Renkon brings stylish Izakaya dining to Ho Chi Minh City

Renkon is also a venture of Indochina Capital, one of the leading property developers in Vietnam.

Located in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, Renkon represents a bold new movement in the Vietnamese hospitality scene.

Renkon brings stylish Izakaya dining to Ho Chi Minh City

Raising the benchmark for local dining, this modern iteration of the traditional Japanese izakaya brings together premium food and drink, upbeat service, curated hip-hop, and world-class design in a friendly gastropub ambience on par with Asia’s best drinking and dining venues.

Literally “a shop to stay and drink sake,” izakaya are lively and informal Japanese bars popular for after-work drinks. Renkon brings a contemporary local interpretation of the concept to Saigon.

Designed by celebrated architect Sean Dix, whose past projects include Hong Kong’s Yardbird and Ho Lee Fook, Renkon’s interiors combine raw concrete and blonde wood to create a striking brutalist aesthetic.

“Renkon is more than a restaurant: it’s a piece of art,” said co-founder of The Eight Four Collective, Michael Piro.

“It challenges the notion that neighborhood dining in Vietnam must be ‘cheap and cheerful,’ bringing together all the best elements—a passionate service culture, high-quality food and drinks, great music, beautiful design, and a fun, lively atmosphere. It pays tribute to old Vietnam, but embraces modernised values, raising the standard of local F&B to an international level,” said Piro.

The Eight Four Collective chose the name “Renkon,” a derivation of the Japanese word for “lotus root,” symbolising the group’s deep connection to Vietnam. As the flagship project, Renkon also represents the foundation of The Collective’s upcoming developments.

Renkon is the Collective’s second project to date, following Sake Central Saigon. A third project, the Japanese-inspired lounge and cocktail bar Irusu, is set to open later this year.