Date9 October 2025 & 1 December 2025Date KnownExactDescriptionHai Au Lang Nuong in Canley Vale is more than a family-owned Vietnamese restaurant. It's a studio, art gallery and a hub of community too. Ben manages the front of house from what he jovially calls his “man cave,” a studio space tucked into a corner of the restaurant where he lovingly handcrafts the decorations that fill this place to the brim, spilling out onto the street. Ben tells me that at the heart of his practice are his memories of the motherland. The culmination is a sensory echo of Vietnam recreated with the artful use of electricity and the low frequency buzz of LED and halogen to capture not just the look, but the feel, the sound of cicadas on a hot day, the warmth of old streets, the flicker of lanterns. Behind the scenes, his mother orchestrates the kitchen, producing the authentic, fragrant dishes that have locals lining up for a taste of home. Together, they balance the matriarch’s kingdom of the kitchen with Ben’s domain of art and hospitality. The result is joyful.
For Ben, the restaurant is profoundly connected to his life story. Arriving in Australia as a refugee in 1988, he experienced the perilous journey of a boat escape, long periods in refugee camps, and the slow reunion of his family over five years. Those early experiences instilled in him a commitment to community, mentorship, and giving young people a path away from trouble. Many of the teenagers who work at Hai Au Lang Nuong’s find a safe environment where hard work is valued, creativity is encouraged and respect is practiced. For Ben, art is service, food is soul, and both are a way of bringing people together. The ethos of the restaurant, welcoming everyone, celebrating multiculturalism, and respecting culture and craft, is a reflection of his heart and values. Sitting at Hai Au Lang Nuong, you are not just eating a delicious meal, you are stepping into a living memory of home recreated with love.
- Chloë Nour, February 2026PhotographerChloë NourGeolocation[1] 48 Canley Vale Rd, Canley ValeNotesThese photographs are part of the 2025 City Photographer project.
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Image ColourColourTypeDigitalCopyrightPartial restriction. Please contact Fairfield City Heritage Services for image use.AcknowledgementChloë Nour 2025 Fairfield City Photographer. Image courtesy of Fairfield City Heritage Collection.
Hai Au Lang Nuong (9 October 2025 & 1 December 2025). Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 16/06/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/7199
