Vu Lan Chay Lành – Season of ƯƠM: A Heartwarming Vegetarian Culinary Journey

The Vu Lan Chay Lành – Season of ƯƠM event ran throughout the Vu Lan season from August 23 to September 22, 2025, at the iconic Rex Hotel Saigon (Hoa Mai Restaurant – Rooftop Garden). This annual celebration, organized by Chay Garden (a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient for 2023–2025), transformed the historic venue into a multi-sensory space blending exquisite vegetarian cuisine with themes of filial piety and family love.

Each year features a unique theme, with the first four seasons titled ƯƠM (Sowing), NẢY (Sprouting), TRỔ (Blooming), and KẾT (Fruiting). This creates a new tradition: Vu Lan as not just a reminder of gratitude toward parents but a mindful journey of slow living, deep emotion, and nurturing family bonds.

In the inaugural ƯƠM season, Chay Garden’s chefs drew inspiration from seeds—symbols of beginnings and nourishment—crafting over 100 innovative vegetarian dishes that fuse traditional Vietnamese flavors with modern techniques for fresh, refined tastes.

The rooftop setting at the nearly century-old Rex Hotel offered panoramic city views amid Indochinese architecture, enhanced by live music, art displays, and the signature Happiness Tree where guests hung handwritten wishes.

With the heartfelt message:

“Wrap love in the word LÀNH
Delicious flavors, filial piety dedicated to parents”