Imagine having to flee your own country at the tender age of eight and do so in a boat.
This nightmare scenario has echoes today, of course, but that was the fate that befell Trang Tran and her parents way back in the late 1970s when they had to escape their home in Vietnam.
Thought the United States had been their chosen destination, the family ended up in Belgium where they set about starting a new life.
Fast forward to 2025 and Trang and her husband Minh, who has also fled war-torn Vietnam a few years earlier in an identical way, are now embarking on a brand new venture in their lives…. taking over a restaurant business.
It is called L’Orchidee Blanche and the couple admit the task ahead is a “ big challenge.”
That is partly because they have a pair of “big shoes” to fill.The previous owner, Katia Nguyen, had been there for no less than 39 years and had grown the business to what it is today, a highly popular Vietnamese eatery in Ixelles.
Trang and her husband, who took over from the now-retired Katia a few months ago, are determined to continue the wonderful success story that the resto represents.
Key to this will be ensuring that as little as possible changes, albeit with a few tweaks here and there.
These include a slightly newly designed menu and dropping a few, less popular, dishes from it. The wine list has also been slightly reduced. Aside from this, nothing has changed and that includes the staff who still remain (and they still wear the lovely, distinctive Vietnamese tunics and costumes that Katia popularised during her tenure).
The food is still as terrific as ever, covering a wide range of classic Vietnamese dishes, including pork, beef, chicken and duck.
Considering the quality, the prices are very reasonable with main courses starting from under €20.
Look out for the house specialities such as “Assiette Ochidee Blanche”, “Riz Royal”, and “Le fondue vietnames imperial” – all are vert authentic, good value and excellent.
For Trang it is a first ever venture into the sometimes turbulent world of horeca and she admits it is a “challenge.”
She told this site, “We have a lot to learn and it is not easy.We did not know how the customers would react to the change of management and ownership, particularly after Katia’s very long time here. But I am happy to say that their reaction has been very good, as partly judged by the customer reviews posted on social media.
“I must say that has been a big relief to us.”
The couple have a fascinating backstory.
Minh, in fact, has some previous history in horeca, having previously worked for his sister (including front-of-house and in the kitchen) at her resto in Brussels.
Trang was, as is still the case, working for the EU in Brussels and her husband decided for a major career change by applying – successful – to join her at the European Commission.
After ten years in the EU role, though, he was looking for a possible new challenge in life and that is when the offer of taking over L’Orchidee Blanche arose.
They admit that had the offer been made a few years earlier they would probably have politely declined but times change and the move came at just the right time for both of them.
And that is how they ended up where they are now, with Minh going back to what he used to do with his sister but, this time, in charge of his own place.
Trang, who looks after the admin side of the business, paid tribute to Katia who she has known for a long time.
“She is a very good friend,like a sister to me,in fact,” she says. “When it comes to the resto we just hope to continue in the same vein and maintain the success she enjoyed.”
The couple can draw on the loyalty and experience of some very, very long serving members of staff, including Huong, who has worked here no less than 18 years, and Thuy who has worked at the resto for even longer (25 years).
One notable feature of the place in the past has been that it has employed a virtually all female team.
This largely continues today with staff members Hieu being, along with Minh, the only two males working here.
But, as Trang readily admits, continuing this “trend” may not be so easy as it is becoming harder and harder to find good, skilled and available staff (an issue for many restos of course).
However, the early signs are excellent and this couple, who first found their way to Belgium as Vietnamese “boat people” are delighted to have taken over the mantle at this ever popular restaurant.
L’Orchidee Blanche
436 Chaussee de Boondael, Brussels
02 647 5621
