The family behind the brand, which was established nearly two decades ago, has taken on the former Artisan site on Bridge Street.
The premises subsequently housed Japanese-Brazilian restaurant SakkuSamba before most recently trading as Raft.
According to a job advert seen by Restaurant, Coco Tang is looking to recruit a “massive team” to run the “fast-paced, high-volume” venue.
The site will comprise a ground-floor Vietnamese café, an upstairs premium-casual restaurant, private dining facilities and a late-night cocktail bar and club.
Operator Panama Estate Limited applied in January for a premises licence allowing the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment between 11am and 3am daily, as well as late-night refreshment until 3am.
Full menu details have yet to be revealed, but the restaurant is promising a sharing-led offer combining traditional Vietnamese recipes with contemporary interpretations.
The cocktail bar and club will look beyond Vietnam, taking cues from Hong Kong speakeasies, Tokyo cocktail bars, Thai street bars, Singaporean flavours and Seoul nightlife. It will also feature a curated music programme.
Announcing the expansion on social media, Coco Tang said: “After nearly two decades of being your best-kept local secret, we are packing our secret recipes and heading up the road. Manchester, we are coming for you.
“Nottingham, you made us who we are, and we could never have taken this massive leap without 18 years of your love, loyalty, empty glasses and empty plates. This second home is dedicated to you.”
Coco Tang was originally launched as an underground cocktail bar and nightclub in Nottingham in 2008, before expanding its offer with the opening of an adjoining Vietnamese restaurant, bakery and coffee roastery in 2018.