Spirit of Adventure

Recently, Peregrine sponsored a field trip for the dedicated trainees at KOTO restaurant – KOTO stands for ‘Know One, Teach One’ and is a restaurant in Hanoi that provides vocational training and hospitality experience to underprivileged youth.

The trainees had a challenging and enjoyable time on this year’s KOTO field trip which included visits to Hoi An, Hue, Marble Mountain, and many for exciting destinations. For many of the trainees the field trip is the first time they have travelled outside of the Hanoi region, and the first time they have been to the beach. Activities included a talent show where both trainees and staff act, sing and dance together.

“The aim is to put the trainees in both challenging and educational situations, while still allowing them to have a great time along the way,” said KOTO founder and International CEO, Mr Jimmy Pham.

“Every year I see the trainees’ self-confidence grow so much after the field trip because they’re doing new and challenging things in a foreign environment. The field trip would not have been possible without the generous support of Peregrine and we thank them for their efforts. KOTO immensely values the wonderful relationship it has with Peregrine and looks forward to it continuing into the future,” said Mr Pham.

Visit our website to find a Vietnamese adventure that visits the incredible KOTO restaurant.

Peregrine’s Assistant Brand Manager Anna Bowditch recently discovered the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Vietnam and Cambodia – all five of them no less!

The scrumptious fresh food, friendly local people and rich history of Vietnam and Cambodia are simply hard to beat, and have re-ignited my passion for Asia!

The opportunity to see how Vietnam - a very distant and exotic land to someone who grew up in the Eastern bloc - had experienced Communism, and is recovering from the ‘American War’, was absolutely fascinating, particularly when I was trying to squeeze myself through a mere 100 metres of the Cu Chi tunnels!

There were so many highlights, including:

• Getting lost with my camera in the busy streets of ancient Hoi An,  leaving me able to just observe daily life happening all around me
• Discovering the grandeur and war battle-scars of the Purple Forbidden City in Hue
• Exploring the remnants of the Champa Kingdom in My Son with the sounds of the jungle encompassing the tower temples, creating an amazing atmosphere
• Watching a golden sunset in Halong Bay after kayaking and taking a dip in the warm water all afternoon
• Throwing caution to the wind and getting on the back of a motorbike, zooming through small villages and rice paddy fields. Having lunch at an orphanage and playing skipping rope with the kids
• Enjoying the best mango salad I have ever tasted at KOTO restaurant, knowing that it was prepared by someone who was probably not so long ago living on the streets
• Clambering up the 80+ degree stairs of the many archaeological treasures in the Angkor complex

The cocktails will be flowing this May to celebrate KOTO students completing their training program at the KOTO restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam. Join Peregrine and Box Hill Institute for a very special evening to support the work of KOTO and celebrate the graduation. KOTO founder and CEO, Jimmy Pham, will be there, along with a KOTO graduate, so you can hear first-hand about the great work that KOTO is doing.

KOTO (Know One Teach One) is a not-for-profit restaurant and vocational training program for street and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam (www.koto.com.au). With a 100% employment rate for graduates, KOTO trainees are supported through a two-year, internationally-accredited hospitality, English language and life skills program. One way Peregrine provides support to KOTO is by visiting the restaurant on all of our trips that visit Hanoi — offering real experience to students and income to this venture.

During the cocktail evening we’ll be auctioning a Peregrine Glimpse of Vietnam trip for two in Vietnam (international airfares not included) and the money raised will be used to fund the annual field trip for KOTO students. We hope you can join us to help this worthwhile project.

Melbourne KOTO Cocktail Fundraiser
Where Life Saving Victoria, Port Melbourne Yacht Club
When 26 May
For more information about this event please contact: cynthia@koto.com.au

For a journey with a difference, experience the culinary specialities of one of South East Asia’s most diverse countries and get stuck into some of the recipes yourself on our new 10-day Vietnam Culinary Journey.

This unique adventure combines culinary and cultural experiences, tantalising your taste buds with local cuisines, under the guidance of local experts.

Your trip begins in Hanoi with a cooking class at KOTO restaurant, a community project that supports underprivileged young people. Highlights include cruising among 2000 limestone islands in Halong Bay aboard a traditional junk and a cooking tour in Hoi An, meeting with local farmers in the fields and markets to gather ingredients.

Another unforgettable experience will be a cooking lesson with TV celebrity chef, author and restaurant owner, Ms Dzoan, at her French villa in Saigon. Visit our website for more details and departure information.

“The greatest accomplishment for the person who has helped you, is to see you stand on your own two feet and then in turn help someone else that reminds you of yourself, because “if you Know One, then you should Teach One.”

Mr Jimmy Pham, KOTO Founder and Director

It is these words that emblazon the cover of the restaurant in the Dong Da district of Hanoi in Vietnam. Powerful words indeed, especially when you’ve just come for a hotpot and noodles!

We’re sitting in KOTO Restaurant, which is a forerunner to Jamie Oliver’s ‘Fifteen’ concept. Jimmy Pham, the founder and director, opened the restaurant in 1996 to help street kids develop a profession and break the poverty cycle. The concept is to train street kids in hospitality and English and enable them to work within the hospitality business in Vietnam. From chefs to busboys and waiters to barmen, all of the employees at KOTO are former street kids who’ve now been given another chance by Jimmy Pham.

Peregrine is extremely proud to support KOTO, and every Peregrine group that visits Hanoi enjoys a meal at the restaurant. It is exactly the type of support that is needed; paying customers eating the fruits of Jimmy’s labour, and encouraging sustainable tourism for now and the future.
KOTO

And the food is fantastic too: we dined on traditional Vietnamese hotpot, rice paper rolls, ginger snapper and an out-of-this-world lime and coconut smoothie.

Every client who travels with Peregrine to Hanoi gets a chance to eat at KOTO restaurant and support this fantastic venture. We are looking forward to increasing our donations to KOTO in the near future with the establishment of the Peregrine Community Trust.