10/10/2025
Our Second Downtown Location Expansion: Extending Our Saigon Heritage
Our family's story begins in the bustling heart of Saigon, Vietnam, long before the turn of the 20th century. In the late 1800s, during the era of French colonial rule that began in 1858, our ancestors were humble traders and fishermen along the Saigon River.
Saigon, then known as a thriving port city under the Nguyễn dynasty's influence since its incorporation in 1698, was a melting pot of cultures. Our great-great-grandparents, lived in the Cholon district, a vibrant area filled with Chinese and Vietnamese merchants. They operated a small baking and cooking business, offering goods like rice, spices, and fresh fish from the Mekong Delta upriver to the markets. Life was simple yet demanding—waking at dawn to the calls of vendors, navigating the muddy waters teeming with sampans, and bartering under the tropical sun. The French influence brought grand boulevards and colonial architecture, but for our family, it meant adapting to new taxes and regulations while preserving traditions. Stories passed down tell of our forebears' ingenuity, such as crafting herbal remedies from local plants to treat ailments common in the humid climate. This era, before the 1900s, laid the foundation of our heritage: a deep connection to community, hard work, and the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine that would later define us. Saigon was not just a home; it was the cradle of our resilience, shaping generations who valued family bonds amid the chaos of colonial change.
The Vietnam War shattered the world our family knew. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, which marked the end of the conflict and the unification under communist rule, life became untenable for many in the south.
Our parents, then young adults in their twenties, faced persecution, economic hardship, and the constant fear of re-education camps. In the early 1980s, amid the peak of the "boat people" crisis—a humanitarian disaster where over a million Vietnamese fled by sea—our family made the heart-wrenching decision to escape. Crammed into a rickety wooden fishing boat with about 50 others, including extended relatives, they set sail from the coast near Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1981. The journey was fraught with danger: storms tossed the vessel like a leaf, pirates lurked in the South China Sea, and rations dwindled to mere sips of water and scraps of rice. Our mother recalls huddling with her son Ty, singing lullabies to calm him as waves crashed over the deck. After days adrift, they were rescued and taken to a refugee camp, where they endured months of uncertainty, living in crowded tents and relying on international aid. Canada, known for its compassionate response, accepted nearly 200,000 Vietnamese refugees post-war, including our family through private sponsorship programs. In 1982, we arrived in Calgary, Alberta—a stark contrast to the tropical heat of Vietnam. The biting cold of the Canadian prairies was our first challenge, but the welcoming community, including church groups that sponsored us, provided warm coats, English lessons, and a small apartment in downtown part of the city. Calgary's growing Vietnamese population, which swelled after 1975, offered a sense of familiarity amid the unfamiliar snow-covered landscapes. This immigration was not just a relocation; it was a rebirth, carrying the weight of lost loved ones and the hope for a peaceful future.
Upon arriving in Calgary, our parents threw themselves into building a life from scratch. With limited English and no formal qualifications recognized in Canada, they took whatever jobs they could find to support the family. Our father started a job as cook, rising before dawn, while our mother worked double shifts at a local garment factory, sewing clothes in a dimly lit warehouse. The 1980s were tough—Alberta's oil boom had ebbed, leading to economic uncertainty, but our parents persevered. Weekends were spent at community gatherings in Calgary's emerging Vietnamese enclaves, like the area around Centre Street, where they shared pho recipes and stories from home to combat homesickness. Over the decades, they upgraded their skills: Father learned culinary arts at a local restaurant and his GED through night classes, eventually landing a job at a real estate firm building Calgary's expanding suburbs, while Mother transitioned to banking. They saved every penny, often skipping luxuries to ensure we children could attend school and extracurriculars. By the early 1990s, they had rented a modest home in the Marlborough neighborhood, a hub for Vietnamese immigrants. These years were marked by sacrifice—long hours, cultural adjustments, and the occasional discrimination—but also by triumphs, like our parents becoming Canadian citizens and fostering a tight-knit family unit. Their hard work instilled in us the values of perseverance and gratitude, turning strangers in a foreign land into proud contributors to Calgary's multicultural fabric.
In the mid-1990s, as Calgary's economy rebounded and the Vietnamese community grew to over 20,000 strong, our family dreamed of sharing our heritage through food.
Our parents' home kitchen had always been a sanctuary, filled with the aromas of simmering beef broth for pho, fresh herbs from a backyard garden, and spring rolls wrapped with care. Gathering around the table for meals like banh mi or bun cha reminded us of Saigon. The idea sparked in 1995 during a family's celebration: Why not open a restaurant to bring authentic Vietnamese flavors to Calgarians? It was more than business; it was a way to preserve our culture and give back. For years, our parents juggled jobs while planning—attending business workshops, saving for a lease, and testing recipes on friends. Challenges abounded: Securing loans as immigrants was tough, and finding a location in a competitive market took persistence. But by the early 2000s, the dream materialized. In 2014, we opened our first Vietnamese restaurant in southeast Calgary, a cozy spot seating 100, specializing in pho bo, vermicelli bowls, and family recipes passed down from Saigon. The opening night was magical—eager to share our heritage, we warmly serve both locals and fellow immigrants, delighting in their enjoyment of authentic Vietnamese flavors. Word spread through Calgary's food scene, and before long, local news highlighted our authentic, heartfelt Vietnamese cuisine. This venture wasn't just profitable; it became a community hub, hosting cultural events and employing other newcomers.
Today, in 2025, our family business thrives and evolves. After two decades of success, we're expanding to our first second location on 4th Street in Calgary's vibrant Mission district downtown—a trendy area known for its eclectic dining scene and historic charm, and the very first place we called home. Whether past, new, or long-standing, we wouldn't have been able to succeed in our Vietnamese restaurant business if it weren't for our dedicated team, loyal customers, and reliable suppliers. We are deeply grateful for every contribution, and the forever memories we've created together will always be the building blocks of our journey.
This expansion, set to open later this year, represents our commitment to adding value and culture to the community. The new spot will feature an updated menu blending traditional dishes with modern twists, like signature spring rolls and pho options, while incorporating sustainable practices learned from Calgary's progressive food movement. Mission's pedestrian-friendly streets and proximity to the Elbow River make it ideal for attracting a diverse crowd, from young professionals to families. We're partnering with local artists for Vietnamese-inspired decor and hosting workshops on Vietnamese cooking to foster cultural exchange. This growth honors our parents' decades of toil and our ancestors' legacy, turning a story of survival into one of prosperity. As we look ahead, our family heritage—from Saigon's rivers to Calgary's prairies—continues to inspire, reminding us that with hard work and heart, dreams can flourish anywhere.🍜❤️😇
