix the ingredients to their own tasting. Always a handful of freshly boiled bean sprout and green leaves nearby, Phở Saigon delivers a wholly distinctive taste on each bite. Saigonese are also know for their affinity for spicy foods. Perhaps it’s because of the tropical weather, ideal for chili peppers, but in every Phở vendor you’ll find a bottle of bright red hot sauce, hot enough to make you sweat just by looking at it. Phở Saigon is an explosion of flavors, a rollercoaster ride of tastes. Contrast with the benign nature of Phở Hanoi, Southern Phở screams personality, a wild beast of Vietnamese cuisine.

Vietnamese cuisine is blessed with a broad range of choices, but this can often be a little intimidating for anyone visiting on holiday. Fortunately, we’ve got an all-you-can-eat menu available, where diners can try as many dishes as they like, with small portion sizes to ensure you can indulge in Vietnam’s variety. If that’s still too intimidating, however, we present a shortlist of our finest dishes handpicked by our chefs and our customers.

Chefs’ choice

Southern deep-fried spring rolls

It’s true that no two dishes are the same in Vietnam, but the difference from north to south is staggering and although often subtle, the minor alterations to classic recipes make all the difference. We’re yet to find a more poignant example of this than the delicate and crisp southern style spring rolls, which make for an excellent variation on the northern classic.

Grilled oysters with spring onion salsa/with salted egg

Our grilled oysters have a unique smoky taste, which, combined with the flavors of spring onion salsa or salted egg, creates an essential dish for our all-you-can-eat menu.

Caramelized clams with crispy garlic

Our world-class chefs have chosen their indulgent, succulent caramelized clams as one of their favorite dishes, and we can see why. Paired with crispy garlic, this unique dish shows off the culinary skills of our kitchen in a fusion between tradition and modernity.

Char-grilled prawns

A dazzling array of traditional herbs and spices are added to this favorite of Vietnamese cuisine. Particularly popular throughout the country on hot days, but delectable any time of the year, the char-grilled prawns are a must.

Sweet and sour banana blossom salad with shredded chicken

The unique flavors of banana blossom lend themselves perfectly to the diverse taste of shredded chicken. Once you taste it, you’ll find yourself aching for more banana blossom salad – a delicacy native to Vietnam.

Guest’s choice

Marinated green papaya and dried beef salad

You’ll find green papayas in abundance throughout Vietnam, but this pairing is quite unique to Ngon Villa. While it does contain dried beef, the salad remains light and moreish, bringing not just a blend of flavors, but also textures to this popular classic.

Sweet and sour stir-fried red tilapia

Our fresh water fish dish takes on typical Vietnamese flavors while it’s fried with a mix of herbs and spices.

Grilled oysters with spring onion salsa/with salted egg

We grill our oysters fresh from the sea, waiting patiently for them to pop open. This ensures the smokiest of flavors, which in turn pair wonderfully with our spring onion salsa or salted egg.

Smoked beef in a clay pot

Cooking meats in a clay pot and harboring the flavors of many meals within is a traditional cooking technique in Vietnam. The smoked beef is almost caramelized, so tender you’ll barely need a knife and so delicious you may want to consider ordering two.

Crispy rice pancake with local herbs

This dish is popular with everyone in Hanoi, and because it was inspired by French cuisine, you’ll find crispy rice pancakes cooked everywhere from street food stalls to high-end restaurants. We still add a unique touch to ours though, making it a sure-fire success for anyone with taste buds.

>> Check out Ngon Villa Restaurant

When it comes to desserts in Vietnam, people will often get stuck on the idea of che – sometimes translated as “sweet soup” – but there’s a lot more to the nation’s sweet tooth than this.

While che, with all its coconut milk and bean varieties is great, Vietnam’s tumultuous history has provided inspiration for a few desserts with a touch more imagination. Over time, these have slowly gone on to become an ingrained part of Vietnamese cuisine.

At Ngon Villa, our all-you-can-eat concept will allow you to try a variation of traditional dishes, including some of our decadent dessert options. While che may not be on the list, each option utilizes traditional Vietnamese ingredients.

We join the elements of tradition and modernity using Vietnamese recipes and fruits, with French techniques to make some mouth-watering meal-finishers.

1.     Pink pomelo platter

A Vietnamese staple, but a rarity in most of the world, Vietnam’s pink pomelos mostly come straight from the Mekong Delta. While most people may associate a pomelo with the grapefruit often found in western countries, there are some distinct differences between the two, particularly with the pink pomelo.

