Michelin restaurants in Vietnam: a food-led route for luxury travellers
For a long time, Vietnam's food reputation lived on plastic stools: a bowl of phở at dawn, a bánh mì from a street cart, grilled pork at a pavement table. That reputation is deserved, and it still anchors every good eating trip. What has changed in the last four years is the layer built on top of it. Since the guide arrived in 2023, Michelin restaurants in Vietnam have grown from a short list of four starred tables to a selection of 193 places, and the 2026 edition, announced in Hanoi on 4 June, counts 11 one-star kitchens, the first time the total has reached double digits.
For travellers who plan holidays around the table, that shift makes a new kind of route possible. A luxury culinary itinerary no longer has to be pieced together from hotel recommendations and word of mouth; it can be built on a published selection that is reviewed every year. The catch is that the Michelin Guide Vietnam covers only three cities, and its best addresses sit in very different settings, from a market district to a clifftop resort.
This guide sets out which of the Michelin restaurants in Vietnam suit which style of trip, what the 2026 selection includes, and how to plan a Michelin food trip in Vietnam so that tasting menus, street food and sightseeing support one another instead of competing for the same evening.
What the Michelin Guide Vietnam covers in 2026
The Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026 selection lists 193 establishments across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. It was unveiled at a ceremony in Hanoi on 4 June 2026, the fourth edition in the country. The headline numbers are:
- 11 restaurants with one Michelin star, two of them new this year
- 72 Bib Gourmand restaurants, 11 of them new
- 110 Michelin Selected restaurants
- 3 restaurants holding a Green Star
The climb has been steady: four starred restaurants in 2023, seven in 2024, nine in 2025 and eleven in 2026. Hanoi holds four of the 11 Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City six and Da Nang one.
Two limits matter when planning. Among Michelin restaurants in Vietnam, none holds two or three stars, so one star is the current ceiling. And the guide is geographic: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang only. Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and the Mekong Delta eat very well but sit outside the selection, so a Michelin-led itinerary naturally centres on those three cities, with the stops in between chosen for other reasons.
It also helps to know what the guide leaves out. Critics have noted that no bánh mì seller has made the list in four editions, and an early critique of the first selection pointed to the absence of regional cooking from places such as Hue and Chau Doc. The Michelin Guide Vietnam works best as one lens on Vietnamese food rather than the whole map, which is why the itinerary below keeps room for markets and street stalls between the starred dinners.
Stars, Bib Gourmand, Selected and Green Star: how each fits an itinerary
Each level of recognition among Michelin restaurants in Vietnam plays a different role on the road, and treating them as rungs of one ladder tends to produce a tiring trip.
One star means, in Michelin's own words, high-quality cooking worth a stop. In Vietnam these are mostly tasting-menu dinners that take up an evening, so one per city is a sensible rhythm. These Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam are the anchors around which most itineraries are built.
Bib Gourmand restaurants in Vietnam are the guide's good-value recommendations, and the 72 listed lean heavily towards the dishes that made the country famous: noodle soups, bánh cuốn, shellfish, broken rice. They suit lunch, jet-lagged first days and any moment when a tasting menu would be too much.
Michelin Selected is the largest group in the Michelin Guide Vietnam, 110 restaurants that inspectors recommend without a further distinction. It is the most useful safety net: when a starred table is full, a Selected restaurant in the same neighbourhood often provides an excellent dinner.
The Green Star recognises sustainable practice. The three holders are Lamai Garden in Hanoi, Nén Danang in Da Nang and, new in 2026, Tales by Chapter in Ho Chi Minh City. All three suit guests who care about provenance, and two of them, Lamai Garden and Tales by Chapter, offer vegetarian or plant-based cooking.
Is Michelin dining in Vietnam worth planning a trip around?
An honest answer depends on the traveller. Eleven stars across three cities is a modest number beside Tokyo, Paris or Hong Kong, so Michelin dining in Vietnam is better treated as one strand of a food-led holiday than as the only reason to book it. Its strength lies elsewhere: many of the starred kitchens here cook from the same pantry as the street stalls, so a tasting menu often reads as a conversation with the food eaten at lunch rather than a departure from it.
