KOTO Van Mieu

Why it matters: opened in 1999 by Vietnamese-Australian Jimmy Pham, KOTO — Know One, Teach One — was Vietnam’s first social enterprise, putting at-risk and disadvantaged youth through a two-year hospitality and life-skills program. The training restaurant sits directly opposite the Temple of Literature, so a meal here pairs neatly with the city’s top sight. Order the fresh spring rolls and a bowl of pho, and know that 100% of graduates leave with a job. Tip: ask for the quieter upstairs dining room with views over Van Mieu Street.