David Thái (Thái Quốc Cường David) is the executive chef and owner of Kobe Bistro by Chef David Thái in Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam. Prior to opening his own restaurant which was selected for the Hồ Chí Minh City MICHELIN Guide in 2024, David was formerly an Iron Chef of Iron Chef Vietnam and built a global career in F&B, fine dining, and hospitality primarily through the Hyatt Group. David self-identifies as a “vrai Việt Kiều” of the boat people generation. Born in Sài Gòn in 1971, David arrived in France in 1976 as a refugee and orphan, taken in by his uncle’s family. In this interview, he offers insights about growing up in family restaurants, perceptions of Việt Kiều cuisine in France (from the French and the Vietnamese), and returning to Việt Nam as an adult. Since 2004, upon permanently moving to Việt Nam, David has dedicated his career to developing the fine dining and F&B industry in his homeland, leading kitchens, teaching aspiring chefs, and providing import/export expertise across the nation.
This interview was conducted in French in Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam in July 2024. A full transcript can be found below the video.
