Vietnam Michelin Guide 2023 - A trusted guide for tourists?
Recently, on the evening of June 6, Michelin first came to Vietnam and held a ceremony to honor restaurants from low-end to high-end. There are a total of 103 stores, mainly operating in two big cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The 2023 Michelin Guide comes to Vietnam
This is a good sign that marks Vietnamese cuisine taking another step forward on the journey to conquering gourmets from all over the world.
Four Vietnamese restaurants have been awarded one Michelin star, including Anan Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City; Gia, Hibana by Koki, and Tam Vi, are all in Hanoi.
A series of Vietnamese street eateries named in the Michelin Guide
Besides, there are 99 restaurants in Vietnam shortlisted according to three Michelin Selected categories (recommended by Michelin); Michelin Guide Special Awards (special awards) and Bib Gourmand (delicious eateries at affordable prices).
Pho - Vietnam specialty
The names on the list have many places with mid-range prices and are familiar dining destinations for everyone. As can be seen in the list, Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, etc. are traditional dishes that are quite cheap and are loved by many ages. In addition, high-class restaurants with luxurious space, 5-star service quality, and located inside famous hotels and resorts appear quite a lot.
The Michelin Guide
If you are a traveler who loves to discover street food and local cuisine in different countries, the Michelin brand is certainly not an unfamiliar name.
The Michelin Guide in Vietnam
Michelin is an award created and presented by the famous magazine The Michelin Guide from the 1900s. It can be said that the Michelin Award in the culinary field is similar to the Oscars in the field of film or the Grammy in music!
Michelin's fine-dining restaurant guide
This is the dream and also the recognition of the efforts of the restaurants to have the best food in their countries and territories. In addition to the annual review to award stars, the Michelin Guide also takes away the title of stores with a decline in quality, receiving too many negative consumer reviews. Therefore, in addition to being honored by The Michelin Guide, the owners must also try to preserve and protect the Star they have received.
Rate of Michelin star
There are three levels from 1 to 3 to assess the quality of a place to eat. With a Michelin star, the restaurant will be seen as a worthy stop for delicious food. Two stars will be for excellent places, worthy of returning to experience. Three stars will be for places with outstanding cuisine. At the same time, restaurants with good service quality and tasty food that have not received Michelin Stars will be classified in special lists such as Bib Gourmand.
Michelin's 5 appraisal criteria include Product quality; The skill of cooking; The harmony of taste; The chef's personality reflected in the dishes; The consistency of the dish over time of the entire menu.
Top chef Joel Robuchon once shared with Food & Wine magazine: "With one Michelin star, you develop over 20% of your business. Two stars, 40% more, and with three stars, it's about 100%.".
This is considered a boost not only for restaurants, individuals, and businesses but also for the cuisine of a nation and territory to have the opportunity to be more widely promoted to the whole world.
Why did Michelin come to Vietnam?
Many people are also curious about the reason why Michelin appeared in Vietnam after many years. In an interview with Tuoitre newspaper, Mr. Poulllennec - the international director shared that they highly appreciate our country's cuisine and its great potential for development in the future.
Vietnamese restaurants to receive Michelin stars for the first time
Michelin will contribute to highlighting Vietnamese cuisine, thereby creating an opportunity to be on par with other countries around the world. At the same time, he also sent many words of encouragement to young chefs to have the courage to change and be creative in their wonderful dishes.
Michelin Star Restaurants in Vietnam Travel 2023
Among many competitors and many other potential candidates, 4 restaurants including Anan Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City; Gia, Hibana by Koki, and Tam Vi, are in Hanoi. Those are excellent names honored in the top position.
Anan Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City
Anan Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City
Anan Saigon is the only restaurant that received a Michelin star in Ho Chi Minh City. It was established by Mr. Peter Cuong Franklin - who had experience in many internationally renowned restaurants around the world. Therefore, he can combine street flavors with contemporary and incorporate them into their high-end dishes.
Modern Vietnamese Cuisine at Anan Saigon
One of the signatures that you should try is Caviar Banh Dip - a wonderful combination of the crunchy sweetness of traditional waffles and the sophistication of French tarts. Before obtaining the Michelin certification, this restaurant also received many awards and appreciation from international culinary experts.
