Reminiscing on His Decision: Nguyen An on Establishing a Vietnamese Eatery in Ekaterinburg
In a chat on our website, Anh Nguyen, the savvy owner of the Vietmon restaurant chain in Yekaterinburg, casually discussed his venture's growth, obstacles in procuring authentic Vietnamese food, and budding cultural endeavors. When asked about the number of Vietmon restaurants in Yekaterinburg, Nguyen revealed there are currently four, with the latest venture in the Academic District.
Catering to the bustling student and academic community, Nguyen shared his initial hesitation but the success paid off. His restaurant, according to him, sometimes outperforms the city center in sales, and they cover a significant area with delivery services.
Talking about plans for expansion, Nguyen spoke of his dream to integrate traditional Vietnamese theater into Russia. He is currently partnering with local organizations to organize a tour for Vietnamese theater troupes. Nguyen described Vietnam as a land rich in culture, and he wished to showcase its diversity and identity beyond just food and tourist spots.
Other fascinating projects included opening a Thai cuisine café and a Vietnamese grocery store by 2025. Nguyen's entrepreneurial spirit extends to home-grown products as well, like tofu, soy milk, noodles, and cookies. He plans to open a format between "LifeMart" and "7-Eleven" in the center, adhering to feng shui principles for better business fortune.
On a curious note, Nguyen admitted considering feng shui in his business decisions. When unsure about something, he turns to feng shui as a guide.
The essence of Nguyen's restaurant doesn't just revolve around the bottom line; it's about creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for patrons. He aims to create a "third home" for his guests, focusing on human connections and genuine interests. Nguyen's questioning approach, often leading to fascinating discussions and new friends, remains at the heart of his business.
Upon questioning the origin of the diaspora support for his business, Nguyen explained the Vietnamese diaspora in Yekaterinburg, established in the 1990s, functioned as a network offering assistance for fellow countrymen in finding housing, employment, and trade. As a young, daring Vietnamese student, Nguyen leveraged the diaspora's resources to kick-start his Vietmon café.
Business issues are inescapable, with logistics and rising costs impacting his restaurant. However, Nguyen prioritizes maintaining affordable pricing without compromising quality. He noted that the audience has shifted, with central establishments attracting office workers, families, and tourists, while the Academic District caters to students and foreigners.
Hiring staff, composed entirely of Vietnamese, isn't without complications. In response to a new law requiring the Russian language proficiency test, Nguyen has been waiting for over a month just to schedule the exam for potential employees. Failure to pass the exam could lead to fines and deportation, causing delays in both hiring and operating the restaurants.
Despite the business challenges, Nguyen maintains an optimistic and approachable demeanor. While he has encountered envy and competition in the restaurant scene, he focuses on personal growth and mutual respect. In his endeavor to learn from each culture, Nguyen encourages Vietnamese businessmen to embrace creativity, soulful endeavors, and erasing rigid boundaries between boss and worker. Meanwhile, he recommends Russian entrepreneurs to be more engaging and respectful.
What about the future plans for the expansion of Vietmon restaurants in Ekaterinburg? Nguyen aims to open a Thai cuisine café and a Vietnamese grocery store by 2025, with a planned format between "LifeMart" and "7-Eleven" in the city center, following feng shui principles.
Nguyen's leadership style doesn't just focus on financial gains, but also on creating a warm atmosphere for patrons. He envisions his restaurants as a "third home" for guests, fostering human connections and genuine interest.
In terms of diversity and inclusion, Nguyen has leveraged the Vietnamese diaspora in Ekaterinburg, established in the 1990s, for assistance in finding housing, employment, and trade. This community has played a significant role in the growth of his small business.
The success of Vietmon restaurants has not been without challenges. Logistics and rising costs have been issues, but Nguyen prioritizes maintaining affordable pricing while ensuring quality.
Another challenge lies in hiring staff. Composed entirely of Vietnamese, hiring staff has been complicated by a new law requiring Russian language proficiency, with delays in hiring potential employees due to the Russian language proficiency test.
When it comes to cultural endeavors, Nguyen is partnering with local organizations to organize tours for Vietnamese theater troupes, intending to showcase traditional Vietnamese culture beyond food and tourist spots.
Mindfulness plays a role in Nguyen's decision-making process, as he uses feng shui as a guide when unsure about something.
Nguyen's restaurants cater to different demographics, with the Academic District focusing on students and foreigners, while the city center primarily attracts office workers, families, and tourists.
Personal finance and saving are crucial for the success of his small business, with extensive planning and budgeting involved. Debt management is also essential to maintaining the financial health of his restaurants.
For Nguyen, career development is not just about personal growth, but also about establishing a respectful and collaborative work environment. He encourages the erasing of rigid boundaries between boss and worker.
Facing competition and envy in the restaurant scene, Nguyen focuses on learning from each culture and emphasizes mutual respect. He also recommends Russian entrepreneurs to be more engaging and respectful.
On the topic of education and self-development, Nguyen believes in continuous learning and skill training, crucial for his personal growth and the growth of his business.
In the realm of lifestyle and food-and-drink, Nguyen extends his entrepreneurial spirit to home-grown products like tofu, soy milk, noodles, and cookies.
Lastly, job search, goal-setting, and productivity play major roles in the success of his enterprise, with the ongoing pursuit of new opportunities and the aim to continually improve and adapt to a changing market.
