From 8 to 20 August 2025, Saigon Café at Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel invites guests to embark on “Ticket to Indonesia,” an immersive journey into the flavours and traditions of the world’s largest archipelago. Part of the hotel’s “Ticket to Asia” series, the event marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Indonesia, celebrating both culinary artistry and cultural connection.
The launch transformed Saigon Café into a vivid slice of Indonesia, with colours, sounds and aromas evoking its many islands. Traditional Balinese dance and music were performed by the Guntur Madu troupe, a cultural group founded in 2000 to preserve and share the art of karawitan while nurturing an appreciation of heritage among younger generations.
The opening ceremony on 12 August welcomed diplomats, representatives from the Consulate General of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City, Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel, media, partners and guests, marking a celebration of Indonesia’s heritage and the close ties between the two nations.
Adiguna Wijaya, Acting Consul General of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City, said the programme was more than a culinary event, calling it a cultural bridge where the people of both countries can find common ground through flavour, music and art. He noted that it is a moment to reflect on seven decades of cooperation and friendship while creating new opportunities for future exchange.
Julian Wong, General Manager of Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel, expressed pride in hosting “Ticket to Indonesia” during this significant year. He described the programme as both a culinary and cultural journey, connecting two nations through taste, stories and artistry, and reaffirmed the hotel’s commitment to creating exceptional experiences that leave lasting impressions.
The event brings to Ho Chi Minh City two guest chefs from Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel – Aditya Maulana Saputra and Tedi Rizki Hariansyah – who together have co-created a menu capturing the essence of Indonesian cuisine. Chef Aditya described his country’s gastronomy as a blend of ancient traditions and regional diversity, where each dish tells its own story. He hopes to share authentic flavours with Vietnamese diners, from the aromatic Sop Buntut to the refreshing Gado Gado and the colourful Nasi Bali, each dish offering a taste of Indonesia’s heart and soul.
The menu features signature creations such as Sop Buntut, a slow-braised oxtail soup infused with fragrant spices; Rendang Padang, a rich and complex beef stew once named the world’s most delicious dish by CNN; Sate Padang, with its golden turmeric sauce and distinctive West Sumatran heat; Gado Gado, a vibrant salad of vegetables, tofu, egg and rice crackers dressed in creamy peanut sauce; and Nasi Bali, steamed rice served with savoury accompaniments, sambal and fresh herbs that reflect the spirit of the island.
These dishes are presented within Saigon Café’s premium seafood buffet, allowing guests to savour Indonesia’s authentic tastes alongside a bounty of international delicacies, from lobster and oysters to sashimi, scallops and more. The result is a dining experience that is both deeply rooted in tradition and expansively global.
By weaving together gastronomy, live performance and cultural exchange, “Ticket to Indonesia” offers more than a celebration of flavour. It is a tribute to friendship, diversity and the shared language of food. In hosting this event, Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel reaffirms its role as a pioneer in delivering world-class cultural and culinary experiences in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, while contributing to the ongoing story of connection between Vietnam and Indonesia.