Cocktails, Culture, and Courage — Rochelle Nguyen’s Journey from Refugee Roots to Saigon Icon

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My name is Niall Mackay, host of A Vietnam Podcast and long-term expat in Vietnam. You’re in the right place if you’re looking for stories and experiences about Vietnam. 

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce my guest, someone I’ve wanted to have on the podcast for a long time – Rochelle Nguyen, a Vietnamese-Canadian entrepreneur who co-owns two of my favorite cocktail bars in Saigon with her partner Jason Pham: 86 Proof and the newer Mami Cocktails I first reached out to her in 2020, and to my disappointment, she said no. But good things come to those who wait!

Thankfully, years later, she changed her mind after some convincing from mutual friends (including Mischa Smith) and her own growing comfort with interviews.

In this episode of A Vietnam Podcast, she shared her stories behind 2 cocktail bars and her background as a Vietnamese-Canadian.