103 Restaurants Shine in the Inaugural Edition of the MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City

Update: Jun 08, 2023

(TITC) - On 6th June 2023, in Ha Noi, Michelin organised The Inaugural Edition Of The MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City Ceremony. Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) attended the event.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh at the event (Photo: TITC)

Mr. Ahmad Faiez Mohamed Pisal, Managing Director of MICHELIN Vietnam said, The Inaugural Edition Of The MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City is an event marking the official debut of MICHELIN Guide in Vietnam. The MICHELIN Guide first appeared in France in 1900 under the title “Michelin Guide” to facilitate travel by providing fueling, food and accommodation addresses.

By time, MICHELIN Guide has stepped out its border of France and travelled to cities around the world. Today, MICHELIN Guide has recommended restaurants with good quality food, comfortable hotels to help visitors enjoy unique experiences. At the same time, it creates motivations for the growing restaurant industry. The debut of MICHELIN Guide in Vietnam is an impressive landmark for Vietnamese cuisine.

Mr. Ahmad Faiez Mohamed Pisal, Managing Director of MICHELIN Vietnam speaking at the event (Photo: Organising Board)

Ms. Nguyen Vu Quynh Anh, CEO of Sun Hospitality Group - Sun Group, said from the MICHELIN Selection in Vietnam, a culinary destination named Vietnam will be spread to global tourists. With the dream to present the cuisine of Vietnam to the world and leverage the position of Vietnam, MICHELIN Guide in Vietnam marks the shining of Vietnamese cuisine. With the debut of MICHELIN Guide, the efforts of chefs and those working in the culinary industry throughout Vietnam, Vietnam will be a high-class culinary destination that every international tourist must visit once in a lifetime.

The first restaurant selection in Vietnam has been presented, with a total of 103 restaurants in the Guide, highlighting 4 restaurants awarded with one MICHELIN Star, said Mr. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide. According to Gwendal Poullennec, the first selection in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City highlights the differences and variety in what these two cities have to offer. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, offers a very laid back and relaxed vibe with small shops and restaurants found mostly in the old quarter. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine with Northern flavour is prevalent in this city, with a clear presentation of natural flavour, enhanced with different types of spices and herbs for complexity. Ho Chi Minh City on the other hand, is a bustling and rapidly-growing city that offers a unique energy to all travellers and has a diverse variety of cuisine. Both modern and traditional cooking techniques are well seen, and there is also a great mix of talents and young local chefs eager to present their ideas and creations on the plate. This is just the beginning of the MICHELIN Guide’s journey in Vietnam, emphasised Mr. Gwendal Poullennec.

Mr. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide speaking at the event (Photo: Organising Board)

Amongst the 103 restaurants in the selection (48 in Hanoi and 55 in Ho Chi Minh City), 4 are recognised with One MICHELIN Star for their high-quality cooking: Anăn Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Gia (Hanoi), Hibana by Koki (Hanoi), Tầm Vị (Hanoi), and 29 establishments – the inspectors’ best value-for-money - receive a Bib Gourmand for offering good food at moderate prices; 70 Other Establishments Recommended in the MICHELIN Guide.

For the inaugural edition of the MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City, the inspectors have found three worthy recipients for the MICHELIN Special Awards: Chef Thi Nu Nguyen from MICHELIN Selected restaurant Vietnam House in Ho Chi Minh City for MICHELIN Service Award; Chef Yu Yamamoto from MICHELIN Selected restaurant Lửa in Ho Chi Minh City for MICHELIN Sommelier Award; Chef Sam Tran from one MICHELIN Starred restaurant Gia in Hanoi for MICHELIN Young Chef Award.