McDonald's feels bullish about Vietnam debut

Long lines of customers of every age gathered at the restaurant at the intersection of Dien Bien Phu and Nguyen Binh Khiem streets before the opening time, although the 3,000 square metre property offers car and motorbike drive-thru with a three minute per customer service plan.

Many of the early comers were eager to take a look inside the 350-seat restaurant, designed as a dining destination with different services and offerings including a café and children’s playground.

A majority of the ingredients used by McDonald's food in Vietnam are imports, including Australian beef and US pork and french fries, said local chairman Henry Nguyen.

He added that the restaurant chain was committed to working with Vietnamese and global partners to develop local suppliers who can serve McDonald's restaurants in Vietnam and throughout the world.

“The opening of our first restaurant in Vietnam is just the beginning of the journey we are taking with our customers.

We’ll work hard to continually stay relevant to our customers’ needs and exceed their expectations,” he announced.

The menu offers the McPork line of burgers, created to cater to Vietnamese tastes, as well as iconic choices such as the Big Mac and french fries, Nguyen added.

To further promote the brand, McDonald's Vietnam will partner with the Vietnam University Games to promote active lifestyles through sports among students and youth nationwide.

McDonald's is now building its second Vietnam restaurant near Ben Thanh Market, at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, for a near future opening. The company did not disclose the exact date.

In terms of a timeline for Hanoi, Nguyen told VIR that it was still early to say and that it would come in the next three to four years.

Don Thompson, president and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation will host the grand opening at the restaurant on February 10, said Bob Larson, McDonald's Corp senior vice president and international relationship partner. “We feel very bullish about Vietnam,” he said.