Spring Tasting Menu 2022

A Quiet Reopening: Returning to the Mountains, Moving Forward

After more than a year of interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gia’s Spring Tasting Menu marked a moment of return, not only to service, but to purpose. This menu looks toward Vietnam’s northern mountainous landscapes, drawing from native ingredients and long-held traditions, while embracing contemporary techniques refined through time and reflection. 

It is a calm yet resolute step forward, shaped by resilience, memory, and renewal.

From Stillness To Movement: A Spring Shaped By Resilience

Spring has always symbolized renewal, but this season carried deeper meaning. After months of silence, reopening the kitchen meant re-learning rhythm, touch, and trust.

Rather than announcing a dramatic rebirth, Gia chose a quieter path. The Spring Tasting Menu reflects a gradual return to movement, steady, grounded, and thoughtful. Each dish honors the patience learned during pause, carrying forward a renewed respect for ingredients, craft, and cultural continuity.

The Mountains Call: Native Ingredients As A Starting Point

Vietnam’s northern highlands became a central source of inspiration for this menu. From forest spices to preserved vegetables, the ingredients speak of elevation, climate, and endurance.

At Gia, these mountain elements are not presented as nostalgia. They are recontextualized through contemporary techniques, allowing traditional flavors to be experienced with clarity and restraint. The result is a dialogue between past and present, one that respects origins while allowing evolution.

Pork | Mountain spices | Pickled vegetables

Grilled pork cheeks, marbled with gentle layers of fat, are seasoned with mắc khén, the distinctive pepper of Vietnam’s Northwest. The meat is cooked over charcoal until the surface tightens and smoke permeates each fiber, while the interior remains tender and rich.

Paired with seasonal pickled vegetables and a signature sauce inspired by mountain spices, the dish is presented on a traditional Vietnamese bamboo mat. Familiar flavors are elevated through the use of Iberico pork, whose nuanced fat structure brings new depth to a combination deeply rooted in Vietnamese culinary memory.

Plum Bomb: A quiet echo of Tết Đoan Ngọ

No Tết Đoan Ngọ table is complete without fermented rice wine, plums, and lychees. At Gia, these elements come together in Plum Bomb, a dessert that encapsulates the spirit of the festival.

As with many dishes at Gia, the experience is designed to unfold gradually. Guests are invited to discover each layer of flavor on their own, without explanation interrupting intuition. It is a moment of playful curiosity, rooted in tradition yet experienced anew.

Book your table to explore the new tasting menu

A Triumph Of Homecoming – December 2025

→ Reserve your experience at Gia

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