KOTO News and Events
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New KOTO Restaurant open for business
The long-awaited and hard-earned opening of the new KOTO Restaurant finally
arrived on 4 December 2006.
KOTO on Van Mieu, right next door to the old restaurant, retains KOTO’s great position across from the Temple of Literature, one of Hanoi’s premier tourist attractions.
The larger restaurant offers a range of venues from casual café to bar, fine dining and function room. This is a fantastic step forward for KOTO and will help to secure its future, ensuring many more disadvantaged young people will gain skills, employment and financial sustainability.
KOTO on Van Mieu has something for everyone and for every occasion.
KOTO Café on the ground floor is ideal for a casual coffee or informal meal.
The Temple Bar on level two is likely to become ‘the venue’ for expats and Vietnamese to enjoy a quiet drink in stylish laid back comfort (and it’s WIFI enabled).
The Function Room on level three will cater for group bookings.
The Treetop Terrace provides magnificent views over the Temple of literature and is the ideal place to enjoy one of KOTO’s signature cocktails.
KOTO on Van Mieu is currently
open daily for breakfast and lunch, and for dinner on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday nights. It will soon open for dinner seven
nights a week.
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KOTO has a new CEO
In October 2006, Daragh Halpin started as the new Chief Executive Officer for KOTO in Hanoi.
Daragh is well experienced for the task. He is an Irish / Australian with qualifications in education and training as well as in hotel and hospitality management. Daragh has spent 15 years in the training and hospitality sectors, many of these in South East Asia. For several years, he has been living and working in Hanoi.
Jimmy Pham, KOTO’s Founding Patron, is now keeping busy in his new role of fundraising and raising the profile of KOTO both in Vietnam and internationally.
World leaders visit KOTO
During the APEC Forum held in Hanoi during November,
Laura Bush, wife of the American President, dined at KOTO.
She was joined by eight KOTO trainees, Restaurant Manager and KOTO
graduate, Miss Thao, as well as Mr Jimmy and Mr Daragh.
The US Secret Service agents loved the KOTO 'Secret service specials' that were delivered to them daily during the APEC Forum.
Just two hours after Mrs Bush’s lunch, Jannette Howard, wife
of the Australian Prime Minister, visited KOTO Restaurant for
afternoon tea. Mrs Howard met with the Business Women’s Association
of Hanoi and they were treated to lamingtons and Aussie meat
pies among other KOTO delights.
This was a fitting farewell the old KOTO Restaurant at 61 Van Mieu Street.
Ba Vi does it again
The 2006 Ba Vi bike ride attracted 130 cyclists (double last year’s number) and raised close to $25,000 USD for KOTO (double last year’s amount).
The annual Hanoi to Ba Vi challenge is KOTO’s major fundraising effort and we are extremely grateful to all participants and supporters.
For a full rundown of the event and photos, visit www.kotobikeride.com
ANZ supports KOTO
With the new KOTO Restaurant still preparing for opening, the ANZ Charity Challenge was given a preview evening and kindly made a $5,000 donation to KOTO.
KOTO forms bond with Macquarie University
Fifteen post-graduate students from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia,
recently spent two weeks at KOTO. They worked alongside the
trainees in drama and sports activities, dances, Christmas songs and English
language classes. At the end of their visit, they put on a gala concert
which was thoroughly enjoyed by all, particularly the trainees. This visit
has created a strong relationship between KOTO and Macquarie University.