Azerai La Residence, Hue continues to strengthen its position as a culinary landmark in central Vietnam with the introduction of several new local specialities at its all-day dining restaurant, Le Parfum. The latest additions reflect the hotel’s ongoing commitment to showcasing authentic Vietnamese flavours while celebrating regional culinary traditions.

Executive Chef Nguyen Dong Hai, who has been with La Residence since 2005, recently earned further recognition after being named a finalist in the Gourmet Vietnam Awards presented by Epicure magazine. Last year, he was also honoured with the title of “Master Culinary Artist of Vietnam,” a rare distinction that highlights his contribution to the country’s culinary scene.

The newly launched Vietnamese dishes draw inspiration from Hue’s royal and local cuisine. Highlights include Hue Royal-Style Braised Duck Leg, slow-braised in Minh Mang wine with goji berries, star anise, carrots, mushrooms and ginseng, and served with mung bean sticky rice. Another addition is the Hue Five-Spice Roasted Chicken with Turmeric Rice, featuring free-range chicken marinated in five local spices and honey, paired with shitake mushrooms, turmeric-scented rice and sautéed bok choy. The menu also includes Hue Caramelized Pork & Prawn in a Clay Pot, served alongside sautéed broccoli and steamed rice.

Beyond Vietnamese specialities, Chef Hai has introduced global flavours to the menu. New offerings include Thyme Semi-Smoked Japanese Wagyu Striploin A5, served with pear potato, organic vegetables and yakiniku sauce, as well as Steamed YellowTail Kingfish with Black Bean Soy, accompanied by sautéed mushrooms, carrots, onions, bok choy and glass noodles.

Chef Hai is also the creative force behind several of the hotel’s signature dining experiences. These include “The Colonial Life,” a concept that blends Nguyen Dynasty imperial cuisine with refined French gastronomy in a riverside setting inspired by Indochina’s colonial charm. In 2017, he curated the “Majestic Menu” for the state visit of Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, hosted by then-Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. This menu has since become one of the hotel’s most popular culinary offerings.

Over the years, Chef Hai’s work has attracted global attention, including praise from the late TV host and author Anthony Bourdain, who stayed at the hotel in 2014 and admired his inventive take on the Vietnamese banh mi, now famously known as the “La Residence Banh Mi.”

Azerai La Residence, Hue features 122 rooms and suites set around a colonial mansion built in 1930 as part of the residence of the French Resident Superieur. The property’s art deco façade reflects the streamline moderne architectural style. Recently, the hotel was recognised among Vietnam’s top 16 hotels for 2025 by The Times of London and is part of hotelier Adrian Zecha’s Azerai portfolio, which also includes Azerai Ke Ga Bay in southern Vietnam.