Aug 2025 - Susu - Regional Product Manager

We love our work in product development—it’s not just desk research. Sometimes, we hit the road to explore hidden corners of the city and connect with locals who are working hard to preserve traditional crafts.
Last week, together with the Vietnam Product team, we wandered through Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown, to find fresh twists for the classic city experience. Just a few milestones from the city center, Cholon feels like a world of its own—with low-rise buildings blending Eastern and Western architectural styles, ornate temples, and timeworn shophouses.
We stopped by a 50-year-old family-run house and watched them crafting knives to the rhythm of sizzling steel. At a humble corner shop that’s been open since 1980, we tasted soft coconut cake—a local favorite—cooked live over an open flame with impressive skill.
Later, we met a young artisan who has revived the tradition of lion dance head-making! Chinese lion dance heads are handmade using bamboo frames and paper, then painted in bold colors to bring the lion’s spirit to life. With Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner in September, the streets of Chinatown are already bursting with color, lined with vibrant lanterns and handcrafted lion heads. We can’t wait to return in September for the vibrant lion dances, set to the rhythm of drums, cymbals, and gongs. The tradition is believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck and prosperity. Inspired by the atmosphere, our team is now working on a new experience for visitors coming during this festive season!