8-6-2023 (HANOI) Vietnam’s rapidly growing food scene has been awarded its first-ever Michelin stars, with four restaurants selected by the prestigious dining guide. The restaurants that were awarded one Michelin star each are Gia, Tam Vi, and Hibana by Koki in Hanoi, and Anan Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese cuisine is heavily featured among the winners, although no stars were handed out to traditional street food eateries serving classics such as pho or bun cha.
Tam Vi, which focuses on northern Vietnamese dishes, was named after the owner’s mother and aims to provide customers with a home-cooked meal experience. Gia, a high-end contemporary restaurant, pushes the boundaries of Vietnamese cuisine. Anan Saigon was recognized for its modern take on Vietnamese classics, including a bone marrow wagyu beef pho. Hibana by Koki, which serves Japanese cuisine, was the only non-Vietnamese restaurant to receive a star.
Nguyen Bao Anh, whose mother owns Tam Vi, said her mother had a dream of opening a restaurant that serves traditional food which reminds people of familiar flavours. She added that not many restaurants serve that kind of food anymore. The Michelin stars are expected to boost Vietnam’s food tourism industry, which has been growing rapidly in recent years.
