Chef John Nguyen at Westwood Da Nang | Culinary Residency 2026

DA NANG, VIETNAM — AUGUST 2026 — Food lovers in Da Nang are set for a distinctive culinary experience as Westwood Wood Fired Kitchen Da Nang welcomes internationally experienced Vietnamese chef John Nguyen for an exclusive two-week culinary residency.

Running across two periods — 18–23 August 2026 and 25 August–1 September 2026 — the collaboration will bring Chef John Nguyen into the Westwood kitchen alongside the local team, creating a unique dining experience that connects Vietnamese ingredients and culinary traditions with an international perspective.

A Culinary Journey Back to Vietnam

Chef John Nguyen has built his professional career across renowned culinary cities including New York and Hong Kong, experiences that have shaped his distinctive culinary identity.

His approach combines refined technique, contemporary culinary thinking, and memories of Vietnamese cuisine. For this residency in Da Nang, returning to Vietnam represents more than simply stepping back into a local kitchen — it is an opportunity to reconnect with the ingredients, flavours, traditions, and culinary culture of his home country while reinterpreting them through the lens of his international journey.

For diners, this creates an opportunity to experience Chef John’s culinary style firsthand in an intimate and evolving restaurant environment.

More Than a Guest Chef Dinner

Rather than presenting a single guest-chef dinner, Westwood has designed the collaboration as an extended two-week culinary residency in Da Nang.

Throughout the residency, Chef John Nguyen will work closely with the Westwood team, explore local ingredients and suppliers, and develop his menu and dining experience organically.

This longer format gives diners more opportunities to discover Chef John’s creations while allowing the chef to immerse himself in the local culinary community and respond to the ingredients available in Central Vietnam.

The residency will feature a menu reflecting Chef John Nguyen’s culinary philosophy and international experience, presented within the distinctive setting of Westwood Wood Fired Kitchen.

Wood Fire, Local Soul, Global Perspective

At the heart of the collaboration is Westwood’s culinary philosophy: “Wood Fire – Local Soul – Global Perspective.”

The partnership between Chef John Nguyen and Westwood reflects the restaurant’s vision of bringing international culinary talent together with Vietnam’s local ingredients, producers, and culinary community.

Westwood aims to create a space where global culinary perspectives meet local identity, contributing to the increasingly diverse and dynamic Da Nang food scene and Central Vietnam’s evolving culinary landscape.

For visitors and residents looking for new dining experiences in Da Nang, Chef John Nguyen’s residency offers a chance to experience a contemporary interpretation of Vietnamese flavours alongside the character of Westwood’s wood-fired kitchen.

Chef John Nguyen’s Two Weeks at Westwood Da Nang

Residency dates:

• Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 August 2026
• Tuesday 25 August – Tuesday 1 September 2026

Reservations and further menu information will be announced directly by Westwood.

Whether you are a local food enthusiast, a visitor exploring Da Nang’s restaurant scene, or someone interested in contemporary Vietnamese cuisine, this limited-time collaboration offers a compelling opportunity to discover the culinary perspective of a Vietnamese chef shaped by some of the world’s most vibrant international food cities.

Event Details

Event: Chef John Nguyen Two-Week Culinary Residency
Venue: Westwood Wood Fired Kitchen Da Nang
Dates: 18–23 August & 25 August–1 September 2026
Location: Da Nang, Vietnam
Reservations: Westwood