HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Jan. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nordic owned sourdough brand BARTELS has officially marked the opening of its new flagship branch at the Sonatus Building, District 1, celebrating the occasion alongside the Nordic KickOff 2026: New Year Networking event organised by NordCham Vietnam on January 22, 2026.
Amid growing Nordic foreign direct investment in Vietnam, with Denmark among the most active contributors across sectors including food & beverage, renewable energy, logistics and sustainable manufacturing, the expansion of BARTELS reflects a broader trend of Nordic businesses pursuing long-term, value-driven growth in Vietnam.
Founded on a simple yet uncompromising philosophy, "100% real. No cheating," BARTELS has built a strong reputation in Bangkok, Phuket and Ho Chi Minh City for its naturally fermented bread, artisanal sandwiches and Nordic-inspired café experience. Rooted in Scandinavian baking traditions, the brand is committed to honest ingredients, slow fermentation and craftsmanship.
The new location at Sonatus Building represents BARTELS's continued expansion in Vietnam, guided by the ambition to bring healthy, high-quality and responsibly made food closer to urban communities. Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's business district, the space is designed as a warm, minimalist setting that supports everyday dining and meaningful professional connections.
To celebrate the opening and welcome the new year, NordCham Vietnam hosted its Nordic KickOff New Year Networking on January 22, 2026, in collaboration with BARTELS at its newly opened Sonatus location, bringing together members and friends of the Nordic community while reinforcing shared values of collaboration, sustainability and trust.
Speaking at the Networking evening, the Ambassador of Denmark to Vietnam, H.E. Nicolai Prytz shared:
Nordic companies bring qualities that are highly valued in Vietnam today: A long-term approach, strong governance and responsible business practices, practical, high-quality solutions in sustainability and innovation. This evening also gives us a special moment to celebrate Nordic entrepreneurship in Vietnam.
Representing BARTELS, Nicolai Bartels remarked:
The success of Bartels comes from sweating the details. From our bread to our coffee to the ambience in our cafés.
We believe that quality and consistency beats hype, and that is what has allowed Bartels to grow and become a genuine community hangout across Thailand and now Vietnam.
The evening marked not only the opening of a new BARTELS location, but also a confident start to another year of strong Nordic engagement and cooperation in Vietnam.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Famous from Thailand: The Danish Ambassador of Vietnam opened BARTELS new Flagship store in D1, HCMC
HONG KONG, Jan. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- With the Hong Kong Government's official implementation of the new vehicle seat belt legislation from 25 January 2026, further enhancing road and passenger safety, Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited ("Kwoon Chung Bus") is pleased to announce that most of the buses under the Group have already been fully equipped with seat belts for passenger seats, in full compliance with the new statutory requirements. The Group continues to uphold its core safety culture of "Safety, We Care", reinforcing passenger and journey protection through a holistic approach encompassing systems, training, and technology.
As one of the largest non‑franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, Kwoon Chung Bus has, over the years, regarded safety as an integral part of its corporate culture and daily operations. The Group firmly believes that truly sustainable safety does not rely solely on equipment or regulatory compliance, but is rooted in the care and sense of responsibility demonstrated by every employee in their day‑to‑day work.
Mr Wong Leung Pak, Matthew, SBS, Chairman of Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited, said: "Safety, We Care" is not merely a slogan, but a safety culture that Kwoon Chung Bus has established and practised over the years. Through systems, training and technology, we integrate safety into daily operations, enhancing driving safety from a preventive perspective and ensuring that every passenger can complete their journey with peace of mind."
Building on this established safety culture, Kwoon Chung Bus is progressively introducing AI-powered smart video recording systems to support management teams in monitoring and analysing driving conditions, enabling more effective identification of potential risks and timely follow‑up actions.
Turning Care into Action - Strengthening Daily Safety Management
The development and optimisation of the AI smart recording system has been ongoing for nearly a decade. Currently, more than half of the Group's fleet has been equipped, with full deployment across the entire fleet targeted for completion by the end of 2026. Through onboard cameras and real‑time analysis, the system can identify inattentive or high‑risk driving behaviours and issue immediate alerts to drivers, reducing risks at source.
When abnormal or irregular driving behaviour is detected, alerts are promptly issued within the vehicle, while relevant footage is simultaneously uploaded to a cloud platform for analysis and follow‑up by Kwoon Chung Bus's Training & Performance Management Department, in accordance with established procedures. Where necessary, the control centre will contact the driver based on the assessed risk level to conduct performance reviews and improvement measures, ensuring that the safety culture is effectively implemented across every operational link.
Long‑Term Development: Advancing Smart Safety Management
through Data‑Driven Innovation
Looking ahead, Kwoon Chung Bus will continue to collect and analyse local driving data to further train and optimise the system. As big data analytics mature, the Group plans to introduce the "Safe GPT" intelligent safety analysis platform, leveraging artificial intelligence to evaluate historical driving behaviour, identify high‑risk periods and driving weaknesses, and arrange targeted training programmes to prevent incidents at source.
Kwoon Chung Bus reiterates that "Safety, We Care" is a safety culture embedded across systems, technology and employee conduct. The Group will continue to promote safety management in a prudent and systematic manner, providing the public with safe, reliable and high‑quality transportation services.
About Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited
Kwoon Chung Bus Group is one of Hong Kong's largest non-franchised bus companies, dedicated to providing reliable, safe, economical, and comfortable bus services, including franchised buses, non-franchised buses, cross-boundary buses, rehabilitation buses, limousine, and airport transfers. The Group is also actively exploring the application of smart mobility and autonomous driving technologies.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
New Seat Belt Legislation Takes Effect -- Kwoon Chung Bus Fully Compliant Strengthening Passenger and Road Safety through a Safety‑First Culture and AI Smart Driving Management Systems
