Sam Tran
First Vietnamese female chef with a Michelin star — co-founder of Gia Hanoi
Who is Sam Tran?
Sam Tran is the first Vietnamese female chef to earn a Michelin star, co-founder of Gia restaurant in Hanoi in 2019 together with chef Long Tran. Gia is a modern Vietnamese fine-dining restaurant serving a 15-course tasting menu that pairs Vietnamese ingredients with contemporary fine-dining technique. Gia earned its first Michelin star in 2023 when the Michelin Guide officially arrived in Vietnam — a milestone for Vietnamese female chefs on the international map.
Notable Quotes
“We want to tell Vietnam's story through every dish — local ingredients but modern technique.”
Advice
Tell cultural stories through food
Every dish in the 15-course menu carries a Vietnamese cultural narrative — not just cooking technique.
Local ingredients are the foundation
100% Vietnamese ingredients from North to South — the differentiator from imported fine dining.
Build a sustainable Vietnamese chef brand
Gia is more than one restaurant — it's a platform for a new generation of Vietnamese female chefs.
Key Highlights
- ✓Co-founder of Gia (Hanoi, 2019) — modern Vietnamese fine dining
- ✓First Vietnamese female chef to earn a Michelin star (2023)
- ✓15-course seasonal tasting menu, 100% Vietnamese ingredients
- ✓Representing a new generation of Vietnamese female chefs on the international culinary map
Biography
Sam Tran belongs to a new generation of Vietnamese female chefs, representing the wave of modern Vietnamese cuisine. She co-founded Gia restaurant in Hanoi in 2019 with chef Long Tran, with the mission of bringing Vietnamese cuisine to the world-class fine-dining stage. Gia serves a 15-course seasonal tasting menu using 100% Vietnamese ingredients sourced from North to South. Concept: combining Vietnamese ingredients and cultural narrative with modern fine-dining technique (fermenting, cure, foam, gel). In 2023, Gia earned its first Michelin star when the Michelin Guide officially arrived in Vietnam. Sam Tran became the first Vietnamese female chef to earn this recognition — an important milestone for the community of female chefs in Vietnam.
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Articles & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
›Who is Sam Tran?
Sam Tran is the first Vietnamese female chef to earn a Michelin star, co-founder of Gia restaurant in Hanoi in 2019 with chef Long Tran. Gia earned its first Michelin star in 2023 — a milestone for Vietnamese female chefs on the international map.
›What is Gia Hanoi?
Gia is a modern Vietnamese fine-dining restaurant in Hanoi serving a seasonal 15-course tasting menu. Concept: combining 100% Vietnamese ingredients with modern fine-dining technique (fermenting, cure, foam, gel). Gia earned a Michelin star in 2023.
›Is Sam Tran the first Vietnamese female chef to earn a Michelin star?
Yes. Sam Tran is the first Vietnamese female chef to earn a Michelin star, through Gia Hanoi in 2023 — a historic milestone for the Vietnamese female-chef community on the international culinary map.
›Who co-founded Gia Hanoi with Sam Tran?
Gia Hanoi was co-founded by Sam Tran and chef Long Tran in 2019. Together the two chefs built the modern Vietnamese fine-dining concept, blending Vietnamese cultural narrative with modern culinary technique.
›What is on Gia's 15-course menu?
Gia's 15-course menu changes with the seasons using 100% Vietnamese ingredients from North to South. Each course tells a story of Vietnamese culture through modern fine-dining technique — from starter to dessert.
Other Experts
Peter Cuong Franklin
Vietnamese-American chef who earned HCMC's first Michelin star — Anan Saigon at Cho Cu Market
Summer Lê
Chef behind Vietnam's first and only Michelin Green Star, pioneering sustainable dining with 99% local ingredients
Bobby Chinn
"Pharaoh of Fine Dining in the Far East" — the chef who pioneered fine dining in Vietnam, Top Chef Middle East judge
Đào Thế Vinh
Chairman & CEO of Golden Gate — Vietnam's largest restaurant group with 40+ brands and 500+ locations
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