Why a fourth-generation culinary family chose Saigon
Jonathan Koh, who has walked the culinary path over four generations in Singapore, has opened the fine-dining venue "VOYAGE" at 51 Le Van Mien Street in Thu Duc City (former District 2), Ho Chi Minh City. Koh, who trained at France's Michelin-starred restaurants "Le Jardin des Sens" and "La Villa Augusta," runs a venue built on the concept of "quiet integrity."
Menu structure and ingredient sourcing
VOYAGE's tasting menu fuses the classical discipline of French cuisine with Asia's sensory nuance. Centered on vegetables from the Da Lat highlands and seafood from Japan's coast, Koh develops each dish over several months.
Some of the dishes revealed are as follows.
- A tart of otoro, striped jack, and salmon roe
- Nori brioche—with sea urchin and lardo
- Multiple variations on Vietnamese tomato (raw, semi-dried, reduced sauce)
- Reinterpreted gougères and mille-feuille
In the press release, Koh says, "I pursue not spectacle but the emotional resonance of the ingredients."
Background—the rapid growth of Ho Chi Minh City fine dining
Ho Chi Minh City's fine-dining scene has rapidly deepened in the past few years.CieL Dining being named No. 3 on Food & Wine magazine's "world top 10"is still fresh in memory. Since Anan won a Michelin star in 2023, the arrival of overseas chefs has accelerated. VOYAGE's opening is proof that Saigon is starting to be recognized as "a city worth visiting just to eat."
A comparison of course structures
| Restaurant | Area | Number of courses | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOYAGE | Thu Duc City (former District 2) | Tasting | French classical x Asian sensibility |
| CieL Dining | Thu Duc City | Tasting | Nordic x Japanese |
| Vore | District 1 | 12 courses | Rebuilding Vietnamese ingredients |
| Anăn Saigon | District 1 | 11 courses | Modernizing Vietnamese tradition |
Reactions from the industry and media
- "We've reached an era when a Singaporean chef deliberately sets up base in Vietnam. Saigon's food scene is becoming Southeast Asia's central axis." (a local food journalist)
- "The combination of Da Lat vegetables and Japanese seafood gives new context to Vietnam's local ingredients." (a dining-industry insider)
- On TripAdvisor, reviews began appearing right after opening, with praise for "a quiet, calm space" standing out.
A practical guide for Japanese travelers
Le Van Mien Street, where VOYAGE is located, is in the heart of the Thao Dien area. About 15 minutes by Grab from District 1. The area also has a concentration ofdessert cafés,making it suitable for a stroll before or after dinner. Book via voyage-saigon.com. There's no stated dress code, but smart casual is a safe bet.
The ripple effects of Ho Chi Minh City fine dining
Around VOYAGE's opening, Esta's former head chef Long Cuong opened "Vore" in District 1, and food influencer Dancy Chun's "Archive" is also on the horizon for the latter half of 2026. Ho Chi Minh City is transforming from "a city of street food" into "a city with both street food and fine dining."A rush of new café openingsinvestment in the dining industry has reached a record-high level.
Venue information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shop name | VOYAGE |
| Address | 51 Lê Văn Miến, An Khánh, Thủ Đức, HCMC |
| Chef | Jonathan Koh (Singapore, fourth generation) |
| Genre | French x Asian tasting menu |
| Reservations | voyage-saigon.com/reservation |
| SNS | Facebook: @voyageinsaigon |
Summary
A venue set on a quiet Saigon street by the fourth generation of a Singaporean culinary family. The tasting menu, finishing Da Lat highland vegetables and Japanese seafood with French classical techniques, is best experienced combined with a stroll through the Thao Dien area. Book in advance at voyage-saigon.com.
Source: PR Newswire / Esquire Vietnam
