In today’s vibrant coastal city, Đà Nẵng is a place where new rhythms of life constantly intersect. Yet amid this ever-moving flow, there are still quiet spaces devoted to preserving Vietnamese identity - Danaksara being one of them. Here, tradition is reimagined through something simple and deeply familiar: the family meal, embodied in “Vietnamese Family Meal on a Wooden Tray.”

Vietnamese Family Meal on a Wooden Tray – a signature experience beloved by many guests at Danaksara (Furama Villas Danang)

Rushed meals, solitary dining, and the quiet absence at the Vietnamese table

In the pace of modern life, Vietnam’s culinary landscape is changing every day. Fast-food outlets operate 24/7, East-West cuisines intertwine, and meals can be delivered to one’s doorstep with just a few taps on a phone. Within this whirlwind, the family meal - once the heart of Vietnamese domestic life - seems to be quietly fading into the background.

It is no longer uncommon to see hurried meals, solitary dining, or families eating at different times. The shared dining tray - where family members once gathered to talk and reconnect after a long day - has become a “luxury” for many young people living in the city. As eating habits shift, the cultural values tied to the family meal also face the risk of being forgotten.

Yet in the collective memory of many Vietnamese generations, the family meal has never been merely about food. It is a space for connection, sharing, and the preservation of lifestyle and identity through simple, familiar dishes.

According to a 2022 survey by the Institute for Family and Gender Studies, over 76% of respondents believe that mealtime is the best opportunity for family members to converse during the day. This figure shows that, despite societal change, the need for connection through shared meals remains - what is uncertain is whether we still have the time and space to protect it.

Vietnamese Family Meal on a Wooden Tray – where memories resurface in modern life

In the dynamic coastal city of Đà Nẵng, where tourism and gastronomy are constantly evolving, Danaksara chooses a slower way of storytelling. Rather than following fleeting trends or extravagant culinary displays, the restaurant evokes familiar Vietnamese memories through Vietnamese Family Meal on a Wooden Tray - a true home-style meal.

The family meal – a distinctive cultural tradition in Vietnamese daily life (Photo: collected)

The round wooden tray, with its warm, earthy tones, recalls images once common in many Vietnamese households. On it sit bowls of fragrant white rice, richly flavored braised dishes infused with time, humble green vegetables from the sun-and-wind-swept Central region, and light soups reminiscent of evenings spent together. Everything is arranged with restraint - unpretentious, just like the spirit of a family meal.

Vietnamese cuisine has always valued balance: between yin and yang, richness and lightness, savory dishes and soup. Vietnamese Family Meal on a Wooden Tray at Danaksara follows this very philosophy - eschewing complexity and passing trends to focus instead on preserving the familiar flavors of home.

Having grown up around family dining trays themselves, Danaksara’s chefs carry with them memories of kitchen smoke from their mothers and grandmothers - the women who nurtured Vietnamese family meals. The flicker of the stove, the aroma of braised fish, the familiar call to gather for dinner - these moments have become cherished memories. Today, those memories are brought back to life through every dish. As a result, meals at Danaksara feel genuine, rustic, and deeply comforting in a way few places can replicate.

A simple yet unforgettable dish: sour chicken soup with giang leaves, memorable for its authentic, perfectly balanced flavor

A small gift for the modern generation

Vietnamese Family Meal on a Wooden Tray is not merely a dining option - it is a gentle reminder of the value of togetherness. For visitors, it offers a chance to touch a quiet yet meaningful slice of Vietnamese culture. For locals in Đà Nẵng, it feels familiar - like returning home after a long day.

Amid the race of contemporary gastronomy, where fast food and global trends dominate, Danaksara chooses to preserve something that may seem old-fashioned: the family meal. And perhaps it is precisely this “old” value that becomes the most meaningful gift for the modern generation - busy individuals who still long for connection, togetherness, and a return to the enduring beauty of Vietnamese culture.

The family meal – a gift of connection for the modern generation
 (Photo: Guests enjoying Vietnamese Family Meal on a Wooden Tray at Danaksara)