The taste of a pink pomelo is a bit different from your average pomelo, it doesn’t pack such a kick, but is sweeter instead. Our pomelo platter not only makes a very attractive, colorful dessert, but also serves as a fresh, fruity and delicious end to a meal.

2.     Pineapple flambé served with vanilla ice cream

You’ll find pineapple to be a one of the more popular fruits sold by street vendors across Vietnam, the skin sliced off and the fruit cut into ribbons. This dish, however, finds more French inspiration than Vietnamese. Though it is soaked in rum, our flambé remains light, while the ice cream adds an indulgent twist that perfectly soothes the fruity tang of the pineapple.

3.     Deep fried banana with sticky rice

Warm and filling, this dish is good for colder days and irresistible on hot days. Whole bananas are dipped in batter for this delectable dessert, fried until they have a crumbling crisp coating then served with a side of sticky rice for a signature Vietnamese approach. The crunch of the outer shell leads to a warm, sweet and caramelized center.

Vietnamese cuisine is vast, eclectic and unique, where specialties vary through different provinces. Hanoi in know for its Bun Cha, Hoi An for its Cau Lau My and Danang for its vast array of fresh seafood.

For many people visiting Vietnam, this can be justifiably intimidating. You may wonder how you’ll go about trying all of the food that you want to eat, or where to find the best possible version.

Fortunately Ngon Villa have decided to launch their revolutionary dining concept in Saigon, sharing their broad range of traditional Vietnamese cuisine further south of the country.

Up until now, Ngon Villa could only be found in Hanoi, Danang and Hoi An. Due to the overwhelming success of our unique dining style, we’ve decided to share the wealth with Saigon. Ho Chi Minh locals will recognize two more restaurants from the Viet Deli family, Home Finest and The Chopsticks. We’ll be bringing the high standards set within these restaurants to Ngon Villa, using the finest in locally sourced ingredients.

We believe that the unique concept behind Ngon Villa is fundamentally lacking in Ho Chi Minh City. This concept gained a lot of attention in Ngon Villa throughout Vietnam’s three other major cities. This is why we’ve decided to take it further south. Our all-you-can-eat concept gives diners a chance to try as many of our traditional Vietnamese dishes as they like. This is not an all-you-can-eat buffet, however. All dishes will be made to order and brought to the table, making sure you get the freshest meals available.

Ngon Villa sets itself apart from other restaurants by offering the chance for diners to try such a large array of Vietnam’s unique cuisine. Each dish is smaller than your average meal, meaning that you’ll be able to try a larger range of traditional Vietnamese cuisine, at the price of a single meal.

Like our restaurants in Hanoi, Hoi An and Danang, we’ll offer local specialties on our menu that you won’t be able to find throughout the rest of the country, cooked with the usual Saigon touch. To book a table in our newly opened restaurant, have a look at our Ngon Villa website, where you’ll find the prices for our all-you-can-eat menus.

Chef Thien is a young man passionate about his culture, and, more than anything, the cuisine that is so deeply embedded within it.

“We want to introduce the world to Vietnamese culture,” Chef Thien explains, “it’s a culture that has its own unique, traditional traits.”

Thien continues to explain that, rightly or wrongly, people have a certain idea of Vietnamese cuisine that he is looking to change. “The view from international guests and customers,” he states, “is that they perceive all Vietnamese cuisine to be street food, but it can be incredibly simple, incredibly diverse and, also lively and exciting.”

Guests will often want to experience Vietnamese cuisine like a local, to gain an authentic experience, and this is something that Thien is trying to encourage. He explains that he wants their experience “to be like a close friend visiting our home” and to show them the connection between culture and cuisine. Thien believes this is “how they can enjoy food in a traditional way.”

Thien explains that, for him, this is one of the many benefits to working with Viet Deli. A major part of Viet Deli’s mission is to share an unmatched passion for Vietnamese cuisine. “That’s what makes the company so unique,” Thien explains, “the company’s goal is to spread this traditional food across the world.”

This is, he believes, what makes Viet Deli the ideal working environment for him to embody the values of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. “The company’s vision is to promote traditional Vietnamese products,” Thien explains. “After three years of working here, I can see that it’s a dynamic company, which provides the ideal working environment for young people like me, who have a different idea of hospitality, particularly restaurants and customers.”

Thien admits that this is a part of the challenge for the company. It’s a highly ambitious idea, to promote traditional Vietnamese cuisine across the world, whilst trying to support a young and dynamic work force, with chefs like Thien. As Chef Thien admits, however, it is a worthwhile goal.