French gourmet bible Michelin officially unveiled its second Vietnam guide at a ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City last week.
The newly released MICHELIN Guide Hanoi│Ho Chi Minh City│Da Nang 2024 Guide showcases 164 establishments – with 7 one MICHELIN Star (2 newcomers, and 1 promoted from MICHELIN Selected), 58 Bib Gourmand (28 new entries and 1 moved from MICHELIN Selected), and 99 MICHELIN Selected entries (40 newcomers).
Among new additions to the Guide, 10 are from Hanoi (5 Bib Gourmand, and 5 MICHELIN Selected entries), 26 are from Ho Chi Minh City (2 one MICHELIN Star, 8 Bib Gourmand, and 16 MICHELIN Selected entries) and 36 from Da Nang (1 one MICHELIN Star, 16 Bib Gourmand, and 19 MICHELIN Selected entries).
According to Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, Da Nang — a new additional city to the MICHELIN Guide’s second edition in Vietnam — has enriched MICHELIN Guide’s choices with its unique local eateries and delicacies, representing the central Vietnamese cuisine that embodies the culinary influences of French, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian cultures.
“Vietnam’s three cities—Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang—each have their characteristics,” he said.
“The country’s culinary scene sees the vitality, passion, and creativity constantly surprising the market. Not to mention that renowned chefs are increasingly opening restaurants in Vietnam, coupled with a new generation of Vietnamese chefs emerging with a growing customer base. Therefore, Vietnam is indeed becoming a more interesting destination on the world’s food map to keep an eye on.”
While all of the one MICHELIN Star restaurants from the previous selection – Gia, Hibana by Koki, Tam Vị, and Anan Saigon – retain their distinctions, the 2024 one MICHELIN Star selection welcomes 2 newcomers and 1 promotion. The 2 newcomers awarded one MICHELIN Star are: Akuna [Ho Chi Minh City], a restaurant offering creative European dishes with Vietnamese influences, plus optional wine pairing; and La Maison 1888 [Da Nang], a restaurant serving a 5- or 7-course set menu featuring top-notch ingredients from Vietnam, France and Japan.
The only restaurant promoted from the MICHELIN Selected to receive one MICHELIN Star is The Royal Pavilion [Ho Chi Minh City], a restaurant offering a wide range of à la carte and set menus that respect Canton’s culinary heritage, with its dim sum menu available only during lunchtime.
Within the MICHELIN Guide restaurant selection, the MICHELIN Green Star highlights establishments at the forefront of the industry for their sustainable practices and dining experiences that combine culinary excellence with outstanding eco-friendly commitments.
Nen Danang, a MICHELIN Selected restaurant, is awarded the first MICHELIN Green Star in Vietnam for its commitment to gastronomy and sustainability. Setting an exemplary role in sustainable gastronomy since its inception in 2017, Nen Danang strives to promote local ingredients, and almost everything on the plate is grown locally.
The restaurant shares information about its farm in the media from time to time and calls on everyone to support a greener and more sustainable future. Not only conveying a positive sustainable gastronomy message to diners, it has also made a strong move to cooperate with local schools, sharing information with the younger generation to spread green concepts.
The number of Bib Gourmand eateries is double last year’s list, featuring 58 establishments: 18 in Hanoi, 24 in Ho Chi Minh City, and 16 in Da Nang. Out of the 29 new entries, 16 are from Da Nang; 5 from Hanoi; and 8 from Ho Chi Minh City.