Quan has a rich background in hospitality having trained under the guidance of Frederic Boulin, the General Manager of the iconic Park Hyatt Saigon.  

He is now assistant manager at the uber cool steakhouse and cocktail bar Stoker Woodfired Grill & Bar on Mac Thi Buoi Street in District 1. 

Stoker is a high-class environment and Quan always looks the part; he's always impeccably turned out, looking almost like an extra from the latest Kingsman movie as much as the assistant manager role that he is.

Speaking perfect English and always remembering the first name of his guests are fundamental reasons why the first impression Quan gives of Stoker is always immaculate.

He believes that hospitality comes from the heart and feels that passion for our industry is paramount, with a key part of his success all about being proactive and prepared so that he's ready to go when service opens and so he can share his intricate knowledge of the cocktails and range of steaks his bar and kitchen are known for. 

To illuminate this, he shared an example from a few years' ago when he was employed at the Park Hyatt Saigon:

“During breakfast service, I noticed a lady sitting alone at the verandah and reading her newspaper, so I approached the buffet counter and selected some of the best croissants with a nice glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. I arrived at her table and offered these to her and said these refreshments might help her mood and help her to enjoy reading the newspaper even more. The lady started laughing and was so surprised and said she never thought that someone could be so thoughtful as this.

"She'd been so focused on reading the newspaper that she'd forgotten to fetch her breakfast. We began chatting, sharing stories and became friends. The day after she came down to the restaurant again for breakfast with her family and introduced me to all her family members.

"This was one of the most unforgettable memories of my life and we still keep in touch until now”.

Quan likes to relax after a long, productive shift at Stoker with his fellow bartenders, enjoying his favourite Negroni cocktail and afterwards, he's partial to stopping off on his way home to refuel with some chicken pho. – Chris Thompson