Akuna

The story

Akuna – Michelin-Starred Fine Dining in Ho Chi Minh City by Chef Sam Aisbett

A Chef's Homecoming to the Chaos of Saigon

“Vietnam is both magical and manic,” says Chef Sam Aisbett. “With Akuna, I want the world to see the culinary possibilities amidst the beautiful chaos of Saigon, where I now call home.” Born in Melbourne, Australia, Aisbett is a self-described rebel in the kitchen who spent two decades cooking across Australia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Along the way, he accumulated four MICHELIN Stars, multiple Chef Hats, and a place on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. At Akuna, he channels that experience into a cuisine that reflects his own restless curiosity—marrying flavours and techniques from across cultures without being bound by any single tradition.

The restaurant sits on the ninth floor of the Le Méridien Hotel in District 1, a setting that feels both elevated and intimate. Counter dining puts guests close to the open kitchen, where the team works with quiet precision. The atmosphere is polished but relaxed, the kind of place where the energy of the city below feels present but distant.

The Team Behind the Star

Akuna earned its first MICHELIN Star within its first year, a testament to the team Aisbett has assembled. Head Chef Enrico Gross was part of the founding culinary team; born in Dresden, Germany, his background spans Japanese, Australian, French, German, and Mexican cuisines. Pastry Chef Remi Mourey has lived in Saigon for seven years and brings a deep appreciation for Vietnamese ingredients to his desserts. Restaurant Manager Des Bevilacqua has spent three decades refining hospitality across the U.K., Singapore, and Vietnam, while Head Sommelier Travis Nguyen curates a wine list that mirrors Akuna’s “no-boundaries” approach.

The result is a dining experience that feels both globally informed and deeply local—a reflection of a chef who has found his home in the beautiful chaos of Ho Chi Minh City.