HANOI (Dec. 4, 2024) – A new dining destination in Vietnam’s capital, Cham Cantonese Kitchen, celebrates its official launch on December 6th, with a chef takeover that will see two top female chefs teaming up in the Cham kitchen for the evening.

For the launch event, created in partnership between Meliá Hanoi and Vietcetera, Summer Le, the head chef of Vietnam’s first MICHELIN Green Star award winner, Nén Danang, will showcase her skills alongside Cham’s Le Thi Thai, the seasoned head dim sum chef who has nearly three decades of experience in the industry.

Over the last 18 months Meliá Hanoi’s gastronomy offerings have undergone a complete reimagining. Cham now offers a dining experience that harkens back to 1960s Hong Kong with masterly chefs crafting authentic Cantonese cuisine with a modern touch.

Last year Meliá Hanoi’s Garbo Bar opened, drawing inspiration from the golden era of ‘50’s Hollywood with its new sleek gold and emerald green bar counter, along with Mosaico, the hotel’s all-day restaurant which reflects the hotel’s European heritage with its Mediterranean fare. The revitalized restaurants are helping position the property as a sought-after dining destination.

From the elegant interior design to the new menu vision, Cham Cantonese Kitchen is an entirely new upscale eatery that incorporates the best of the region offering a dining experience that is both authentic and innovative.

“In Vietnamese and Cantonese cooking, the dipping sauce nuoc cham is at the heart of the meal. It’s the taste that brings everything together,” explained Dominik Tschurr, Director of Food & Beverage at Meliá Hanoi. “Our new name Cham captures the multifaceted power of this ingredient and the importance of unity and connecting together with friends, family and colleagues.”

Under the direction of Le Thi Thai, Cham Cantonese Kitchen will highlight what she does best: dim sum. Thai started her career in 1996 when the first international hotel in Hanoi opened. For close to two decades, she developed her skills in a Cantonese kitchen before switching to the contemporary John Anthony restaurant where she spent nine years. Over the course of her career, she has worked alongside Chinese Master chefs including Chan Wing Kwong – former head chef at Michelin-starred Crystal Jade Golden Palace in Singapore.

“I have had the chance to work with many Chinese and Singaporean dim sum masters over the course of my career,” said Le Thi Thai. “Through these rich experiences and tutelage I believe I’ve been able to perfect my craft.”

Highlights from the dim sum menu include crab claw steam buns, spicy xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and pork and abalone siu mai. The menu draws inspiration from the diverse culinary landscape throughout China with dishes such as hot & sour Sichuan seafood soup, lobster cooked Beijing-style, and braised abalone with mushroom, to name a few. Each dish is expertly crafted by talented chefs who have years of experience in crafting Cantonese delicacies.

In the future innovative tableside offerings will be introduced including smoked duck served tableside and beggar’s chicken, a show-stopping dish that involves a succulent chicken that is baked whole after being coated in clay. Post-oven the unassuming-looking clay-coated dish is cracked open with a hammer to reveal a juicy chicken inside.

Chinese liquor and creative cocktails inspired by Chinese flavors, are also on offer alongside an international selection of wine.

Located on Meliá Hanoi’s first floor, the renovated restaurant has a green, leafy outlook from floor-to-ceiling windows. The completely remodeled interior features a warm color palette of dark teal and burnt orange. The decor creates a vintage China atmosphere with a residential vibe inviting guests to feel like they’re dining within an upscale home in China.

Cham Cantonese Kitchen has a seating capacity of 92 and is open daily for lunch and dinner. Book your next experience at Cham here: CHAM – Cantonese Kitchen – Meliá Hanoi – TableCheck