Bước đột phá cho ngành F&B tại Việt Nam: Ra mắt Vietnam Sommelier Association

In the elegant setting of Park Hyatt Saigon, connoisseurs and industry leaders witnessed a significant milestone: The official launch of the Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA). More than just an event for the sommelier community, this moment marks a transformative chapter in the growth of wine culture in Vietnam.

Evolving from the solid foundation of the Saigon Sommelier Association (SSA) - which has made a remarkable contribution over the past 5 years to education, community building, and professional events - early 2025 saw SSA officially licensed by the Vietnam Tourism Association to operate nationwide under its new name: Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA). With this recognition, VSA is now the only legally acknowledged organization representing the sommelier profession in Vietnam and a proud member of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI).

Vision and Enduring Mission

VSA aspires to be the leading organization in sommelier training, professional development, and industry connection in Vietnam, with a strong international outlook. Through intensive education programs, international collaborations, and the promotion of wine culture, VSA aims to elevate Vietnamese gastronomy onto the global culinary stage.

Behind VSA stands a seasoned and dynamic Executive Board, comprising 14 professionals who represent a new generation of Vietnamese sommelier excellence, including:

• President: Mr. Tu Le Huy – Runner-up of the Best French Wine Sommelier in Vietnam competition (2011).
• National Vice President: Ms. Le Hoang Khanh Vi – Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology. Top 10 finalist in the Japan Sommelier Competition 2023 and Vietnam’s representative at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2023.
• Regional Vice President: Ms. Tran Thi Dung Tram – Champion of the Vietnam Best Sommelier Competition 2024.

Alongside nearly 200 young members working across Vietnam’s leading restaurants, hotels, bars, and beverage import companies, they form a new sommelier generation: Confident, professional, and ambitious.

Expanding Across Vietnam

To affirm its commitment to national connectivity, VSA has chosen three emblematic cities to host its launch events:

• Ho Chi Minh City – April 15, 2025, at Park Hyatt Saigon
• Hanoi City – May 6, 2025, at Ngon Garden Restaurant
• Danang City – May 15, 2025, at Novotel Danang Premier Han River

Each event serves not only as a gathering of the industry’s most respected names but also as a celebration of the dynamic evolution of Vietnam’s wine appreciation culture.

As wine appreciation becomes an integral part of Vietnam’s contemporary lifestyle, VSA’s mission is more vital than ever. Beyond enhancing professional standards, VSA contributes to enriching Vietnam’s gastronomic and cultural tapestry, turning every wine gathering into an elevated experience of connection, sophistication, and cultural exchange.