Azerai La Residence, Hue’s Executive Chef Nguyen Dong Hai was recognized as a “Master Culinary Artisan of Vietnam” for his craftsmanship, cultural contributions, and dedication to preserving and elevating Vietnamese and local Hue gastronomy.
The official national honor, awarded at a ceremony in Hanoi last month, recognizes Chef Hai’s decades-long culinary career and accomplishments, during which he has served memorable meals for an extraordinary range of royalty, dignitaries, world leaders, and celebrities.
The Vietnam Handicraft Villages Association awarded the title to Chef Hai, which typically gives them out every two or three years. The requirements for nominees are stringent, and only a few master chefs have been honored, often fewer than 10 nationwide in the culinary category.
With 122 elegantly furnished rooms and suites, Azerai La Residence, Hue is centered on a colonial mansion that was built in 1930 as part of the residence of the French Resident Superieur. The mansion’s distinctive façade, including its long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes, are hallmarks of the streamline moderne school of art deco architecture.
