"For me, the customer is like my girlfriend. If the customer is happy, I’m happy.” – Nguyen Van Nam

This episode was such a blast to record. Not only was it filmed at the stunning House of Merlin, one of my favorite cocktail bars in Saigon, but I also got to sit down with Nguyen Van Nam, a talented young bartender who represents the next wave of Gen Z hospitality professionals in Vietnam.

What struck me most about Nam is how honest and self-aware he is. He says he’s an introvert—and maybe he is—but you wouldn’t know it from how naturally he connects with people. It’s a beautiful contradiction: someone who claims to be shy yet thrives in a high-contact, high-energy environment like bartending. That’s what this episode is all about: shaking up stereotypes, mixing in some good humor, and serving a double pour of insight.

What we talked about in this episode:

• Why Nam compares happy customers to happy relationships
• The art and storytelling behind signature cocktails at House of Merlin
• Gen Z in Vietnam: lazy but talented?
• Why so many young Vietnamese identify as introverts
• Gender and drinks: is there subtle sexism in how alcohol is served?
• What older generations think of how Gen Z spends money and works

Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Meet Nam & intro to House of Merlin
• 04:00 – Mixing live: Signature cocktails, saffron, and Huynh’s priceless reaction
• 10:00 – Gender & drinks: Are Vietnamese bars subtly sexist?
• 11:30 – Behind the bar: The reality of being a bartender vs. the glamor
• 14:00 – Gen Z in Vietnam: Lazy but talented? What Nam really thinks
• 17:00 – Introvert or not? Nam’s personal growth through hospitality

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