Sen Viet – A Vietnamese flavour crystallised from passion and dedication

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Blogs

Bài viết này có ngôn ngữ Tiếng Việt.

Vietnamese cuisine has become a familiar flavor in Finland. On the streets of Helsinki, Sen Viet Vegetarian Restaurant stands out as it offers a unique vegan interpretation of Vietnamese cuisine. Despite its relatively short history, Sen Viet has been fortunate to cultivate a loyal following among both Vietnamese and Finnish diners, receiving positive feedback for its authentic flavors and creative vegan dishes.

BiziVietnam has conducted an exclusive interview with Ms. Dzung Le, the owner of Sen Viet vegetarian restaurant, to uncover the challenges and experiences of establishing a successful vegan restaurant in Finland. Through an in-depth conversation, we aimed to better understand the experiences of starting a business in the food and beverage sector from an insider’s perspective. As a newcomer to the restaurant business, Dzung emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind to accept challenges and learn from them to develop the business. With a business orientation that emphasizes creating value for the community, Dzung chose a slow but sustainable approach to the Finnish market with dedication, passion, and perseverance. 

Through Dzung’s business story, BiziVietnam hopes to inspire individuals planning to start a business in Finland and provide valuable insights for their entrepreneurial journey.

Finland is an ideal place to nurture the younger generation and develop the potential of Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine.

– Dzung Le, owner of Sen Viet restaurant.

I’m Dzung Le, the owner of Sen Viet, a vegetarian restaurant here in Finland. My journey has been quite the adventure, from the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the calm, serene Nordic landscape. Before diving into the food industry, I spent more than 16 years in environmental business – a career far removed from cooking but one that, surprisingly, led me to create Sen Viet in Finland

When asked about my inspiration for opening a vegetarian restaurant, I usually laugh and say, “In Vietnam, we have a saying: “You can only focus on higher things with a full stomach.” Here in Finland, more and more people are choosing plant-based diets. Maybe that’s why the Finns are so calm and kind-hearted. They’re well-fed on veggies and always ready to welcome and support people from all over the world. Sen Viet was born to spread the love for authentic, flavorful Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine.

Why “Sen Viet”? Well, the lotus is my favorite flower because it symbolizes purity, resilience, and strength – rising from the mud yet blooming with a beautiful fragrance. That’s exactly the spirit I want to infuse into every dish at Sen Viet!

What difficulties and challenges have you encountered in the business process, and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced is the sense of solitude. Solitude in running the restaurant and in navigating my way to adapt and integrate into a new environment. But luckily, my work at the restaurant keeps me busy, and I have my two daughters by my side. Their love and support have lightened the feeling of being alone in a foreign land.

Learning Finnish is no easy task! Not knowing the language makes everything a bit of a guessing game, from deciphering product labels to figuring out the names of vegetables. Google Translate is now my great assistant, but I also clearly understand that relying on technology alone cannot develop in the long term. So, I took matters into my own hands and signed up for a Finnish class. Every morning, I tackle the language, and whenever the restaurant is quiet, I sneak in some review time. I’m sticking with it daily, convinced that mastering Finnish will unlock new doors for my business in Finland. 

Beside the difficulties, what advantages have you had? What kind of support have you received from the people around you?

A big advantage when I came to Finland was the popularity of Vietnamese cuisine, which made it easier for my authentic vegetarian dishes to attract customers. Additionally, customers in Finland are friendly and offer well-intentioned feedback, helping the restaurant continuously improve. Their input motivates me to refine both the dishes and the service.

I must also mention my two best assistants: my children. Even though they’re young and far from home for the first time, they’ve adapted quickly. They always help me with household chores like laundry and cleaning, and sometimes even cook simple meals. After a long day at the restaurant, I come home to their excited stories about school and their lunch adventures, and they even teach me how to pronounce Finnish words. Our new life here is full of surprises and heartwarming moments.

When I first arrived, arranging school for my children was my biggest concern. Luckily, they got into an integration program for foreign children, and with the warm support of their teachers, who were always friendly and attentive, they never felt out of place. This really took a load off my shoulders, and allowed me to focus more on my business.

In your opinion what is the company's greatest achievement to date?

I am proud that the restaurant has made a positive impression on our customers in Finland. Aside from the quality of the food, Sen Việt stands out as the only fully vegetarian restaurant in Helsinki, giving it a unique edge with little competition. Our dishes are highly appreciated by customers and recommended to friends and relatives.

But for me, the real achievements go beyond business. It’s about how my daughters and I have survived the cold Finnish winters, overcome the feeling of loneliness as expatriates, and learned to balance our emotions in the face of external challenges. These may seem like small things, but through them, I see myself growing stronger and more resilient each day. 

How do you think cultural differences affect working with local partners? How was your experience?

Cooperating with Finnish partners is one of my future plans. I know that Finnish people are very sincere and straightforward, handling work clearly and efficiently. I have experienced this firsthand when working with state agencies here. Therefore, when it comes to collaborating with Finnish partners, I feel confident that they are trustworthy.

How do you expect your business to develop in the coming years?

In the near future, I plan to redesign the restaurant’s space and adjust the menu to better suit the tastes of our customers here. Once the business is more stable, I aim to open additional branches in Finland. Along with expanding, I also plan to collaborate with Finnish partners in various sectors. When it comes to food, I hope to promote and spread the joy of plant-based eating, importing more high-quality vegan products from Vietnam to Finland and other parts of Europe.

As someone running a business in Finland, do you have any advice for new entrepreneurs?

In my experience, everyone should build a detailed business plan with clear goals for each stage. A solid plan makes managing the business easier and keeps it on track. In a new business environment, it’s crucial to stay open-minded and eager to learn. However, it is important to carefully evaluate external advice and suggestions, especially in tough situations. My advice is not to rush into immediate benefits to avoid being taken advantage of and overlooking long-term gains.

My business philosophy centers on passion, dedication, and perseverance. Passion involves devoting oneself to work and finding joy in what you do. Dedication means doing business from the heart, ensuring it benefits both the company and the community. While profit is essential, it is only a short-term goal, creating lasting value for the community is key to long-term success. Finally, perseverance is needed to keep the passion alive and remain committed to serving the community. No matter what, never lose hope, because within every challenge lies the seed of good fortune, and adversity will help us grow stronger, faster.

“Success comes with faith, passion, and dedication, especially when it benefits the community and we preserve through challenges.”

Written by Minh Phuong & Ngoc Tram

Finland Business Insider: Perspectives from a Vietnamese-Finnish entrepreneurs

Did you find the interview insightful about doing business in Finland? If you’re eager to dive deeper into more inspiring success journeys of Vietnamese entrepreneurs thriving in the Finnish market, subscribe to our blog now and follow BiziVietnam on social media for the latest updates. Share your own business stories with us and become part of the “Finland Business Insider” community. We’d love to hear from you – Let’s connect and grow together!