The round table, lit by lattice lanterns
Lai is a Cantonese & Sichuan dining room in District 1 — ivory-paper walls, red-lacquer accents, and brass lattice lanterns glowing over round lazy-susan tables. The Peking duck is carved at the table; the soup dumplings come in three colors.
Everything orbits the round table
Not the facade, not the lobby — Lai's anchor is the lazy-susan round table and the lattice-lantern glow above it.
Named, never priced online
Three dishes that made Lai's name — described, never priced. Full listed prices are in-house.
Peking duck
Lacquered mahogany skin, carved at the table — thin pancakes, scallion, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce.
Tri-color soup dumplings
Gold, jade, and charcoal dusted with gold — three dumplings, three shades of the same thin skin.
The dim sum spread
Bamboo steamers, shrimp cheung fun, crystal dumplings — the whole dim sum table on blue plates.
From the duck cart to the round table
Three moments that make Lai — more on the story page.
The tableside duck
A mahogany-skinned duck, carved in front of the diners — the wordless opening act of every Lai banquet.
Tri-color soup dumplings
Gold, jade, charcoal dusted with gold — one thin skin, three shades. The smallest dish is the most photographed.
Round tables under lanterns
Brass lattice lanterns overhead, lazy-susan round tables, cream-and-blue chairs — and the city in blue dusk beyond the glass.
District 1, city center
The exact street address is not published — confirm with the restaurant before visiting.
Address
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Hours as published by the restaurant — please confirm before visiting.
Hours not independently verified.
Photos: provided by the restaurant via Google Maps