Nguyen An: "Recalling My Motivation: Why I Established a Vietnamese Eatery in Yekaterinburg"
Going Deeper with VietMon: A Journey Beyond Pho and Rice Paper Rolls
VietMon, the beloved Vietnamese restaurant chain, has been a vibrant fixture in Yekaterinburg since the opening of its first outlet in the Academic District. With four locations, VietMon has covered a wide swath of the city, delivering authentic Vietnamese cuisine to the doorsteps of many and offering a cozy dining experience for those who crave something different.
Anh Nguyen, the founder and owner of VietMon, is not content to rest on his laurels. He has big plans, ranging from promoting Vietnamese culture through traditional theater tours and expanding his reach beyond Uralmash, to diving headfirst into Thai cuisine and opening a Vietnamese grocery store by 2025.
Expansion on the Horizon
While VietMon has already taken Yekaterinburg by storm, Anh is not ready to stop there. He sees great potential for growth in Russia, especially in the realm of cultural exchange and exploration. His ultimate goal is to bring traditional Vietnamese theater to the region, complete with tours and the support of the new Vietnamese consul in Yekaterinburg.
Anh believes that Vietnam is much more than just pho and Nha Trang, and he wants to share the richness of its culture with the world. He explains, "Every Vietnamese person wonders, 'Who are we, where do we come from, where are we going?' I want to show this difference. I want to make Yekaterinburg more diverse, more interesting, because I love this city."
Apart from cultural projects, Anh plans to open a Thai cuisine café with Thai chefs and a Vietnamese grocery store by 2025. With a store in the city center planned in a format similar to "LifeMart" or "7-Eleven," he hopes to cater to a wide variety of tastes and fill the gap in the city's culinary scene.
The Art of Feng Shui
In the bustling world of VietMon, business decisions are not always based on hard facts and figures. Anh takes a holistic approach, using feng shui principles to guide him in choosing the best locations and making key decisions. For him, feng shui is not just a saying but a practical tool that helps him balance the energy in his life and business.
Building a Sense of Community
One of the most defining features of VietMon is the warm, welcoming atmosphere that Anh has created within his restaurants. This is no accident but a deliberate effort to make each customer feel at home. Anh explains, "I wanted to create a 'third home' for people, where they could feel at ease, like in their own home or at work."
While maintaining this intimate connection with customers can be challenging as the business grows, Anh remains committed to maintaining the spirit of community that has made VietMon so popular. "I ask about dishes, tastes, talk to everyone, I'm interested in people," he says. "It's the content that matters, not just the fact of opening."
Challenges and Opportunities
The journey of VietMon has not been without its hurdles. Rising costs, fluctuating exchange rates, and inconsistent supplies from Vietnam have put pressure on Anh's establishment, causing prices to increase and the customer base to shift over time. However, Anh remains optimistic, stating, "Any person who works with me is my family, we move forward together."
In the face of these challenges, Anh sees opportunities for growth and innovation. He is always looking for ways to improve his business, whether by developing in-house production of items like tofu, soy milk, noodles, and cookies, or by adapting to changing consumer preferences.
A Unique Approach to Business
For Anh, business is not just about the bottom line. He approaches his ventures with a unique blend of creativity, audacity, and a deep respect for the people who make his dreams a reality. When asked what he would advise Vietnamese businessmen to take from Russians and vice versa, he replied, "To Vietnamese, I would wish for more audacity, creative initiative, putting one's soul into business, thinking beyond just making money. To the Russian part of the business, I would suggest erasing the rigid boundary between boss and worker, being simpler, remembering mutual respect."
Despite the ups and downs, Anh remains deeply rooted in Yekaterinburg, loving and cherishing the city that has given him so much. From the 6th and 23rd trams, the Uralmash terminal, the "Madrid" hotel, and Drama Square, to the vibrant, diverse neighborhoods like VIZ, Uralmash, and Compressor, Yekaterinburg holds a special place in Anh's heart.
Whether you're a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, a curious explorer seeking a taste of the Far East, or a lover of rich, diverse culture, VietMon offers a unique and unforgettable experience. Step inside, sit down, and let the flavors of Vietnam transport you to a land far, far away.
- I'm not sure if we all agree with Anh's vision of introducing traditional Vietnamese theater by 2025, but his plans for expanding the business beyond the realm of food-and-drink into finance, education-and-self-development are intriguing.
- Rest assured, we will be analyzing the financial implications of Anh's new ventures, including his Thai cuisine café and Vietnamese grocery store, to assess their potential impact on the lifestyle segment of Yekaterinburg's business.
- While VietMon has dominated its niche in the food-and-drink industry, it's uncertain how the introduction of Thai cuisine and the Vietnamese grocery store, due in 2025, will affect the overall food-and-drink business landscape.
- As Anh looks to the future, his plans for promoting Vietnamese culture through traditional theater and exploring new business avenues like financial services and lifelong learning demonstrate a keen understanding of the broadening requirements of contemporary business and lifestyle trends.
- In a city teeming with restaurants, it's not always easy to find a unique dining experience, but with his strategic use of feng shui principles and commitment to building a strong sense of community, it's clear why VietMon remains one of Yekaterinburg's most enduring choices for food-and-drink enthusiasts.
