I appreciate this article. It's very practical and helpful for anyone who wants to travel to Vietnam.
When mentioning Vietnam, tourists cannot help but admire the visually appealing and delicious street food such as steaming hot bowls of pho or crispy banh mi filled with abundant ingredients. The Michelin Guide is a global symbol of prestige in the culinary field, a coveted award that any chef dreams of reaching. Over more than a century of development, the Michelin Guide has always maintained its influence because its evaluations are not based on glamour but focus solely on the quality of each dish.
So what happens when a rich culinary culture like Vietnam joins forces with a prestigious culinary title? It would undoubtedly be a historic moment on the world culinary map. This is certainly the case, important milestone marking its development and integration appeared with the contribution of the Michelin Guide in 2023 with significant influence on food enthusiasts and travelers around the world. So, have you discovered all of these places yet? Let’s explore Vietnamese cuisine in a more luxurious way through the lens of the Michelin Guide!
Michelin Star Restaurant in Vietnam
1. What is Michelin? Criteria and Michelin Star Rating System
2. Tam Vi
3. Gia
4. Hibana by Koki
5. Anan Saigon
6. Akuna
7. The Royal Pavilion
8. La Maison 1888
9. Nen Da Nang - Michelin Green Star
1. What is Michelin? Criteria and Michelin Star Rating System
Michelin was originally a French tire manufacturing company that published travel guides for drivers, including maps, hotels, and dining options in France. Over time, it developed and gained international recognition, eventually becoming a leading and prestigious restaurant rating system. This gave rise to the concept of Michelin stars, considered a symbol of global culinary prestige.
Initially, Michelin Stars had only one star, but in 1936, Michelin introduced a ranking system and criteria for its star ratings. The evaluation process is based on a panel of judges who visit selected restaurants, write reports, and comprehensively assess the experience. They then meet to analyze and discuss their findings before reaching a final conclusion. The Michelin star award is based on the quality of food served, not on reputation or luxury, but focuses on the quality of the dishes. Therefore, receiving a Michelin star is a dream for chefs and restaurants worldwide. Overall, Michelin stars have five core criteria: ingredient quality, cooking technique and flavor balance, chef's personality and signature, value for money, and finally, consistency over time and across evaluations.
The current Michelin star system has three main levels:
- 1 star: Very good restaurant in its segment.
- 2 stars: Excellent cuisine, worth traveling to experience.
- 3 stars: The pinnacle of culinary excellence, worth traveling to experience. This is the highest honor, and very few restaurants in the world have achieved it.
Vietnamese cuisine is fortunate to have 7 restaurants included in the Michelin Guide 2023, consistently affirming the position of Vietnamese restaurants and cuisine on the world stage. Let's take a look at the restaurants below that have achieved 1 Michelin star thanks to the freshness and meticulousness in each dish.
2. Tam vi
Tam Vi Restaurant is a Vietnamese restaurant that was honored with a Michelin star in 2023 and has continued to maintain this title in subsequent years. Located on a small street in Hanoi, Tam Vi boasts a unique, antique atmosphere, combining familiar Vietnamese elements such as wooden tables and chairs, and bamboo chopsticks, transporting diners back to Northern Vietnam in previous decades. The menu is also incredibly diverse, featuring around 100 traditional and modern dishes, rich in authentic flavors, presented simply yet elegantly.
Address: 4B Yen The Street, Van Mieu Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
3. Gia
Gia Restaurant is the next name in Hanoi to be included in the Michelin Guide. Nestled within the Temple of Literature and housed in an old villa with architecture that blends tradition and modernity, it offers diners a feeling that is both novel and familiar. The menu is also very diverse and changes seasonally, from unique dishes from the Northwest region to rustic dishes reflecting the flavors of the Southwest. Therefore, when you visit Gia, you will have the opportunity to experience all of Vietnam's cuisine without having to travel too far.
