There was no exact moment when I decided to join my family’s business. It happened naturally. Growing up, we spent an unusual amount of time together and genuinely enjoyed it. When our family moved to Ho Chi Minh City, we even drove across Vietnam for 15 days with our two dogs.
To me, having the ability to help build a family member’s dream is a privilege. Every new venture became an opportunity to learn something new together.
One special person who joined that journey is Yuki, my sister-in-law and the co-founder of Banan. Born and raised in Japan, she came to Vietnam and began creating comforting desserts that reveal the beauty of Vietnamese ingredients through Japanese pastry techniques. Her work represents what our family business hopes to achieve: bringing different cultures and strengths together to create something meaningful for our community.
One customer at Vesta made that lesson unforgettable. An elderly man travelled from the United States and returned to our store in search of an artwork he had bought during an earlier trip to Vietnam with his wife. Since that trip, his wife had passed away. The artwork was no longer merely an object, it had become a connection to their time together.
His visit reminded me that our work can create, carry, and protect people’s memories. Whether we are helping someone choose a meaningful gift, creating a comforting dessert, or designing a vacation home where families can gather, we become part of stories that may remain important long after the purchase itself.
The same is true of our team. After ten years in business, several employees have stayed with us for more than four years. I am grateful not only to have contributed to their journeys, but also to have had them as companions along mine.
Looking ahead, I hope RMIT can support us through practical collaborations that connect students with local businesses. We would love to bring Banan to campus through a pop-up, allowing students to experience our Japanese-inspired desserts made with Vietnamese ingredients. Through Vesta and Tie The Ribbon, we would also be excited to collaborate with students to create RMIT merchandise that reflects the university’s identity and student culture.
Our family business began with the dreams of people we love. Its future depends on continuing to welcome new people, ideas, and cultures into the story we are building together.
To me, having the ability to help build a family member’s dream is a privilege. Every new venture became an opportunity to learn something new together.
One special person who joined that journey is Yuki, my sister-in-law and the co-founder of Banan. Born and raised in Japan, she came to Vietnam and began creating comforting desserts that reveal the beauty of Vietnamese ingredients through Japanese pastry techniques. Her work represents what our family business hopes to achieve: bringing different cultures and strengths together to create something meaningful for our community.
One customer at Vesta made that lesson unforgettable. An elderly man travelled from the United States and returned to our store in search of an artwork he had bought during an earlier trip to Vietnam with his wife. Since that trip, his wife had passed away. The artwork was no longer merely an object, it had become a connection to their time together.
His visit reminded me that our work can create, carry, and protect people’s memories. Whether we are helping someone choose a meaningful gift, creating a comforting dessert, or designing a vacation home where families can gather, we become part of stories that may remain important long after the purchase itself.
The same is true of our team. After ten years in business, several employees have stayed with us for more than four years. I am grateful not only to have contributed to their journeys, but also to have had them as companions along mine.
Looking ahead, I hope RMIT can support us through practical collaborations that connect students with local businesses. We would love to bring Banan to campus through a pop-up, allowing students to experience our Japanese-inspired desserts made with Vietnamese ingredients. Through Vesta and Tie The Ribbon, we would also be excited to collaborate with students to create RMIT merchandise that reflects the university’s identity and student culture.
Our family business began with the dreams of people we love. Its future depends on continuing to welcome new people, ideas, and cultures into the story we are building together.
