Harmony · 和 - Four-Hands Dinner by Chef Reina Chen (Fumée, Shenzhen) × Chef Sam Tran (Gia, Hanoi)

In August 2025, Gia Hanoi joined hands with Fumée Shenzhen for a four-hands dinner titled Harmony · 和 — an evening that celebrated the shared rhythm between two cities. 

Fumée, a Shenzhen restaurant, reflects Chef Reina Chen’s borderless approach to Chinese cuisine; while Gia Hanoi, led by Chef Sam Tran, tells Vietnam’s story through seasonal flavors.

The collaboration explored how Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines could meet in balance, comfort, and clarity. Across two nights at Fumée, the menu unfolded like a dialogue — between Hanoi and Shenzhen, precision and emotion, tradition and modernity. It was not a fusion, but a gentle exchange — where every dish breathed harmony, one thoughtful bite at a time.

Where Harmony Begins - Two Cities, One Rhythm

Shenzhen and Hanoi share more than one latitude. Both are cities of humidity and monsoon rains, where markets wake early and ingredients carry the scent of soil and sea. From this shared environment, Chefs Reina and Chef Sam built a conversation, how to bring comfort to tropical heat, how to let flavors feel natural in their rhythm and pace.

Before the dinner, both chefs spent the morning at Shekou Market, selecting seafood, vegetables, and spices for the night ahead. The market’s bustle became part of the story, a reminder that every dish begins not in the kitchen, but in the connection between people, ingredients, and place.

The Collaboration: Fumée × Gia, Reina × Sam

At Fumée, Chef Reina Chen has built a reputation for her “Glocal” Chinese cuisine rooted in local traditions, refined through global technique. From Hanoi, Chef Sam Tran of Gia brought an expressive, ingredient-led perspective grounded in Vietnamese flavor memory.

Their meeting was not about contrast, but resonance. Reina’s precision and Sam’s intuition flowed into a shared harmony, two interpretations of Asia’s contemporary cuisine that speak with warmth and restraint. The collaboration took place on August 6 and 7, 2025, marking two evenings of balance and creative kinship.

The Menu - Balance in Motion

The Harmony · 和 menu unfolded through textures and temperatures that reflected both chefs’ philosophies: refined yet grounded, layered yet calm.

Chaoshan Crispy Sea Cucumber

Chef Reina’s Chaoshan-style crispy sea cucumber arrived with surf clam and Shaoxing rice cake in satay sauce, followed by Wagyu M9 with blood clam, ant salt, salted plum, and citrus peppercorn — a dish that carried both heat and harmony, grounded by bai lan gan and choy sum.

Ambarella | Abalone

Chef Sam’s grilled abalone wrapped in smoked pork belly, served with Vietnamese rice noodles and local shellfish in calamansi oil, evoked Hanoi’s chilled noodle soups in an elegant, modern frame.

Each dish reflected a moment of trust between two kitchens, two cities, and two chefs speaking the same language of respect.

Shared Language - More Than Collaboration

Some collaborations are about contrast. This one was about chemistry.

Chef Reina Chen and Chef Sam Tran did not simply alternate courses their styles intertwined naturally, shaped by mutual understanding. The result was not competition, but harmony: a quiet reminder that culinary art is most powerful when it listens.

In the end, Harmony · 和 became more than a menu. It was an expression of shared values — care, clarity, and connection — the true foundations of contemporary Asian dining.

Continuing The Story From Shenzhen To Hanoi

For Gia, this dinner was an extension of what we hold dear: to connect through food. As Chef Sam Tran shared, “Every collaboration is a way to listen to another kitchen, another city, another way of seeing ingredients.”

When the last plate left the pass at Fumée, the story quietly traveled back to Hanoi. At 61 Văn Miếu Street, where Gia’s kitchen breathes its familiar rhythm, the spirit of Harmony remains not as a memory, but as a reminder of how far flavors can travel when guided by respect.

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About Gia

Nestled in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Gia is a contemporary fine dining restaurant proudly listed in the MICHELIN Guide Vietnam. Led by Chef Sam Tran, Gia tells Vietnam’s culinary story through seasonal tasting menus that bridge tradition and innovation. Each dish reflects the restaurant’s philosophy to honor Vietnamese ingredients, elevate local craftsmanship, and create a dining experience that feels both personal and timeless.

Recognized among Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (Top 51–100) and The Best Chef Awards, Gia continues to celebrate Vietnam’s rich gastronomic heritage with modern artistry and quiet confidence.

→ Discover more about Gia: gia-hanoi.com/home