Address: 61 Van Mieu Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
4. Hibana by Koki
As the only and last Japanese restaurant in Hanoi to receive a Michelin star, Hibana by Koki is the perfect place for those who want to immerse themselves in culinary art and performance. Located inside a renowned 5-star hotel in Hanoi, Hibana by Koki caters to diners with its luxurious and private yet cozy open kitchen design, allowing guests to sit around, enjoy their meals, and admire captivating culinary performances. The restaurant makes a strong impression with its special menu featuring exquisite Teppanyaki cuisine combined with premium Japanese ingredients.
Address: Basement Level, Capella Hanoi, 11 Le Phung Hieu Street, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
5. Anan Saigon
Anan is a restaurant with a distinctly Saigon style – vibrant, free-spirited, and somewhat daring. The chef has successfully breathed life into street food in a unique way, elevating these humble dishes to a new level in a modern yet lively setting. The restaurant's location is also unique, situated in the old Ton That Dam market in District 1, one of Saigon's oldest markets. The restaurant's dishes are a sophisticated blend of Vietnamese and international cuisine, creatively adapted with premium ingredients to offer truly unique experiences, transforming ordinary dishes into extraordinary creations. Some of the restaurant's signature dishes include the $100 banh mi, tacos, Da Lat snail pizza, and Bourdain bun cha.
Address: 89 Ton That Dam Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
6. Akuna
If you want an open and luxurious kitchen space like Hikana by Koki but in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, then Akuna is the perfect choice for you. Located in a large hotel in the central District 1, it's no exaggeration to say Akuna is well worth the price. "Akuna" means "flowing water" in the Australian Aboriginal language. True to its name, Akuna offers diners a romantic dining experience with stunning views of the Saigon River and a space decorated with giant, handcrafted glass chandeliers that mimic the movement of water. The dishes here also impress with the chef's creativity, skillfully transforming Vietnamese ingredients into high-end culinary works. From seafood dishes imbued with the essence of the sea to international cuisine combined with distinctive Vietnamese spices.
Address: 9th Floor, Le Méridien Saigon Hotel, 3C Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
7. The Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion is a high-end Cantonese restaurant in Saigon that has received one Michelin star. The restaurant's architecture is strongly reminiscent of ancient Chinese imperial styles. The menu mainly features high-end Chinese cuisine, including premium dim sum and dishes requiring exceptional culinary skills such as bird's nest soup, abalone soup, and Peking duck.
Address: 4th Floor, Times Square Building, 22–36 Nguyen Hue Boulevard & 57–69F Dong Khoi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
8. La Maison 1888
The only name representing central Vietnam to receive a Michelin star is La Maison 1888, a high-end French restaurant in Da Nang. Located within a luxury resort in Da Nang, La Maison 1888 is housed in an Indochinese-style villa, with each space a work of architectural art, each decorated differently to reflect the tastes and styles of its patrons. La Maison 1888 is an authentic French restaurant, serving dishes made with the freshest ingredients sourced from Vietnam. The menu is meticulously designed, featuring dishes prepared with exquisite skill and sophistication. If you're looking for a romantic, high-end dining experience by the sea, this is definitely a choice you shouldn't miss.
Address: Son Tra Peninsula, Son Tra District, Da Nang (Inside the InterContinental Resort).
9. Nen Da Nang - Michelin Green Star
Besides delicious and high-quality meals at 1-star restaurants, the Michelin guide also focuses on honoring exemplary restaurants in developing sustainable cuisine, those that are responsible towards the environment and society, with the Michelin Green Star award. Leading and unique representatives in Vietnam include Nén Đà Nẵng, recognized for using self-grown ingredients and 100% local produce. The restaurant has successfully conveyed a message of sustainability in every dish.
Address: Lot 20, My Da Tay 2 Street, Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang
Above are the first 7 restaurants in Vietnam to achieve a Michelin star. How many have you experienced? Starting in 2023, three years have passed since Michelin laid its first foundation stones in Vietnam, helping Vietnam increasingly assert its position on the world culinary map. And whether found in street food stalls or high-end restaurants, Vietnamese cuisine always holds a special place in the hearts of food lovers around the world because of its sincerity and simplicity.
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