Three new starred restaurants in Vietnam

(09 July 2024) - With a ceremony at the InterContinental Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Michelin has announced the selection of restaurants for the 2024 Guide for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. These include the coveted stars, the green star, which recognises the sustainable approach of restaurants, the Bib Gourmand as well as the Young Chef, Sommellerie and Service Awards. It is a first in the history of this destination: it is the first time that an establishment has been awarded the Michelin Guide's green star.

This new vintage highlights 164 restaurants, including seven stars (2 new, one upgrade from the recommendations category), 58 Bib Gourmand restaurants (28 new), and 99 recommendations (40 new restaurants). Among the addresses included in this year's selection are 10 in Hanoi (5 Bib Gourmand and 5 recommendations), 26 in Ho Chi Minh City (two with one star, eight Bib Gourmand and 16 recommended restaurants) and 36 in Da Nang (one star, 16 Bib Gourmands and 19 recommendations).

According to Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, Da Nang, which is included in the second Vietnamese selection of the Michelin Guide, brings real added value thanks to its addresses and specialities. The recommended restaurants perfectly represent the country's central cuisine, which combines French, Chinese and Southeast Asian influences.

"Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang each have their own unique identity. Thanks to the vitality, passion and creativity that drives them, they make the country's gastronomic scene vibrate. And there is no shortage of talent: while many renowned international chefs are trying their hand in Vietnam, a new generation of local chefs is also emerging whose cuisine is attracting more and more gourmets. All of this is helping to establish Vietnam's place on the international gastronomic scene and confirms that this destination deserves to be discovered more than ever," says Gwendal Poullennec.

New one-star restaurants

While all the restaurants that were awarded one star in 2023, namely Gia, Hibana by Koki, Tầm Vị and Ănăn Saigon, will retain their award this year, the category will also be enriched by two new restaurants and one upgraded restaurant. The two new addresses are: Akuna [Ho Chi Minh City], where creative European dishes with Vietnamese influences are served, with an optional food and wine pairing formula, and La Maison 1888 [Da Nang], which offers a 5 or 7 -course feast menu with exceptional products from Vietnam, France and Japan.

The address from the Michelin Guide recommended category is The Royal Pavilion [Ho Chi Minh City], which offers a wide selection of à la carte dishes and several menus that pay tribute to Canton's culinary heritage. A dim sum menu is also served at lunchtime.

Nén Danang: the first Vietnamese restaurant to be awarded the Green Star. The Green Star recognises selected restaurants that pave the way for more environmentally friendly gastronomy by offering experiences that combine culinary excellence and ecological commitment.

Nén Danang, recommended by the Michelin Guide, is honoured with the country's first Green Star for its commitment to greener gastronomy. The team at this address, which has stood out for its sustainable initiatives since it opened in 2017, endeavours to promote local sourcing by using the vast majority of ingredients produced in the region. It runs its own farm, which it shares on social media, and invites everyone to get involved for a more sustainable future. As well as raising awareness among its guests, it also works with local schools to teach the younger generation the key to the best respect for the environment.

New Bib Gourmand restaurants

With a total of 58 restaurants (8 in Hanoi, 24 in Ho Chi Minh City and 16 in Da Nang), this new vintage has twice as many Bib Gourmands as 2023. Among the 29 new additions, 16 are from Da Nang, 5 from Hanoi and 8 from Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi, which represents the north of Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City, which represents the south, are joined this year by Da Nang, a city in the centre of the country whose cuisine combines French, Chinese and South Asian influences. The specialities of this coastal city are memorable, complex and made from fresh ingredients.

Among the Bib Gourmand selected this year in Da Nang are: Bé Ni 2, an address with a relaxed atmosphere that is never empty. It serves rice specialities during the day and seafood in the evening, including high-quality shellfish from local catches. Indian Aroma Restaurant, a restaurant serving traditional dishes from all corners of India, the chef's homeland. Must-haves on the menu are papadam, accompanied by mint chutney and saag ghosch (a veal and spinach curry typical of the north of the country); and Mỳ Quảng Sứa Hồng Vân, a street food address known for its mì quảng, which consists of a delicious red and orange prawn broth, noodles and a wide selection of toppings: Quail egg, pork, prawns, meatballs or jellyfish.

99 restaurants (including 40 new ones) are recommended by the Michelin Guide: 33 are in Hanoi (including 5 new ones), 47 in Ho Chi Minh City (including 16 new ones) and 19 in Da Nang (only new ones). All of these addresses, selected for their potential, could win a star or a Bib Gourmand in the future.

The new restaurants recommended by the guide in Hanoi include: Bánh Cuốn Bà Hoành, a street food address where foodies can enjoy succulent Bánh Cuốn, steamed Vietnamese buns with minced pork and black mushrooms; Hanoi Garden, a restaurant offering a mix of classic and modern Vietnamese cuisine; or Le Beaulieu, known for its gourmet French cuisine and extensive wine list. Those in Ho Chi Minh City include: Du Yên, a restaurant offering delicious vegetarian dishes; Kobe Bistro, whose speciality is French cuisine, and Oryz, an address that pays homage to East Asian cuisine by drawing inspiration from the continent's culinary traditions, but not only that.

Finally, the restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide in Da Nang include: Mỳ Quảng Cô Sáu, a restaurant known for its Mi Quảng, a noodle dish flavoured with an intense turmeric broth and accompanied by various toppings such as chicken, fish and prawns. Not forgetting its Thịt Heo Bánh Tráng, consisting of thin slices of pork belly rolled in rice paper with aromatic herbs and vegetables; Năm Đảnh, a simple restaurant with a large room where you can enjoy traditional seafood dishes such as scallops, prawns and oysters; and finally Olivia's Prime, which also offers some seafood products, but also and above all meat, especially high-quality beef imported from abroad. Everything is cooked over the coals and accompanied by a fine selection of beers and wines.

Special awards

In addition to recommending quality restaurants, the MICHELIN Guide also wishes to recognise the work of people who contribute to offering diners an exceptional gastronomic experience.

MICHELIN Young Chef Award: a tribute to a young chef who has impressed the judges with both their impressive talent and their potential. This year, the Young Chef Award goes to Duy Nguyen, the chef of Little Bear, a new restaurant recommended by the guide in Ho Chi Minh City. Chef Duy is as passionate as he is professional. Calm and cheerful by nature, he leads his young and competent team with a confident hand. The modern cuisine brilliantly combines traditional Vietnamese flavours with modern techniques and ingredients. With his creations, the chef shares his childhood memories with us.

The MICHELIN Sommellerie Prize rewards the skills, knowledge and passion of talented sommeliers in the catering industry. The 2024 Sommellerie Prize is awarded to Toan Nguyen, who runs La Maison 1888, the only restaurant in Da Nang to be awarded a star. Toan took his first steps in the hotel industry about 6 years ago. His interest in wine led him to train as a sommelier in Hanoi before leaving for Da Nang in 2023 with his diploma in hand. Our inspectors appreciated his cordial exchanges with this smiling and passionate professional who offers extremely precise agreements.

MICHELIN Service Award: The aim of the award is to highlight and promote talented and experienced professionals who add real value to the customer experience. The winner of the Service Award is Anh Nguyen, part of the team at Si Dining, a MICHELIN Guide-recommended restaurant in Da Nang. With a degree in interpreting, Anh entered the catering industry part-time during her studies. She is warm, welcoming and energetic and takes care to fulfil guests' expectations to the best of her ability. Not only does she know the history of the restaurant like the back of her hand, she also has an in-depth knowledge of the dishes on the menu, which enables her to customise her recommendations.