My name is Huyen Ho, also known as Maria, and I am a Vietnamese born in Hue, Central Vietnam. I studied literature at the University of Hue and now reside in Bali with my husband and two children. The culture, waves, ocean, and people of Bali drew me to the island, providing my family with a closer-knit community and a better environment for my children to grow.

Cooking has always been my passion, even when I was a young girl and my family was so poor that we didn't have a kitchen at home. I remember spending hours in the garden trying to build a simple kitchen from wood, leaves, and clay, and making food with fruits and plants. After marriage, my mother-in-law introduced me to the world of cooking. I then traveled throughout Vietnam to learn about its food culture and techniques, and was professionally trained at Sofitel Hotel by Sakal Phoeung, President of Escoffier Vietnam. Even now, I still feel like a little girl playing in the kitchen. I love traditional ways of cooking, but also enjoy experimenting with different tastes and textures, blending Vietnamese culture and Western cooking in my own personal recipes.

With the help of the wonderful people I've met in my life, I am now a proud chef with two restaurants running in Sai Gon, Vietnam, seven running in Bali, and more to come in the future!