Driven by a philosophy of sustainability, Chapter Dining believes that beyond zero-waste cooking methods, meaningful contributions to society are the true foundation of our long-term commitment to sustainable development. Through its partnership with the Nuoi Em Project, Chapter Dining has extended its culinary philosophy beyond the plate, into the heart of the community. This collaboration brings nourishing meals and educational support to children in remote, mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam, ensuring they have a fairer chance at a brighter future. This is the story of how cuisine meets compassion, and how every Chapter menu served becomes part of a greater cause.
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What is the Nuoi Em Project and who does it support?
Founded in 2014 by volunteer leader Hoàng Hoa Trung, the Nuoi Em Project is a charitable initiative driven by the Niềm Tin Volunteer Group. The project aims to provide nutritious meals and educational resources for children in underprivileged areas of Vietnam’s Northern highlands. Particularly in provinces like Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien.
But what does it really mean to “nuôi em” – or “foster a child”?
In the context of the Nuoi Em Project, fostering goes beyond traditional notions of sponsorship. It involves ensuring that children in rural villages, particularly those under 36 months old or attending grades 1 and 2, have consistent access to hot, nutritious lunches throughout the school year.
These meals, which include rice, meat, tofu, vegetables, and soup, are prepared using locally sourced ingredients and cost just 8,500 VND per portion for primary students and 6,800 VND per portion for preschoolers.
In these remote regions, access to basic resources is a daily struggle. Children often face long journeys to school, harsh weather conditions, and a lack of food. These are factors that lead to high dropout rates. In emergencies, such as with middle school students who must board to continue their education, the project extends support to cover both lunch and dinner.
But the Nuoi Em Project is not just about meals. Since 2018, it has evolved into a comprehensive support system. Children enrolled in the project also benefit from additional initiatives at no extra cost to the donors:
- Bedding programs: providing blankets and mattresses for cold mountain nights.
- Water filtration: ceramic water filters, implemented in over 500 villages with support from UNICEF.
- Toy libraries and reading corners: promoting emotional and cognitive development.
- Winter uniforms and jackets: ensuring children stay warm and attend school during harsh winters.
- Books and school supplies: to encourage learning beyond basic literacy.
- Construction of schools: through collaborations with the “Sức Mạnh 2000” initiative, many “anh chị nuôi” (foster donors) have contributed an extra 50,000 VND yearly to fund the building of new schools. This has resulted in the construction of over 200 school facilities in just nine years.
As of today, over 25,000 children in Dien Bien and more than 95,000 across the northern highlands have been supported by the Nuoi Em Project, thanks to the dedication of over 8,700 individual sponsors and community partners.
The project’s success lies in its transparency and simplicity. Each child has a unique code, and regular updates are provided to sponsors. When a child becomes eligible for government-provided meals, their code is transferred to a new student, ensuring the continuity of support and avoiding duplication.
The Nuoi Em Project embodies the belief that no child should have to choose between hunger and education. By addressing both physical nourishment and emotional support, it offers children the strength and dignity to stay in school and to dream beyond their village.
Why Chapter Dining joins the Nuoi Em Project
About Chapter sustainability, it’s not about food. While our chefs are renowned for their zero-waste kitchen practices and creative, seasonal tasting menus, Chapter Dining also believes that true sustainability encompasses social responsibility. That belief led to a meaningful partnership between Nuoi Em Project and Chapter Dining.
As a Northern Vietnamese contemporary restaurant rooted in respect for local ingredient and culture, Chapter sees its role as not only feeding guests but nurturing communities. Especially in Northern Vietnam, where we source many of the precious local ingredients that inspire our seasonal menus. In the words of the Chapter team, “Sustainability isn’t complete unless we also uplift the people around us”.
Since 2023, Chapter Dining has collaborated with the Nuoi Em Project to provide support for children in the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam. This commitment reflects the restaurant’s broader values — compassion, community, and the belief that fine dining can (and should) be a vehicle for change. So that children in the highlands of Vietnam can keep walking the path to education with fullness and hope.
Beyond its social initiatives, Chapter Dining is also committed to environmental efforts. Discover the collaboration between Chapter Dining and PanNature, a shared mission to protect and restore Vietnam’s forests for a greener future.
How Chapter Dining contributes to the Nuoi Em Project
Chapter Dining’s support for the Nuoi Em Project is built around our seasonal tasting menus. Every quarter, when we launch a new tasting menu, it dedicates a portion of proceeds from one or two featured dishes to the Nuoi Em Project. These contributions are then transferred transparently through the National Volunteer Center (VVC), ensuring every donation directly supports the children in need.
Through this process, Chapter’s culinary creativity becomes a channel for meaningful action. By celebrating the best of Vietnamese ingredients on the plate, our team also pays tribute to the communities that produce them. Many of these are the very places the Nuoi Em Project serves.
This isn’t a one-time initiative. It’s a long-term relationship between Chapter Dining and the Nuoi Em Project. Every season, as nature inspires new dishes, Chapter responds with gratitude by giving back. It’s a cycle of nourishment that extends beyond guests to communities that often go unheard and underserved.
How do diners become part of the Nuoi Em Project?
At Chapter Dining, guests are more than just patrons. They are partners in purpose. Every diner who experiences the tasting menu becomes part of the collaboration between the Nuoi Em Project and Chapter Dining, a growing movement of compassion rooted in culinary excellence.
When guests enjoy a dish inspired by Northern Vietnam, they’re also helping children in that same region receive nutritious meals and access to education. It’s an invisible thread that connects the table to the mountains, linking fine dining to the futures of young lives in Northern Vietnam.
Chapter deeply values this shared journey. Our growth and ability to support meaningful causes would not be possible without our guests. By simply dining with intention, guests amplify Chapter’s mission to feed more than just hunger. They help feed hope for children in remote areas with much love.
To support the Nuoi Em Project further, guests can visit the official site at www.nuoiem.com, where they can explore donation options, track project updates, and even foster a child directly.
For Chapter Dining, the collaboration with the Nuoi Em Project is not about charity — it’s about connection. Between nature and cuisine. Between community and business. Between privilege and purpose. As our chefs draw inspiration from Vietnam’s diverse landscapes, they recognize a responsibility to give back to the land and its people. In every season, Chapter’s kitchen tells a story. And now, with the Nuoi Em Project, that story is one of generosity, hope, and solidarity with Vietnam’s highland children.
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Chapter Dining
12C Chan Cam, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Mon – Sat from 18:00 – 23:00
Tel: +84 333 201 221 – Reserve a table
Email: reservation@chapter.vn
