In the Bib Gourmand 2024 category (good restaurants, affordable prices) for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City just announced by Michelin Guide, there are a total of 42 restaurants with 5 new destinations in Hanoi and 8 new restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.

Which dishes at these new restaurants have impressed Michelin reviewers and made them want to recommend them widely?

Pho Khoi Hoi (Hanoi)

The pho here is made with lots of beef, ginger, cinnamon, roasted onions and many other spices, all stewed together.

"Customers can freely choose the beef part they like, especially the brisket. The meat is thinly sliced, chewy and still retains its flavor. The restaurant also serves fried dough sticks, which are the perfect side dish with beef pho," Michelin Guide commented.

Dong Thinh eel vermicelli (Hanoi)

This restaurant has been open for 40 years and is famous for its crispy fried eel. The eel is thick and crispy, with a delicious aroma after frying. The restaurant serves mixed vermicelli and vermicelli soup.

The restaurant’s vermicelli was cooked to a perfect chewy texture and served with plenty of bean sprouts, cucumber, perilla, mint leaves and other herbs. Topped with crunchy peanuts, green onions and thick strips of eel, the dish was rich in flavour.

Mr. Bay Western region (Hanoi)

Michelin reviewers were particularly impressed with the banh xeo here, which comes in a variety of flavors and is made to order.

When eating, the vegetables are placed on top of the rice paper, followed by the pancake, which is then rolled up and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce before eating. "The pancake is fried until golden brown, wrapped in shrimp or pork and bean sprouts. The sweet and sour fish sauce adds to the appeal. For added flavor, try the homemade chili sauce," Michelin guides.

Luk Lak (Hanoi)

The restaurant's Sa Pa pork belly is one of the chef's signature creations, often described as a "gift from Vietnam's ethnic minorities," according to the Michelin Guide. At Luk Lak, the Sa Pa pork belly is marinated in a variety of herbal sauces and grilled to perfection.

The dish is served with crispy fried mac mat leaves and sticky rice. The sticky rice is sprinkled with a little crispy fried garlic, adding an interesting crunch to each bite.

Tu's House (HCMC)

Michelin Guide reviewers were impressed with the steamed stuffed snails at Nha Tu. The snail meat is minced with pork and ginger, then the mixture is stuffed into the snail shell and steamed.

“The snail meat is fresh and chewy, while the pork is juicy. What sets this dish apart is the layer of lemongrass at the bottom of the snails, which imparts a fragrant herbal aroma and eliminates the fishy smell. The dish is served with a basil sauce for an interesting combination of flavors,” the Michelin Guide describes.

Bun Bo Hue 14B (HCMC)

At Bun Bo Hue 14B, which is mainly sold for take-out, the noodles are lightly blanched in boiling water and then placed in a bag with a soup bag made from beef bones, pork bones, onions and simmered to perfection.

According to the description, the dish also includes sliced ​​beef, beef tendon and beef balls. Side dishes such as bean sprouts, chili, lemon, fish sauce are all packaged separately. The broth is rich and the flavors are harmonious.

Salty (HCMC)

The stir-fried pork belly with shrimp paste here is rich in flavor, made from fatty pork belly stir-fried with shrimp paste and pepper in a small clay pot. Then add coriander. The shrimp paste has a rich and fragrant flavor, so it is very suitable to eat with rice.