A Japanese man making Neapolitan pizza in Vietnam’s business hub might seem like an unlikely scenario, but it perfectly describes Pizza 4P’s. The restaurant now has multiple outlets, including one in Hanoi, but the original spot discreetly tucked away in an alley just off Le Thanh Ton Street is still the most atmospheric. The name is a nod to the owner’s wish in life—for peace—and informs his drive to deliver a pleasurable experience to diners. The pies, as popular with tourists as they are with Saigon residents and the Japanese expat wives who frequent the place on weekday afternoons, are ideal: charred, chewy, pliable crusts; tart tomato sauce; and creamy, homemade mozzarella, crafted by hand outside the city of Da Lat (for an unforgettable meal, order a pizza topped with a whole, unsliced burrata).
A Four Flowers (left) and Burrata Prosciutto pizza at Pizza 4Ps in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. // Credit : Aaron Joel Santos for The New York Times
Pizza 4P’s
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Platform of Personal Pizza for Peace
Otherwise known as Pizza 4P’s is an “edutainment restaurant,” per its website. it’s located in district one in the neighborhood heavily concentrated with Japanese establishments, but if in the area--zoom past the signs for sushi and izakaya fare and make a beeline for the margherita (homemade mozzarella) or teriyaki chicken (with sprinkles of nori) pizzas. if you must have just *one* non-Vietnamese meal, choose P’s.
Run daily by a young couple from Japan, their Passion and Pursuit of Perfection are Pervasive in each Piece of each Pie.
