At Chapter Dining, where Northern Vietnamese cuisine meets innovation and depth, every ingredient of the fine dining experience is thoughtfully curated, including what’s in your glass. Behind this elevated beverage menu is Sommelier Trân Thi Dung Trâm at Chapter Dining, recently titled Vietnam’s Best Sommelier 2024. A rising star in Vietnam’s wine in our Chapter’s fine dining scene, Sommelier Tram blends deep technical knowledge with heartfelt storytelling.
Table of Contents
- 1 About Miss Tram: Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at Chapter Dining – Best Sommelier in Vietnam 2024
- 2 What inspired Miss Tram to become a Sommelier?
- 3 Miss Tram’s journey to becoming a Certified Sommelier
- 4 Sommelier at Chapter Dining is not only about wine
- 5 Food and wine pairing – Sharing from Sommelier Tram
- 6 What advice would Miss Tram give an inspiring sommelier?
About Miss Tram: Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at Chapter Dining – Best Sommelier in Vietnam 2024
Miss Trân Thi Dung Trâm is the Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at Chapter Dining, a fine dining restaurant in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Known for her calm authority and deep knowledge, Chapter Dining’s Sommelier Tram brings not only world-class credentials but also a refined sense of taste shaped by her roots in Hue, a city celebrated for its culinary heritage.
Her achievements go beyond titles. Chapter Dining’s Sommelier Tram holds WSET Level 3 certifications in both wine and sake, the ASI Certification 2, and is also a Certified Sake Sommelier.
As Vice President of the VSA’s Northern Vietnam chapter – Vietnam Sommelier Association (originally named Saigon Sommelier Association), Miss Tram continues to lead, mentor, and advocate for the next generation of sommeliers.
In September 2024, Sommelier Tram was introduced as Star Wine List’s newest ambassador. Chapter Dining is honored to be one of the fine dining restaurants in Hanoi featured in the list of 10 New Red Stars in Vietnam. Star Wine List, often referred to as the Michelin Guide for wine lovers, is a curated list objectively evaluated and selected by industry experts. It celebrates the dedication of sommeliers, restaurateurs, and bar owners in delivering exceptional culinary and wine experiences. Beyond the list, Star Wine List is also a media platform, sharing stories and building global communities in the world of wine within restaurants.
In addition, Miss Tram was honored as Vietnam’s Best Sommelier 2024 — a title awarded under the prestigious Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and reserved for rising professionals under the age of 30. Her recognition reflects not only personal excellence but a larger movement elevating Vietnam’s place in the world of wine.
Whether in the dining room or behind the scenes, Sommelier Tram’s work at Chapter Dining reflects a quiet devotion to the craft and a vision for Vietnamese beverage service on the global stage.
What inspired Miss Tram to become a Sommelier?
For Sommelier Tram at Chapter Dining, the journey into the world of wine began not with textbooks, but with curiosity and a deep respect for culinary culture.
Originally from Hue, a city renowned for its royal gastronomy, Miss Tram relocated to Ho Chi Minh City to pursue studies in tourism and hospitality. While working at a European restaurant, her first encounter with wine was anything but glamorous. She often reflects that she was “studying something meant for the rich”, navigating a world of flavor that was completely new to her.
But through genuine interest, conversations with industry professionals from both Vietnam and abroad, and the growing momentum of Vietnam’s F&B scene, she found her purpose.
What started as casual service soon became a calling. She pursued hands-on training in Burgundy, France, and became a certified WSET educator by 2019.
In a developing wine market like Vietnam, Sommelier Tram notes that those with wine knowledge and expertise have numerous opportunities for career advancement. It’s not just fine dining restaurants like Chapter Dining, hotels, or 4–5 star resorts that seek certified sommeliers. Wine shops and large beverage corporations are also actively looking for professionals in the field.
Miss Tram’s journey to becoming a Certified Sommelier
For Chapter Dining’s Sommelier Tram, the road to certification was paved with perseverance and passion. In a country where the wine culture is still growing, Miss Tram had to overcome several challenges to reach her current standing.
While Vietnam has promising wine-growing regions like Da Lat, it is not recognized globally as a wine-producing nation. This meant Miss Tram had to look outward, to France, Italy, and Spain, for deeper knowledge and expertise.
Her early wine education began with a basic Vietnamese-language course, as globally recognized certifications were still scarce in Vietnam at the time. To further her training, Sommelier Tram turned to international resources, navigating complex English and even French wine literature to expand her understanding. Language was a barrier, but never a limitation.