Interest from the luxury market points the same way. A 2024 Bloomberg report noted that at least one major luxury tour provider had chosen Vietnam as the first destination for its food-focused tours, and each new edition of the Michelin Guide Vietnam has widened the field. For travellers who already enjoy planning around restaurants, and for advisers designing programmes for them, Michelin restaurants in Vietnam now give a luxury culinary itinerary a recognised backbone.
Michelin restaurants in Hanoi: four starred tables and a farm-to-table Green Star
Hanoi's four stars cover an unexpectedly wide range for a single city.
Gia serves a seasonal tasting menu of contemporary Vietnamese cooking close to the Temple of Literature. Tầm Vị goes the other way, towards nostalgic home cooking in a traditional wooden house, the kind of table that suits travellers wanting the flavours of a Vietnamese family meal at fine-dining standard. Hibana by Koki, set inside Capella Hanoi, brings Japanese teppanyaki to the capital and works well as a change of register on a longer stay.
The newest star, ONVIT, is the first Korean restaurant in Vietnam to be awarded one. Chef Joon Huk Chi builds a Korean–Vietnamese tasting menu around local ingredients in Grand Plaza Hanoi Hotel, and the restaurant's sommelier, Mai Bích Ngọc, won the guide's 2026 Sommelier Award, with pairings that range from wine to pine mushroom soju.
Lamai Garden, the city's Green Star, cooks from its own farm in Phú Thọ and offers both a seasonal tasting menu and a vegetarian menu, a useful detail for mixed groups.
A workable day in the capital runs along familiar lines: a slow Old Quarter morning, a Bib Gourmand lunch such as Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân or Phở Hà Hàng Hòm, a quiet afternoon, and one starred dinner. Planned this way, the day keeps appetite and attention for the evening meal.
Michelin dining in Da Nang and the central coast
Da Nang has one star, and it sits in a resort rather than on a city street. La Maison 1888 is inside the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort and serves French cuisine built around local produce, including seafood from the Sơn Trà peninsula. It kept its star in 2026 and remains the city's only starred restaurant, which makes it the obvious anchor dinner for a stay on this stretch of coast.
The rest of the city's recognition leans local. Nén Danang holds a Green Star. The three newcomers to the Bib Gourmand list in 2026, Bà Vui, Bánh Bèo – Bánh Đập and Lê Gia Khang, along with the Michelin Selected newcomer Dì Hoa, show how much of the central coast's identity lives in its noodles, steamed rice cakes and mì Quảng.
Hoi An sits roughly 30 kilometres to the south and Hue lies further north. Neither is covered by the guide, so neither should be expected to offer Michelin-recognised dining. Both earn their place for other reasons: Hoi An for its lantern-lit old town and dishes such as cao lầu, Hue for its imperial food heritage. A Michelin-led trip can use Da Nang as the base and treat these two as flavour-and-heritage days rather than starred ones.
Michelin restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City: the deepest list in the country
Ho Chi Minh City has six of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam, along with the most new entries in the 2026 guide, 11 in all.
Ănăn Saigon is the most talked-about: modern Vietnamese cooking with street-food influences, set inside a local market in District 1. Long Triều serves Cantonese fine dining in The Reverie Saigon, with private rooms that suit celebrations. Akuna, in Le Méridien Saigon, cooks in an open kitchen and applies modern technique to Vietnamese ingredients. Further out in Thảo Điền, CieL pairs French technique with Vietnamese flavours in an intimate room, while CoCo Dining, in District 3, offers a modern Vietnamese tasting menu with a strong thread of fermentation. The newest star, Upstairs, is Chef Hiệp Trương's modern interpretation of cooking rooted in Central Vietnam, and it was only around 18 months old when it was recognised.
