A Family Birthday at a Restaurant: How Far Ahead to Book

For a 12-person birthday dinner at Bếp Rơm, you book at least 48 hours ahead and sit in the private room. But 48 hours is only the floor. We have one private room, so on a Saturday evening book earlier than that. You can bring the birthday cake; we cut and serve it at no charge.

How far ahead

Our minimum rises with the size of the party:

A guide to group dinners in Ho Chi Minh City (Restaurants for Kings) advises booking 2 to 3 weeks ahead for 6 to 10 people and 4 to 6 weeks for groups over 12. It is written for company team dinners, across venues up to the high end that take bookings by email or WhatsApp, and it is not our rule. But it shows why going earlier than our minimum makes sense: the earlier you ask, the more dates and times you have to choose from.

Round table or private room

Our round table seats 8. From 9 to 14 guests we seat you in the private room only: 12 seats, 14 with extra chairs, no room fee, one shared table. For exactly 8 guests you can choose either. The private room has a minimum spend of VND 3,000,000 at lunch and VND 3,600,000 at dinner, drinks and VAT included. The details are in booking a private room for 10 and on the private dining page.

With grandparents and small children, sitting at one table is the main reason to take the private room instead of two round tables pushed together.

An example: Hân’s mother turns 70

Ms Đoàn Ngọc Hân (an illustrative example, with made-up figures) books the private room for 12 on a Saturday evening at 18:30. Her mother is turning 70, three generations come, and two small grandchildren eat rice and soup. She books three days ahead, more than the 48-hour minimum. She brings the cake and we serve it at no charge. What she tells us, as an example: “The whole family sits at one table. My mother does not have to lean over to hear the children.”

The meal runs three hours, 18:30 to 21:30; the kitchen’s last order is 21:15.

The bill

The total of VND 3,712,000 clears the VND 3,600,000 dinner minimum, about VND 309,000 a head. The VND 1,500,000 deposit comes off the bill, leaving VND 2,212,000 to pay. Prices include 8% VAT and there is no service charge. Hân picks the lẩu mắm because her mother likes it. It is spice level 2, the chilli sits in the broth so it cannot be lowered, and it contains fish, crustaceans and molluscs. If someone at your table needs a dish with no heat, tell us and we will suggest another.

Deposit and cancelling

After we confirm by Zalo or phone, usually within 2 hours during opening hours, you receive a bank-transfer QR code for the deposit; if it is unpaid after 12 hours, the room is released. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a full refund; later, we keep the deposit. You can reduce the party up to 24 hours ahead. We hold the table 20 minutes after the booked time; message us on Zalo if you are late and we hold it once more, up to 30 minutes.

How we do it at Bếp Rơm

If you bring a baby, tell us and we set up a high chair: we have 4, and strollers are kept at the entrance. If anyone is vegetarian or allergic, say so when you book; we repeat each substance when we call to confirm, and as the kitchen is shared we cannot promise there are no traces. Outside drinks are not allowed, but cakes are. For more than 14 people, or an evening with a programme, see the events page. How holds and deposits work is in booking a Vietnamese restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, and choosing a place for three generations in family restaurants in Saigon. The person who takes private room requests is Nguyễn Đức Thịnh.

Updated 5 October 2026.

Sources

• Restaurants for Kings, Ho Chi Minh City best restaurants for team dinner 2026, read 5 October 2026.