Determined to grow, Miss Tram later apprenticed in Burgundy, the birthplace of some of the world’s most revered wines. That hands-on experience proved invaluable, enriching both her technical skills and sensory intuition. She later obtained WSET Level 3 Awards in both wine and sake, along with the ASI Certification Level 2.
Joining the Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA) was a turning point. Through national competitions and continued learning, Miss Tram advanced to win Vietnam’s Best Sommelier 2024, a prestigious title under the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), becoming the first champion from Vietnam.
As the next step in her journey, Sommelier Tram will represent Vietnam on the international stage at the Asia-Pacific Sommelier Competition, organized by ASI.
Sommelier at Chapter Dining is not only about wine
At a Hanoi fine dining restaurant like Chapter, the role of a sommelier extends far beyond wine service. For Sommelier Tram, beverage curation is an expansive and ever-evolving craft.
While wine pairing remains a cornerstone of her expertise, Miss Tram is also the creative mind behind a wide range of drinks served at the restaurant, including tea, sake, cocktails, infused spirits, and even still water.
Every season Chapter Menu is launched, Sommelier Tram is entrusted with designing the entire beverage menu to complement the chefs’ creations. From crafting thoughtful wine pairings, Sommelier Tram also develops signature alcohol pairings, non-alcoholic pairings, and locally. Like fermented sticky rice alcohol at Chapter Dining, she ensures every sip enhances each bite.
Beyond service, Miss Tram also leads weekly trainings for the Chapter’s front-of-house team, covering topics from wine knowledge and cocktail techniques to customer engagement and service finesse. Her work exemplifies that a sommelier is not only a steward of wine but a storyteller through all things liquid, crafting memorable journeys through flavor, texture, and cultural depth.
Food and wine pairing – Sharing from Sommelier Tram
For Sommelier Tram from Chapter Dining, wine pairing is both a science and an art — one that considers the nuances of flavor, texture, and preparation technique. Sommelier Tram believes that the most successful pairings stem from understanding harmony between the wine and the dish.
For example, a fresh, crisp white wine should complement equally fresh, vibrant food, creating a seamless sensory experience. When it comes to red wines with tannin, the level of bitterness must match the cooking method: lighter reds pair well with steamed or boiled dishes, while grilled, braised, or aged foods call for bolder, fuller-bodied wines.
“Don’t forget about the sauce that comes with the dish” – Sommelier Tram shares. A sommelier has to consider the sauce’s character as well. Whether it’s creamy and rich, or citrusy and acidic, to determine the ideal beverage. So the wine can echo the overall tone of the dish.
Yet pairing isn’t only about finding similarities. Sometimes, contrast creates magic. Sommelier Tram mentioned that a bubbly, refreshing champagne might be the perfect counterpoint to crispy, rich, deep-fried dishes, cutting through the fat and refreshing the palate.
At Chapter Dining, this meticulous pairing process is part of every seasonal menu refresh, and it reflects Tram’s deeper mission: to enhance every bite and sip with thoughtful intention. Her pairings invite diners not just to enjoy, but to experience a dialogue between the food and the beverage.
What advice would Miss Tram give an inspiring sommelier?
When asked what advice would you give an inspiring sommelier? Sommelier Tram emphasizes two essentials: persistence and passion.
“Whatever you do, do it thoroughly” – Sommelier Tram shared on the podcast with host Luong Ngoc Khanh on Hotelier Vietnam Channel. This is a mantra that has guided her through every stage of her journey. For Miss Tram, becoming a sommelier isn’t just about memorizing labels or mastering pairings. It’s a long-term commitment to learning, tasting, and growing.
“A sommelier should embrace the hard work, be willing to invest time and energy into their craft, and remain curious in the face of challenge”. With Vietnam’s food and beverage industry growing rapidly, Miss Tram believes that certified sommeliers have more opportunities than ever, if they’re ready to put in the work.
Receiving the Vietnam’s Best Sommelier 2024, Miss Tram’s story is one of quiet resilience and extraordinary passion. She continues to evolve her craft, most recently participating in Vinexpo Asia 2025. For Sommelier Tram at Chapter Dining, it’s not just about wine; it’s about forging emotional connections between food and drink, and elevating Vietnamese cuisine on the global stage. Her path reminds us that excellence is not a destination, but a process — poured with care, studied with intent, and shared with heart.
_________
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