The Reverie Saigon Unveils Lys, a New French-Inspired Dining Destination in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is welcoming a new addition to its growing fine dining scene with the opening of Lys at The Reverie Saigon. The contemporary restaurant marks Hong Kong-based ZS Hospitality’s international debut and introduces a culinary concept that blends French technique, Italian warmth, and Vietnam’s vibrant produce.

Opening on October 15, Lys is led by Chef de Cuisine Fabiana Miccoli, whose culinary career includes prestigious kitchens across Europe and Asia. Her approach brings together classical French foundations with the emotional character of Italian cooking and the freshness of Vietnamese ingredients.

The restaurant also reflects a broader ambition to position Ho Chi Minh City as one of Asia’s leading gastronomic destinations.

A Restaurant Inspired by Family and Personal Connections

The name Lys, the French word for lily, holds deep personal meaning for Chef Fabiana. It also honors her grandmother, Lydia, making the restaurant a tribute to family, hospitality, and culinary traditions passed from one generation to the next.

Chef Fabiana’s cooking emphasizes precision without losing its emotional core. She worked with acclaimed chefs such as Heinz Beck and Anne-Sophie Pic at the two-Michelin-starred Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In 2026, she also secured two MICHELIN stars for L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon.

At Lys, these experiences come together through dishes that use refined French techniques while incorporating Italian sensibility and Vietnamese ingredients.

“Vietnam captured my heart through its sensory richness, the fragrance of fresh botanical herbs, the vibrancy of its morning markets, and the grace of its people,” Chef Fabiana Miccoli says.

Her vision for Lys extends beyond the food. She also hopes the restaurant can provide a supportive environment for emerging female culinary talents.

A French-Inspired Restaurant With a Vietnamese Sense of Place

Lys takes a contemporary approach to European dining. Its menu draws on French culinary traditions while incorporating Vietnam’s seasonal produce, native herbs, and local flavors.

This creates a dining experience that feels connected to its location rather than simply replicating a European restaurant concept.

The restaurant’s culinary philosophy rests on three influences: French elegance, Italian passion, and Vietnamese freshness.

The combination is especially evident in the restaurant’s use of herbs, fermented ingredients, and local produce alongside classic French sauces, butter, and cheese.

The Interior Takes Inspiration From a Hidden Garden

The restaurant’s design follows the same philosophy as its cuisine.

Inspired by Art Nouveau and the lily’s organic form, Lys uses flowing curves, floral details and soft textures to create the atmosphere of a hidden garden in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City.

The color palette combines cream, coral and deep burgundy with marble, dark timber and translucent fabrics.

Vietnamese craftsmanship also plays an important role. Local artisans contributed handcrafted ceramics and staff uniforms, giving the restaurant a distinctly local character.

The result is an intimate dining space that combines European refinement with Vietnamese craftsmanship.

Start the Evening at the Pre-Dining Bar

The experience begins before guests reach the main dining room.

Lys features a pre-dining bar where guests can enjoy aperitifs and cocktails incorporating native Vietnamese ingredients. The drinks introduce the restaurant’s approach, combining familiar techniques with local flavors.

From there, guests move into the main dining room for a tasting menu centered on seasonal ingredients, French techniques and Vietnamese herbs.

What to Expect on the Lys Menu

The menu focuses on carefully sourced ingredients and precise preparation. Several dishes demonstrate how Lys connects French culinary traditions with Vietnamese flavors.

LYS Butter

The bread course begins with artisanal rye bread served with the restaurant’s signature LYS Butter.

The butter combines cultured French butter with Vietnamese fermented tofu, creating a savory depth that gives the familiar bread-and-butter course a distinctly local character.

Dried lily flowers and southern Italian olive oil complete the presentation.

Kampachi

The Kampachi is presented in the shape of a blooming flower.

Sweet watermelon radish and fragrant Vietnamese balm accompany the fish, while a velvety Beurre Nantais sauce adds French richness and acidity.

The dish demonstrates Lys’s broader approach to combining delicate local ingredients with classic French preparations.

Onion

Lys also offers its own take on traditional French onion soup.

The Onion combines delicate Italian pasta with Vietnamese hành nén, an aromatic local onion known for its gentle peppery character.

Aged Gruyère and fresh thyme add familiar French flavors.

Brie de Meaux

The cheese course puts a theatrical touch on the meal.

Brie de Meaux is wrapped in a delicate crêpe and flambéed tableside. The preparation releases a warm, caramelized aroma before the dish is finished with a tamarind Beurre Salé sauce.

A touch of chili adds contrast, inspired by Vietnam’s familiar combination of tart tamarind and spicy chili salt.

Wine Pairings and Vietnamese Botanical Beverages

Lys offers two wine pairing options designed to complement the progression of its tasting menus.

The Discovery Wine Pairing costs VND 1,200,000++ to VND 2,000,000++ for four to eight glasses. It focuses on classic French terroirs alongside distinctive wines from estates around the world.

The Prestige Wine Pairing, priced at VND 2,200,000++ to VND 4,200,000++ for four to eight glasses, features rare vintages and iconic domaine labels.

Guests who prefer non-alcoholic options can choose seasonal house-fermented beverages made with local produce.

The restaurant also offers tableside tea service featuring Golden Camellia, a rare Vietnamese botanical infusion.

ZS Hospitality’s International Debut

Lys’s opening marks an important milestone for ZS Hospitality, which is expanding beyond Hong Kong for the first time.

The group’s culinary journey includes Feuille, whose name means “leaf” in French. Lys, meaning “lily,” continues that botanical theme while representing a new stage of growth for the company.

For Elizabeth Chu, Chair of ZS Hospitality, the opening also connects personally to Ho Chi Minh City.

“Ho Chi Minh City is where my story began, so bringing Lys here as ZS Hospitality marks its tenth anniversary feels like a deeply personal homecoming,” Chu says.

The restaurant also reflects ZS Hospitality’s commitment to developing female culinary leadership and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in the industry.

Lys Saigon Menu and Opening Hours

Lys officially opens on October 15 and serves dinner from Monday to Saturday, 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The last seating is at 8:30 PM.

Guests can choose from three tasting menus:

Reservations are recommended, particularly for travelers planning a special dining experience in Ho Chi Minh City.

Why Add Lys to a Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary?

For travelers interested in luxury dining, Lys offers a contemporary take on French cuisine in one of Vietnam’s most dynamic cities.

Its appeal comes from combining international culinary experience with Vietnamese ingredients. Chef Fabiana Miccoli’s French and Italian influences provide the foundation, while local herbs, produce and traditional flavor combinations connect the menu to Ho Chi Minh City.

The restaurant also gives travelers another reason to explore the city’s increasingly sophisticated fine dining scene.

For visitors staying at The Reverie Saigon or exploring the city’s luxury hotel district, Lys provides a new destination for a special dinner, celebration or curated gastronomic experience.

With its intimate setting, tasting menus and focus on Vietnamese ingredients, the restaurant is positioned to become one of the city’s notable new culinary addresses.

Follow #TeamOutofTown on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.

Read:

• 10 Best Beaches in Vietnam
• 12 Fun Things to Do in Samal Island, Davao del Norte
• Review: Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal Island
• 15 Must-Try Filipino Restaurants in Dubai
• Top 49 Best Things to Do in Phu Quoc Island + Tourist Spots
• MICHELIN Guide Expands to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, for 2027 Restaurant Selection