Why it belongs in ORBIS
Saigon-founded concept-store and cafe group launched around 2009 by Thai Nguyen and his wife Tib under the umbrella company L Concepts, pairing a casual restaurant with curated Vietnamese and international fashion and design across several Ho Chi Minh City branches.
L'Usine first appeared in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) around 2009, founded by Thai Nguyen and his wife Tib under the umbrella company L Concepts. Its format pairs a low-key cafe and restaurant with a curated retail section selling clothing, accessories and design objects from Vietnamese and international labels, typically set inside converted industrial-style buildings with exposed brick, floor-to-ceiling windows and warehouse-inspired fittings — a look the company ties to Saigon's industrial and Indochine-era architecture. The business grew from its original location into multiple branches across Ho Chi Minh City, including a flagship at 19 Le Thanh Ton that opened in July 2017. L'Usine describes its mission as curating a sense of discovery around Vietnamese design talent while also carrying international brands, positioning itself as a lifestyle destination rather than a single-category shop.