Raising the bar: the duos defining Vietnamese bar culture

The bar was founded by Jay Moir and Annie Vu, a couple who met and fell in love in Australia before returning to Vietnam to begin a new journey. While searching for a location, they stumbled upon a small alley on Dong Du Street, the very spot they knew should become the home of Layla.

Layla’s style reflects Jay’s “Aussie laid-back” attitude alongside Annie’s sensibilities as a proud, thoughtful Vietnamese woman. Building on this early success, the duo launched Summer Experiment, an innovative project that lives up to its name: cocktails crafted with local ingredients, homegrown vegetables, wild herbs, and a zero-waste philosophy. These initiatives earned Layla Eatery & Bar a place in the Tatler Best 20 Bars Vietnam 2025, cementing their role in advancing Vietnam’s cocktail culture.

Speaking to Tatler, Jay revealed that if he had to choose a cocktail to represent himself, it would be a Martini, a classic drink that appears simple but demands precision and care. “A Martini seems easy, but there are many factors behind it,” he explained, reflecting on his career path, a persistent journey from bartender to founder, server to mentor. With over two decades in the industry, Jay views each cocktail as more than a drink; it embodies experience, taste and patience, which he calls “the taste of success”.

Read more: Cultural highlights from bar menus worth checking out this summer

No smoke, no loud music, Drinking & Healing deliberately steps aside from the bustling trends of Vietnamese bar culture to create a different world and a space resembling a room for spiritual therapy, where each cocktail serves as a form of “healing” and the bartenders become attentive listeners.

Behind this distinctive concept is Le Ngoc Phien, one of the pioneers of Vietnam’s modern cocktail movement. With a background in chemistry, he turned to bartending and gradually developed his own style, blending meticulous mixing techniques with emotional resonance in every detail. As co-founder of Drinking & Healing, Phien and his team have transformed a raw-brick space with a hip-hop edge into an intimate venue where every conversation and every cocktail serves a clear purpose: healing.

Guided by a strong philosophy from the early days of his career, Le Ngoc Phien focuses not only on technique but also on creating emotional depth in the bar experience. Under his leadership, Drinking & Healing has thrived for over six years – a rare achievement in an industry defined by constant change.

The bar stands out not just for its atmosphere and philosophy, but also for cocktails imbued with personal storytelling. One example is Hanoi Street, a signature Vietnamese bar culture creation recommended by the bartenders. The cocktail evokes Hanoi’s Old Quarter at night, blending the scents of vehicle exhaust and milk flowers with the sweet taste of memory. It combines a Zacapa NO.23 base with jasmine tea and magnolia flowers, while Zacapa NO.23 balances the sweetness to create a striking explosion of flavour.

Lam Duc Anh (Leo) and Dinh Thep are the names behind Stir Modern Classic Cocktail Bar, a venue celebrated for merging tradition with modernity in the art of mixology. Lam Duc Anh, who oversees management and customer experience, collaborates with Dinh Thep, a talented and seasoned bartender, to craft a distinctive space and an exceptional cocktail menu.

Stir is a modern classic, where traditional cocktail recipes are imaginatively reinterpreted using contemporary techniques and premium ingredients. Their philosophy honours cocktail heritage while embracing constant innovation, delivering unexpected pleasures to customers. The team focuses on balance, sophistication of flavour and precision in technique.

Stir Modern Classic Cocktail Bar has swiftly become one of Ho Chi Minh City’s top speakeasy destinations, praised by both experts and patrons for its high-quality cocktails, luxurious setting and professional service. The bar is regularly recognised among the city’s best for Vietnamese bar culture, including a place on the Tatler Best 20 Bars Vietnam 2025 list.

With a classic European style inspired by the British Museum, The Haflington has long been one of Hanoi’s most striking cocktail destinations. Behind it is Cuong Nguyen, a young co-founder who has spent years immersed in the service industry and bar culture. He combines sharp aesthetic vision with methodical operational thinking, evident in every aspect of the brand from the space and service quality to its storytelling. This approach has established The Haflington not just as a bar, but as a clearly defined brand on Hanoi’s high-end F&B map.

Unlike those who focus solely on technical mastery or purely emotional experiences, Cuong Nguyen approaches the bar world as a “brand architect” who views the bigger picture and builds identity methodically, layer by layer. His experience has made him a respected voice in discussions on shaping modern Vietnamese F&B brands.

Enjoy responsibly. Content is not for sharing with anyone under 18.

Tatler Best is Asia’s definitive guide to the region’s top 100 hotels, 100 restaurants and 100 bars, celebrating excellence in hospitality and dining. With 24 Best-in-Class awards – 10 hotels, 8 restaurants and 6 bars – Tatler Best recognises the hospitality elite. Nominees are selected by Asia’s most discerning travel, food and beverage experts, reflecting the region’s evolving tastes.

NOW READ

Sip with clarity: how tempo drinking makes every toast more enjoyable

Portal Guatemala: Zacapa treats Southeast Asia with exquisite rum experience

Home tour: Inside Bar Leone boss Lorenzo Antinori’s new Hong Kong home