Akuna takes its name from an Australian Aboriginal word for flowing water a reference chosen by Chef Sam Aisbett to reflect his career in constant motion, and one that shaped the design brief entirely. Studio Noor designed the 50-seat restaurant within Le Méridien Saigon around this philosophy: an open kitchen at the centre where guests watch the team at work; a dining counter crafted from an ancient tree submerged underwater for centuries; and a rippled ceiling that glistens with subtle hues of blue and silver. The centrepiece is ‘Waves’ a bespoke chandelier of 1,100 Murano glass tubes designed by Cappuccio design studio and produced by Bangkok-based Lightsculptures, some tubes illuminated, some silver oxidized, the whole pulling the eye upward like a breaking swell. Commissioned artworks by Australian artist Tony Wilson explore the meaning of Akuna throughout the space. Two private dining rooms accommodate up to eight and ten guests respectively.