Beyond the stars, two names stand out for different reasons. Tales by Chapter, the city's new Green Star, works on a zero-waste, plant-based philosophy, and a member of its team received the guide's Service Award. NÔM won the first Opening of the Year award in 2026. For lunch, Bib Gourmand picks such as Bún Riêu Yến and Bánh Canh Cua Bà Ba, both new this year, bring the city's noodle culture back to the table.
How to plan a Michelin food trip in Vietnam
A luxury culinary itinerary works best when a few principles are settled before any restaurant is booked.
Set one anchor dinner per city
Among the Michelin restaurants in Vietnam, choose one starred dinner as the anchor for each city and let the rest of the day flex around it. One travel-trade guide to the 2026 selection suggests at least two nights per city, so that the anchor dinner never lands on an arrival evening after a long transfer. Two tasting menus on consecutive nights tend to blur together, so a lighter evening between them keeps each meal distinct.
Match the restaurant to the hotel
Several of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam sit inside hotels, which simplifies logistics: Hibana by Koki at Capella Hanoi, ONVIT at Grand Plaza Hanoi Hotel, La Maison 1888 at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Akuna at Le Méridien Saigon and Long Triều at The Reverie Saigon. Staying in the same building as the anchor dinner removes a transfer on the evening that matters most, and it leaves room for a late finish when a tasting menu runs long.
A sample 10-night luxury culinary itinerary
- Nights 1 to 3, Hanoi: an Old Quarter food walk, a Bib Gourmand lunch, and one dinner among the Michelin restaurants in Hanoi, at Gia, Tầm Vị or ONVIT. A second evening can go to Lamai Garden for a lighter, plant-forward meal.
- Nights 4 to 6, Da Nang and Hoi An: an arrival day at the resort, dinner at La Maison 1888, and a full day in Hoi An for cao lầu, the old town and a cooking class.
- Nights 7 to 10, Ho Chi Minh City: two dinners among the Michelin restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, spaced apart, for example Ănăn Saigon and then CoCo Dining or Upstairs, plus a market morning and one free day for a trip towards the Mekong Delta.
Two short domestic flights link the three cities, so the route runs north to south without backtracking.
Shorter and longer versions
A compact five-night luxury culinary itinerary can pair Ho Chi Minh City with Da Nang, using one starred dinner in each and leaving the remaining time for the coast. A longer two-week version adds Hue and a Mekong Delta stay, a second starred dinner in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and a slower pace overall.
Balancing tasting menus with markets, cooking classes and street food
A tasting menu is at its best when the day around it has a lighter touch. The Bib Gourmand list is a handy counterweight: 72 restaurants where a bowl of bún riêu, a plate of bánh cuốn or a bowl of bánh canh cua asks far less commitment than a multi-course dinner, and often gives just as strong a sense of place. Those Bib Gourmand restaurants in Vietnam are also where much of the everyday cooking of each city is easiest to taste.
Markets give the starred dinners some context. Ănăn Saigon sits inside a working market, so a morning among the stalls followed by an evening in the same neighbourhood makes a continuous story. In Hanoi, an Old Quarter breakfast walk sets up a dinner at Gia or Tầm Vị in the same way. A market-to-table cooking class works best on a free day in Hoi An or Hanoi rather than before a late dinner.
A simple rhythm tends to hold up well in a luxury culinary itinerary: one structured food activity a day, whether a market, a class or a walking tour; a Bib Gourmand or Selected lunch every second day; and a starred dinner no more than every other evening. Michelin restaurants in Vietnam then become highlights of the trip rather than a schedule to keep up with.
Practical notes for bookings, dietary needs and timing
Small dining rooms are the main constraint for most Michelin restaurants in Vietnam. Reports from the first awards in 2023 described Hibana by Koki and Ănăn Saigon as booked solid within days of the announcement, and both are intimate by design, with Ănăn Saigon reportedly able to seat only around 40 diners at a time. The practical lesson is to reserve starred tables as soon as flights and hotels for the luxury culinary itinerary are fixed, and to hold a second-choice restaurant in each city in case a date falls through.
