08/10/2026
50 Years of Ōtara Markets: The Story of Trung Nguyen
For Trung Nguyen, Ōtara Markets has been much more than a place to run a food stall. For almost 30 years, it has been a place to build a life, connect with people and become part of a community.
Trung and his family sell a unique fusion of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine alongside Polynesian-style favourites. Their popular dishes include pork and puha boil-up, crispy dumplings, fried bread with butter and golden syrup, marinated steak and egg, souvlaki and Vietnamese bánh mì.
When they first started at the market, adjusting to Aotearoa was challenging. As new migrants, they faced language and communication barriers and had a lot to learn. But the support and kindness of the Ōtara community helped them settle in, improve their English and feel like they belonged.
They remember the early market as having huge crowds despite fewer stalls. Even today, customers tell them they keep coming back because the Ōtara flea market feels like home.
What makes their journey especially meaningful is the family legacy behind their food. Some of their recipes, including the marinated steak, fried bread and pork and puha boil-up, were passed down from the original owners and continue to be enjoyed today. Their children are now learning these traditions too.
Over the years, Trung and his family have watched customers grow from children into adults with families of their own. They have also formed friendships with people from many different cultures and become deeply connected to the community.
For Trung, celebrating 50 years of Ōtara Markets is a reminder that when people come together, the market becomes more than a place to trade — it becomes whānau.
His three words for the journey are:
Whānau. Collective. Hard work.
💚 50 years of people, culture, community and opportunity — and many more stories to come.
