Restaurants honored in the first edition of Michelin Guide Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. (Source: Michelin Guide)

Accordingly, out of a total of 103 selected restaurants (48 restaurants in Hanoi and 55 restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City), 4 restaurants were awarded a Michelin Star (3 restaurants in Hanoi and 1 restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City) thanks to the high quality of their dishes, and 29 dining establishments were recognized by the appraisers as having dishes worth experiencing with the Bib Gourmand award - a category honoring restaurants serving delicious dishes at affordable prices.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Mr. Gwendal Poullennec - International Director of Michelin Guide shared that Michelin's team of expert judges has been following Vietnamese cuisine for a long time and at the end of December 2022, secret judges officially set foot in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to search for "hidden gems".

"The Michelin Guide's secret assessors are experts, connoisseurs and have extensive knowledge of international cuisine. They have worked very impartially and today, we are very proud to have completed the list of the first Michelin Guide-certified restaurants in Vietnam. This list includes a total of 103 restaurants and eateries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which also shows the difference and richness of Vietnamese cuisine," Mr. Gwendal Poullennec affirmed.

Mr. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of Michelin Guide shared at the program. (Source: Michelin Guide)

According to Mr. Gwendal Poullennec, this list also clearly reflects the differences and richness of cuisine between the two cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The capital city of Hanoi, always exudes a relaxed and calm atmosphere with small shops and restaurants that diners can easily find in the Old Quarter. The city brings together the typical Northern flavors of traditional Vietnamese cuisine, emphasizing natural freshness, seasoned with many different spices and herbs to create a unique combination for each dish.

On the other hand, Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant and fast-growing city that offers visitors a unique energy source with a diverse cuisine. Modern and traditional cooking techniques are clearly demonstrated, and the Michelin Guide team also sees a great combination of experienced chefs and young local chefs through the ideas and creativity expressed through the dishes.

"This list will be the beginning of the Michelin Guide's journey to explore Vietnamese cuisine, and our team of judges is honored to have discovered many quintessential culinary destinations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. I also believe that many more locations will be named in the following years," Mr. Gwendal Poullennec emphasized.

Of the 103 selected restaurants, one Michelin Star was awarded to three restaurants in Hanoi and one in Ho Chi Minh City, thanks to their delicious cooking quality and outstanding culinary experience, worthy of a stop for visitors to enjoy when coming to Vietnam.

Anăn Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant. Chef Peter Cuong Franklin of Anăn Saigon applies modern cooking techniques to street food recipes to create delicious flavors, thereby helping the restaurant be honored with a Michelin Star.

GIA (Hanoi) is a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant by Chef Sam Tran. The restaurant has been awarded a Michelin Star for its seasonally changing menu, inspired by Vietnam’s culinary heritage. GIA’s signature dishes are elaborate and beautifully presented, highlighting the delicate blend of flavors, with refreshing acidity and texture playing a prominent role.

Hibana by Koki (Hanoi) offers a visual treat with a 14-seat dining counter in the basement of Capella Hotel, where Chef Hiroshi Yamaguchi performs a meticulous and skillful teppanyaki preparation, resulting in delicious and flavorful dishes. The dishes on the menu have a luxurious feel, made from premium ingredients imported directly from Japan on a twice-weekly schedule, including abalone, spiny lobster, sea urchin, Yaeyama Kyori beef and Hokkaido hairy crab.

Taste (Hanoi) is a restaurant with a classic teahouse style, typical of Northern Vietnam with a collection of nostalgic Chinese furniture and wooden couplets. The restaurant mainly serves Northern Vietnamese home-cooked meals, but diners can also choose some Central or Southern dishes. The outstanding dishes here include Cha oc with herbs, rice noodles and fish sauce; or Canh cua mung malai with a prominent crab flavor and clear broth.

The Bib Gourmand award honors Michelin Guide restaurants that are “worth every penny”. These are restaurants that are considered “top picks” by Michelin Guide reviewers, are also popular with Michelin Guide readers, and are highly rated for their affordable menus, while still maintaining the quality of food and service.

This year, the Bib Gourmand list features 29 restaurants and dining establishments. There are 13 locations in Hanoi and 16 in Ho Chi Minh City. More than 50% of the list serves Vietnamese cuisine or street food, highlighting the widespread popularity and strong ties to local culture of street food.

The Young Chef Award went to Sam Tran from GIA restaurant. (Source: Michelin Guide)

In addition to recommending quality restaurants, the Michelin Guide also wishes to honor talented individuals who have contributed to enhancing the culinary experience. At the same time, these awards also emphasize the diversity of jobs and people working in the restaurant industry. In the first edition of the Michelin Guide Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the team of judges has found 3 deserving individuals.

Service Award: to honor and encourage talented service staff who have made great contributions to the customer experience. This award was given to Ms. Nguyen Thi Nu from Vietnam House restaurant, a Michelin-recommended restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.

Sommelier Award: Recognizing the skills, knowledge and passion of talented wine professionals in the industry. This award went to Yu Yamamoto from Michelin-starred Lua restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.

Young Chef Award: went to Sam Tran from the one-Michelin-starred GIA restaurant in Hanoi. The Michelin Young Chef Award celebrates young chefs at shortlisted restaurants. An outstanding and promising chef who impressed the judges.