Restaurateur proposes South Korean restaurant association in Vietnam
A South Korean restaurant association in Vietnam has been proposed to support owners and link them with authorities as Korean eateries surge. Read more.
Prajakta Sanjay Warwadkar 
HO CHI MINH CITY, June 15, 2026 — A South Korean community leader has proposed creating a South Korean restaurant association in Vietnam to support owners and strengthen communication with authorities, as Korean eateries multiply, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. Oh Sang Sik, vice-chairman of the South Korean Association in Vietnam and director of the Hanmaeum BBQ chain, put forward the idea.
Ho Chi Minh City is now home to about 1,200 South Korean restaurants, including 700 that specialize in Korean barbecue, according to Oh. The proposed body would act as a bridge between operators, local authorities and regulators in a fast-growing segment.
Why a South Korean restaurant association in Vietnam
Oh said the association, modeled on South Korea's experience, would keep businesses current on regulations and policies, help agencies communicate new rules and monitor compliance, and offer a channel for reporting violations and shaping policy.
With such a body in place, government agencies would not need to oversee each restaurant individually, Oh said, but "could work alongside the association in supervision efforts."
A growing Korean dining scene in Ho Chi Minh City
Oh said Hanmaeum BBQ opened its first Vietnam outlet in Phu My Hung, a Ho Chi Minh City area with a large South Korean community, and initially aimed at Vietnamese residents rather than only Korean diners.
The Phu My Hung restaurant first drew Korean and Vietnamese customers in roughly equal numbers, but Vietnamese guests now "account for around 80 percent," Oh said. He added that many South Korean entrepreneurs are keen to expand in Vietnam's food and beverage sector.
Authentic flavors in both directions
Oh said his chain has worked to preserve authentic Korean flavors in Vietnam, and he encouraged Vietnamese operators opening in South Korea to keep their dishes unchanged. "Bring authentic Vietnamese flavors to South Korea and don't change anything," he said.
He also noted that South Korean consumers have developed a strong appreciation for Vietnamese cuisine, pointing to growing culinary exchange between the two countries.
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