As the lunar new year begins, perhaps we now have time to sit back and reflect on the year that was and the year to come…

New year’s resolutions

As an American poet, Walt Whitman famously said, “the future is no more uncertain than the present.” Meaning that no matter how hard we try to control our lives; the present is just as unpredictable as the future.
That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to take control of our destiny. It’s always fun to make a resolution or two.
As with the start of every new year, the prospect of a what the next 365 days will bring seems limitless. So, cheers to new beginnings and continued success!
Whether it’s to start a new business, spend more time with family or to finally take that dream vacation, resolutions can be as profound or as innocuous as you’d like.
Son Tinh asked what is your new year’s resolution? We posed this question to a handful of artisans, designers and just downright cool people that we consider part of our Son Tinh family.
Here are a few inspiring words from them, to help you gain perspective for your own year to come…

THAO VU – THE FASHION DESIGNER

   
Thao Vu is the owner of Hanoi-based clothing label Kilomet 109 and is an avid spokeswoman for environmental issues.
“It has been a long and exciting journey! I wouldn’t want to stop, even for a break. This year I will be continuing to collaborate with new communities and artisans from in and outside of Vietnam. My new collection will be launching very soon and as always, each collection from Kilomet 109 carries with it a new story, new methods, new people and new places.”
 
My new collection will be launching very soon and as always, each collection from Kilomet 109 carries with it a new story, new methods, new people and new places.”

PHAM TIEN TIEP – THE MIXOLOGIST

 
For me, family, friends, a calm environment and a welcoming staff will always make the difference in this line of business.”
Pham Tien Tiep is the owner of the much talked about Nê Cocktail Bar on Tong Duy Tan street, Hanoi. He is also the creator of the now infamous Pho cocktail, which has won a wealth of awards, as well as imitators from many bars throughout Vietnam.
“After a positive year and a half at Nê, my partners and I are looking to expand our locally focused business to another venue. We’d love to create another space similar to Nê, where our cocktail menu consists of local flavours, which highlight how to use traditional Vietnamese spices in mixology.
For me, family, friends, a calm environment and a welcoming staff will always make the difference in this line of business.”

NGUYỄN THẾ SƠN – THE VISUAL ARTIST

 
“We were confronted by many challenges in 2018, but in the end, we’ve seen success well beyond our expectations.”
Nguyen The Son is not only a visual artist but also an independent curator and fine art professor at the Vietnam Fine Arts University. You can find many of his artwork and installation pieces throughout Hanoi, including a series of frescos that now reside under the train tracks of Phung Hung Street.
“We were confronted by many challenges in 2018, but in the end, we’ve seen success well beyond our expectations.
We had an art project on Phung Hung Street. My partners and I stumbled across many obstacles from the authorities, because the terms and definitions of contemporary art and public art are always different.
Eventually, after months of persistence and refusing to compromise, the project was completed and now stretches over 200m along the stone archways leading to the historic Long Bien Bridge. It has been seen by over a million visitors over the last year.
My hope for 2019, is that contemporary art projects will be better received by the public and the Vietnamese government. I am also hoping for a contemporary Vietnamese art museum in the near future as well.”
 
My hope for 2019, is that contemporary art projects will be better received by the public and the Vietnamese government.”

MARKUS MADEJA – THE DISTILLER 

 
As Son Tinh Ruou’s master distiller and founder, Markus helped refine the recipe of Vietnamese rice liquor, taking it from a small village in Northern Vietnam and helping it to become the award-winning Ruou that we all enjoy today.
Markus only has a few, yet profound words on what this year means to him.
“If you need a special occasion to ascertain what you want, then you don’t know what you want. If next year is a change from this one, then it’s a good year!”
“If you need a special occasion to ascertain what you want, then you don’t know what you want. If next year is a change from this one, then it’s a good year!”

BEST TO YOU – FROM SON TINH

There you have it, there’s no doubt that all of those we asked are truly dedicated to their craft and are focused on continuing to grow this year.
Son Tinh would like to wish you the same.
Cheers to a prosperous year to come for you and your family, and as always, please be safe and remember to drink responsibly.
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The rượu spirit is becoming known for its distinctiveness and is increasingly being recognised as a category and experience of its own.
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