For Tuan Le, Ho Chi Minh City isn't just inspiring; it's a vibrant hub brimming with opportunities fueled by its creative and ambitious residents.

Ho Chi Minh City

"I like to go to a bar called Que by Kareem. It’s by a fashion designer — Kareem — who opened a little bar above his studio. He makes his own sourdough bread; he makes his own butter; he has natural wine. And a lot of artists and creators go there and grab a nice, chill drink. Very casual."

Que by Kaarem

"In terms of food, I like to go to Japan Town. It's a neighborhood in Le Thanh Ton. There's a couple of bars around — one called Mangetsu. It's like a Japanese izakaya. It’s really great food, and cheap. It's always crowded, so you have to come early or book a table."

Mangetsu Shochu Bar

"There's a coffee shop called ABOUT LIFE. It's inside a pizza shop called Pizza 4P’s — that's a great place to eat as well. ABOUT LIFE is a brand from Japan, and Pizza 4P’s actually brought that over. That's a cool spot. Man, there's so many. Saigon is so exciting."

ABOUT LIFE COFFEE BREWERS

"For coffee, Saigon has a really cool, growing scene. A new place I just opened is called Shadow. It's a café and exhibition space, so we highlight a lot of local designers, a lot of local artists there."

Bakes Pasteur

"If you want something a little bit more fancy — that you might not think Saigon has — you can try to go to Quince. They're really good, like international Mediterranean fare."

Quince