Several other points are worth settling early:
- Peak season. October to April is generally the busiest period for tables in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Late-year rain on the central coast can affect plans in Da Nang and Hoi An, so outdoor days there benefit from some flexibility.
- Group size. Larger parties are usually offered a fixed tasting menu, which simplifies planning but limits choice. Long Triều, with its private rooms, is the more natural fit for celebrations and family tables.
- Dietary needs. Allergies, vegetarian and other requirements need advance notice, and adaptations vary by kitchen. Michelin dining in Vietnam is more flexible than it may sound, and Tales by Chapter and Lamai Garden, both Green Star restaurants, are the most plant-forward options.
- Opening days. Many fine-dining restaurants close one day a week and menus rotate with the seasons, so dates, hours and current menus should be confirmed directly before a booking is built into a programme.
- Currency of the list. The Michelin Guide Vietnam is refreshed each June, and a restaurant's status, address or format can change between editions. The information here reflects the 2026 selection announced on 4 June 2026.
Frequently asked questions about Michelin restaurants in Vietnam
How many Michelin restaurants in Vietnam hold a star in 2026?
Eleven restaurants hold one Michelin star: four in Hanoi, six in Ho Chi Minh City and one in Da Nang. The wider Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026 lists 193 restaurants in total, including 72 Bib Gourmand, 110 Michelin Selected and 3 Green Star. The selection is updated each year, usually in June.
Which cities does the Michelin Guide Vietnam cover?
The guide covers Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang and other destinations are not part of the selection, although they are well known for their local food.
Are there two- or three-star Michelin restaurants in Vietnam?
No. As of the 2026 edition, the highest distinction in Vietnam is one Michelin star, held by 11 restaurants.
What is the difference between a Michelin star and a Bib Gourmand?
In the Michelin Guide Vietnam, a Michelin star recognises high-quality cooking, typically in a tasting-menu setting. A Bib Gourmand recognises good food at moderate prices, and Bib Gourmand restaurants in Vietnam are often noodle shops, bánh cuốn houses and similar casual places.
Can Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam be booked at short notice?
Rarely during busy months. Many starred restaurants have small dining rooms, and demand rises sharply after each announcement. Booking as soon as travel dates are confirmed, with a backup restaurant in mind, is the safest approach.
How many days are needed for a luxury culinary itinerary in Vietnam?
Five to six nights can cover two cities, while 10 to 12 nights allow all three covered cities with time for Hoi An or Hue. At least two nights per city keeps the pace comfortable.
Are there vegetarian options for Michelin dining in Vietnam?
Yes, though they usually need advance notice. Lamai Garden in Hanoi offers a vegetarian menu, and Tales by Chapter in Ho Chi Minh City cooks on a plant-based, zero-waste philosophy. Other kitchens can often adapt a tasting menu when informed in advance.
Conclusion: building the trip around the table
The map of Michelin restaurants in Vietnam is still young, and that is part of its appeal. Eleven Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam, spread across three cities, are a small enough number to visit most of them on a single well-paced trip, and the variety is considerable: Cantonese banquets, Korean–Vietnamese tasting menus, French cooking by the sea, teppanyaki, and modern Vietnamese kitchens rooted in regional memory. A good luxury culinary itinerary lets those dinners share the stage with noodle lunches, market mornings and a few days in Hoi An or Hue where the stars give way to heritage.
Treated that way, the Michelin Guide Vietnam becomes a framework rather than a checklist. The details will shift as the selection is updated each June, but the planning logic of one anchor dinner per city, lighter days around it and early bookings should hold from one edition to the next.
Planning a Michelin food trip with Vietnam Today Travel
Vietnam Today Travel is a local destination management company based in Ho Chi Minh City, working with travel agencies and tour operators since 2004. For clients who want a luxury culinary itinerary built around Michelin restaurants in Vietnam, the team can shape the route, hotels, transfers and reservations into a tailor-made programme, adapted to dietary needs, group size and pace. Travel advisers and private travellers are welcome to share dates and preferences, and a proposal can be drawn up from there.
