Riverside Dinner Duet: A French Vietnamese Dialogue with Michelin-Selected Chef Olivier Corti from Le Comptoir at Namia River Retreat in Hoi An, Vietnam.   

HOI AN, VIETNAM, April 2026: Namia River Retreat, Hoi An's first wellness-inclusive resort with all private pool villas, announces the next chapter of its celebrated Dinner Duet series. On May 1st, 2026, The Merchant, Namia's riverside restaurant, will host an exclusive gastronomic encounter between guest Chef Olivier Corti of the Michelin-selected Le Comptoir in Da Nang and Chef Viet Pham of Namia River Retreat.

Brought together by a shared commitment to sustainable dining, the Dinner Duet series creates space for exactly this kind of dialogue, where the heritage of Lyon and the soul of Hoi An converse at the table, and French refinement finds new expression in the raw, vibrant beauty of Central Vietnamese ingredients. At the heart of this collaboration lies something more intimate than technique: the memory of food that felt like home.

Memoryscapes From Water to Land

Water moves through Quang Nam like a quiet storyteller, from winding rivers to flooded rice fields in Hoi An, out to the open sea. From these waters and the land that they shape come the region's most treasured ingredients: fresh seafood, free-range duck, and fragrant herbs grown in fertile alluvial soil. This dinner is a reflection of that living landscape.

In the kitchen, two culinary voices meet across distance and tradition. Honouring the heritage of Vietnam and France, the chefs weave memory with technique, intuition with craft, composing a menu that reflects both their individual journeys and their collaborative vision. Each dish unfolds as a moment of dialogue, a meeting of roots and imagination.

From the Gastronomic Capital to the Banks of the Thu Bon

Born in Lyon, the culinary heart of France, Chef Olivier Corti views food as a vessel for memory and heritage. His cooking is guided not only by technique but also by a deep desire to translate emotions, places, and stories onto each plate through his personal, expressive sensibility.

“Cooking is never about imposing a cuisine,” he said. “It's about listening. Listening to the ingredient, to the place, and letting the story unfold on the plate.”

His journey to Vietnam was guided by serendipity and his partner, renowned sommelier Myriam Moretto. What began as a brief visit transformed into a lifelong mission when Olivier recognized a profound energy in Da Nang's emerging culinary scene. Together, Olivier's precision and Myriam's intuitive wine pairings have turned Le Comptoir from a modest four-table bistro into a Michelin-selected institution.

On 1 May 2026, Olivier takes over the kitchen at The Merchant at Namia River Retreat, bringing with him the quiet confidence of classic French cooking:  carefully built sauces, a deft hand with butter and herbs all woven effortlessly with the depth and character of local spices.

Two Chefs, One Rooted Philosophy

Joining Chef Olivier in this Dinner Duet is Chef Viet Pham of Namia River Retreat, a warm, unhurried, and deeply attentive chef who has spent years building a culinary language entirely his own.

Inspired by French and Japanese culinary traditions and shaped by kitchens from Saigon to Oman, Chef Viet carries a global perspective tempered by a deeply local soul. He was drawn to Hoi An by fresh river air, farm-to-table ingredients grown minutes from his kitchen, and a quality of life that allows him to cook the way he believes all food should be cooked: from a place of calm, clarity, and genuine care for the farmers, artisans, and land that make his cooking possible.

To share a kitchen with a Michelin-selected Chef at The Merchant Restaurant is, for Chef Viet, both a privilege and an aspiration made tangible. Together, the two chefs have crafted a bespoke Dinner Duet menu that pays tribute to Hoi An's history as a bustling ancient trading port, exotic spices, and memories of cosy home kitchens. It is a tribute to the "terroir" of the river, a symphony of flavours where the soil's bounty is treated with the utmost reverence.

The Dinner Duet: An Immersive Culinary Journey

30 April 2026 - Cooking Class

Guests will join the chefs for a walk through Namia's private herb garden, learning to select the freshest herbs before returning to The Merchant kitchen for a hands-on cooking class centered around one idea: the Pâté chaud, a Vietnamese savoury puff pastry. Chef Olivier's French-inspired pastry meets Chef Viet's reimagined Vietnamese-inspired version. Private cooking class is followed by a relaxed lunch at The Merchant with both chefs.

Price: VND 1,500,000 per person (including tax and service charge)

01 May 2026 - Dinner Duet

A 5-course degustation journey, led by Chef Olivier Corti and Chef Viet Pham, with mindful wine pairings by Myriam Moretto. The curated menu draws its spirit from the waters and land of Quang Nam region. Guests can expect inspired seafood courses that honour the freshness of the coast, and pastry rooted in the taste of childhood memory and refined craft, a thread that weaves through both chefs' stories. Two culinary traditions, honouring one ingredient in full.

Price: VND 2,800,000 (without alcohol); VND 3,800,000 (with wine pairing), per person (including tax and service charge)

Limited availability for an exclusive & intimate event. Book early to secure your Dinner Duet experience.

Location: The Merchant Restaurant, Namia River Retreat, 232 Tran Nhan Tong, Hoi An

To book: book@merchanthoian.com or call 0235 3969 888

DINNER DUET PHOTO LIBRARY: HERE

ABOUT THE MERCHANT CRUISE & RESTAURANT

The Merchant is the signature riverside dining destination of Namia River Retreat, drawing inspiration from Hoi An's rich legacy as an ancient international trading port. Celebrating the layered cultural influences and seasonal flavours of Central Vietnam, The Merchant honours local producers, market-fresh ingredients, and the stories that have travelled along the Thu Bon River for centuries.

The Merchant River Cruise extends this spirit onto the water, bringing a luminous dinner cruise experience of culture, flavour, and mindfulness in motion. Set to launch in May 2026, The Merchant Cruise will offer an intimate, elegantly curated 2.5-hour journey aboard a modern luxury vessel designed for both joyous gatherings and quiet, unhurried evenings.

ABOUT NAMIA RIVER RETREAT - It's more than a stay, it's a meaningful experience

Nestled on the Cồn Ba Xã Islet in Hoi An, Namia River Retreat is thoughtfully crafted with genuine cultural journeys and wellness-inclusive therapies inspired by Vietnamese herbology. With 60 private pool villas, locally inspired dining experiences and stunning pools with Thu Bon River views, the resort opens new ways to explore and connect with the lantern-lit ancient town of Hoi An.

The wellness-inclusive resort is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of The World (SLH) Considerate Collection and a founding member of SLH Wellbeing Collection, underscoring Namia River Retreat's commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and cultural preservation. Namia River Retreat is also a member of VIRTUOSO® as a Preferred Supplier Partner.

To access our photo and video gallery or further information on our website:

Video:  HERE               Full Resort Image Gallery:  HERE       Website:  https://namiariverretreat.com

For media inquiries:

International Media & PR: Donna Campbell | Campbell PR: donna@campbellpr.com

To stay up to date with Namia River Retreat news, follow us on social media:

Facebook                     https://www.facebook.com/namiahoian

Instagram                    https://www.instagram.com/namiariverretreat

LinkedIn                      https://www.linkedin.com/company/namia-river-retreat/

Address - 232 Tran Nhan Tong, Hoi A Dong Ward, Da Nang City, Viet Nam

Other information:  

Owning Company – HG Holdings & Bhaya Cruises: bhayacruises.com

Management Company – Lumina Wellbeing: www.lumina-wellbeing.com