Nicolette Yip Of The Salvages Shares Her Fave Spots Around Ho Chi Minh City
We speak to this fashion and cultural insider to find out what gets HCMC buzzing.
By Cherry Tan,
Nicolette Yip is never resting. When she's not designing for The Salvages, the fashion brand she co-founded, you can often find her at the DJ deck, spinning tracks at some of the trendiest events in town. On certain days, she even takes her talents overseas to Roka Fella, a contemporary omakase restaurant co-founded by her partner, Earn Chen, situated in the vibrant District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), also known as Saigon.
“There's a unique vibrancy in Ho Chi Minh City, where both chaos and calm seem to coexist in perpetual harmony," says Yip, who frequently visits the southern Vietnamese city. "The city exudes a spirited liveliness that I find immensely captivating." Below, she generously shares some of her favorite spots to explore in town.
"Instead of pho, I have another noodle recommendation for you! A must-visit, Ha Ky serves the best hu tieu (known as kway teow in Singapore) soup, featuring fresh fish and/or chicken slices. Complement it with a refreshing iced coffee from the shop next door."
"Egg coffee a.k.a ca phe trung (an iconic Viet beverage traditionally prepared with egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk and coffee) is more popular in northern Vietnam, but if you find yourself craving for it in HCMC, Ca Phe Linh is a nice place to start. Their coconut coffee is pretty good too!"
"Roka Fella, designed by my partner Earn Chen and our friend Jon Kang, is an Okura Hotel-inspired vinyl bar that offers a haven of audio pleasure in the heart of the city. Head down to the first floor for a delightful Omakase dining experience by the same team."
"Thi Ngeh Market is a street market that becomes crowded with locals, especially in the morning. Here, you can discover authentic Vietnamese breakfast foods and ingredients. It's not geared toward tourists, so anticipate shops selling sundries and household goods, stalls offering simple local dishes in every nook and along the riverbanks, all within a bustling crowd."
"In a country with such rich history, there are numerous places to immerse yourself in Vietnam's story. One performance that I particularly enjoyed was The A O Show at the stunning Saigon Opera House – it was an extraordinary show filled with local art and cultural storytelling."
"Head over to the local stalwart, The Observatory, for a long night of great house and techno music. Before that, make sure to stop by Bam Bam Saigon (pictured above) to kick off your evening on the right note."
"Vintage shopping is a delightful way for me to explore a new city. Skip the usual suspects like Ben Thanh Market and make your way to The Demor (pictured). It's one of my favourite vintage stores with a diverse range of products, including Vietnamese army uniforms and high-quality Levi’s denim."