Gia Restaurant - Hanoi
Gia Eastern Vibes And Western Soul In The Heart Of Hanoi
The second restaurant that Asia Private Travels introduces to guests is Gia Restaurant. ‘Gia’ is the word that means family in Vietnamese. Therefore, this place offers many traditional delicacies of Vietnam but at a higher level. Gia has a menu that changes regularly, prioritizing pure Vietnamese ingredients, and cooking dishes with Vietnamese features, to stay close and familiar with local guests. At the same time, they also want to promote the country's culture to international friends.
Gia Hanoi - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Not only are there many diverse dishes from many regions across the country. Each dish has its own story from Chef Sam's experiences and journeys.
Located near the Temple of Literature, Gia restaurant has a nostalgic beauty but still has Western modernity.
Hibana by Koki - Hanoi
Hibana by Koki Michelin starred Japanese restaurant in Hanoi
Belonging to Capella Hotel, Hibana by Koki restaurant is the next to be honored in the top recommended Michelin restaurant. As the soul of this place, Chef Yamaguchi is considered the culinary wizard - the one who creates the perfect flavors for the dishes. With the finest ingredients from Japan such as abalone, lobster, sea urchin, and Hokkaido snow crab, professional chefs here have created an excellent combination and blend of flavors.
Dishes in Hibana by Koki
Tam Vi - Hanoi
Tam Vi Restaurant Hanoi
Last but not list Michelin Guide Hanoi is Tam Vi restaurant. With a traditional beauty, Tam Vi has architecture like an old house in the North of Vietnam in the past with wooden materials. The restaurant was formed by the desire to serve every day, rustic dishes in every family's meal. If you want to experience Vietnamese food in the most intimate and rustic way, then come to Tam Vi right away.
Have an authentic Vietnamese meal at Tam Vi
Besides the 4 most prominent restaurants with prestigious stars, people can also refer to the guest names on the Michelin Selected list such as La Badiane - a French cuisine space in the heart of the capital, Octo - a Spanish restaurant that is famous for its tapas, etc.
Should you follow this Michelin Guide on your Vietnam Tour?
At present, Michelin is one of the most trusted review sites by many culinary experts and consumers. The reviewers who have the expertise, experience, and extensive knowledge will give the most objective judgments for you to easily refer to.
Many eatery places in Vietnam are rewarded Michelin-selected guide
Besides positive agreements from many people, Michelin Vietnam List also received a number of criticisms about their selections. Some netizens made comments on social media about their doubt about the real criteria of the organization. Even a lot of professional chefs in Vietnam expressed that many restaurants do not deserve to be on this list.
They share the reason is that some of the addresses on the list have too expensive prices while the quality of the food is only acceptable, nothing new. Some other reasons can be mentioned as food safety and hygiene issues, lack of clean space, unfriendly staff,...
Many culinary experts also regretted that besides Pho or Bun Cha, there is no appearance of quintessential dishes like Bun Bo Hue - also very popular with many foreigners when having a Vietnam Tour Packages. Other diners also wonder why there are many pho restaurants named, but banh mi - also one of the most reputable Vietnamese delicacies - did not appear in the list.
The diversity of Vietnam food
Though there are mixed opinions, the Michelin Guide's selections are sympathetic. Because they are a reputable review unit, they have strict standards, so some restaurants that are rated as just delicious are not enough to make the list. This is also the first year of Michelin in Vietnam. Hopefully, in the coming years, there will be more new names appearing on their list.
To wrap up, though there will continue to be many controversies, for international visitors to Vietnam for the first time, the dishes recommended by Michelin will still be good experiences of Vietnamese cuisine. Each person will have a different taste, and each dish will be prepared differently depending on different restaurants. The addresses mentioned may not be the most perfect choice. But those are safe and balanced options that can bring tourists new experiences when eating Vietnamese food for the first time.
Star for Vietnamese street food of Michelin guide
Above is the latest and most useful information that Asia Private Travels updates for you about the Vietnam Michelin Guide. Hopefully, during the Vietnam Tour, tourists can have the opportunity to experience a lot of really delicious and special dishes and create itineraries for free. Don’t forget that we also offer a Vietnam private tour that includes Michelin-star restaurants for foreigners.
