Dear valued customers,

Welcome to my restaurant. I am Uy TRAN, the founder of Secret Garden Hoian since 2008. I hope this message finds you well.

Someone is falsely claiming I relocated my restaurant to other place while I literally did not. I would like to clarify that my family’s house and the restaurant have remained in the same location. It has been home to five generations over the past 120 years. I have no reason to move my business elsewhere. Here’s the one and only place in the old town where you can find a truly hidden garden.

I regret leasing my family’s house and all of my business materials for 15 months after Covid. It resulted in my entire business, including my brainchild Secret Garden Hoian, my original recipes and the platforms on Meta, were moved by my tenant to establish his new restaurant.

Additionally, that 15-month tenant has recruited some of my former employees and has suggested that l orchestrated the relocation myself. At the same time, a deceptive narrative has surfaced, presenting him as the founder of Secret Garden and casting me in the role of a ruthless landlord who evicted him to take over his brand and create a counterfeit version of Secret Garden. I believe it’s important to clarify the facts surrounding this situation.

I am grateful to still have my original domain, www.secretgardenhoian.com, and my 16-year-old TripAdvisor page. However, the main issue is that reusing the name “Secret Garden” would force me to pay advertising costs for both my business and an impostor’s. My current tenant has launched a website with a similar “dot VN” domain, misleading customers by claiming to represent “the old Secret Garden team” and highlighting a river view. It really creates confusion for those trying to book the original Secret Garden. This situation has even prompted me to seriously consider rebranding in order to protect my business.

Anyway, everything passed. Now I am so thrilled to announce that I have successfully reclaimed my Google map pin and made significant progress in renovating and reopening the Secret Garden. I extend my warmest gratitude to all of you who have trusted and chosen my place as your culinary destination. Your affection is the grand force that inspires me to continually strive for excellence and elevate the quality of my service. At my Secret Garden, you will be enveloped in an oasis of tranquility and delight in a diverse menu of exquisite dishes _ all contributing to a utterly perfect day.

My successful menu from the past is still here, so you can come to ask for the taste you had been satisfied before. Besides, as part of my dedication to enhancing your dining experience, l’m so excited to introduce a unique pairing of contemporary Vietnamese cuisine with a diverse wine collection, along with a menu featuring classic breakfast, brunch and fresh pastry items paired with high-quality coffee.

Once again, thanks so much for your support and continued patronage. If you have time, please help me to share your feedback about my Secret Garden on my official online platforms (be cautious of another eatery using our name!). Your support means the world to me.

I eagerly await the pleasure of serving your cherished moment. Strive to make your dining experience extraordinary.

Kind regards,

Uy TRAN, the founder and team

SECRET GARDEN restaurant in Hoian, Vietnam