512 - Why Are Overseas Vietnamese Chefs Suddenly Moving Back To Saigon?- Helen Nha Van

In this episode, Ken sits down with Helen Nha Van, a brilliant PhD researcher examining the political economy, class dynamics, and cultural friction underlying Vietnam's explosive modern fine-dining scene.

Nhã pulls back the curtain on the quiet post-1986 Đổi Mới return migration waves, tracking how second-generation Việt Kiều (diaspora) chefs from the West are choosing to return to Vietnam to pioneer high-end cuisine. In a candid conversation about food and ethnic insecurity, Nhã breaks down the psychological borders that prevent overseas creators from attempting traditional street dishes, the invisible weight of French cult...