A Culinary Milestone: 11 Stars Shine as Vietnam Reaches Double-Digit Greatness in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide

There is a palpable, electric energy thrumming through the kitchens of Vietnam right now. It is the sound of sizzling woks in the narrow alleys of Hanoi's Old Quarter, the elegant clink of crystal in Ho Chi Minh City’s high-design dining rooms, and the rhythmic chopping of fresh herbs along the coastal expanses of Da Nang. On June 4, 2026, at the elegant Ascott Tay Ho in Hanoi, this multi-layered culinary landscape officially entered a historic era.

For the first time since the MICHELIN Guide arrived on Vietnamese shores, the country’s count of Starred establishments has reached double digits.

The timing could not be more poetic. The unveiling of the 2026 restaurant selection coincided directly with a monumental global milestone: exactly 100 years since the MICHELIN Guide first awarded its legendary Stars in 1926. A century later, a brilliant new generation of culinary architects in Vietnam is writing the next chapter of global gastronomy.

The One MICHELIN Star Newcomers: Redefining Heritage

ONVIT

The headline of the evening belonged to the expansion of the One MICHELIN Star family to 11 exceptional venues, welcoming two new visionaries that showcase the remarkable diversity of modern dining in Vietnam.

In Hanoi, ONVIT made history by becoming the very first Korean contemporary restaurant in Vietnam to be decorated with a coveted Star. Set within a tranquil oasis, Chef Joon Huk Chi masterfully blends the treasured culinary traditions of his Korean heritage with pristine, locally sourced Vietnamese ingredients, crafting a deeply personal tasting menu.

Meanwhile, tucked away in Ho Chi Minh City, Upstairs redefines intimacy. Perched delicately above an understated wine bar, this exclusive four-table hidden gem sees Chef Hiệp Trương present an evocative modern Vietnamese tasting menu profoundly rooted in the soul and flavor profiles of Central Vietnamese traditions.

These newcomers proudly join the ranks of the country's retaining Starred icons: Gia, Hibana by Koki, and Tầm Vị in Hanoi; Long Trieu, Ănăn Saigon, Akuna, CieL, and CoCo Dining in Ho Chi Minh City; alongside the majestic La Maison 1888 in Da Nang.

Upstairs

"What excites us most this year is the talent and passion behind each restaurant," observed Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide. "A new generation of Vietnamese chefs is leading the way, with young cooks who have trained abroad and come home to cook food that is unmistakably their own: rooted in local ingredients, local memories and local pride."

Green Gastronomy: Tales by Chapter Leads the Sustainable Charge

The prestigious MICHELIN Green Star—an editorial accolade reserved for dining rooms showing unparalleled commitment to eco-conscious practices—welcomed Tales by Chapter in Ho Chi Minh City as its newest member.

Stepping inside this serene villa is an invitation into a brilliantly executed, closed-loop culinary ecosystem. The kitchen’s seasonal, plant-based menus are sourced straight from a dedicated partner eco-farm in Da Lat and the venue’s own lush rooftop garden.

Nothing goes to waste under this roof: organic trimmings are meticulously transformed through creative fermentation into savory mushroom garum and corn koji, while remaining organic by-products are composted straight back into the soil. Guests are seamlessly woven into this environmental narrative via interactive art installations and an educational seed-matching game, beautifully linking soil to soul.

Bib Gourmand & Selected: From Legendary Hawker Stalls to Gastro-Wine Bars

The true heart of Vietnamese food culture lives across its spectrum of accessibility, a reality beautifully validated by the expanded 72 Bib Gourmand and 110 MICHELIN Selected entries.

Hanoi’s Historic Masters and Global Flairs

In the capital, history remains deliciously alive at Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân on Hang Ga Street. Serving the community since 1973, this family-run institution keeps the delicate, soft art of scratch-made rice sheets alive.

For comfort, Mammom honors traditional maternal home cooking with an expansive menu of nearly 100 regional specialties, highlighted by a sweet, sour, and incredibly tender clam broth. Meanwhile, Phở Hà Hàng Hòm draws crowds with its perfectly chewy native fowl chicken phở.

On the modern end, MÀU shines as a shaded gastro-wine bar serving modern plates laced with subtle Vietnamese nuances, and ZAO delivers global-Vietnamese flair through playful bites like heirloom cherry tomato bingsu with lime-basil granita.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Soulful Innovation

Saigon's dining energy is captured in lanes and open kitchens alike. Bánh Canh Cua Bà Ba serves up a vibrant orange, silky crab rice noodle soup down a local alley, while Bánh Cuốn Tây Hồ 127 showcases pristine, made-to-order rice paper rolls.

Urban local flavor peaks at Bún Riêu Yến with its naturally sweet, mildly spicy tomato and crab broth loaded with fresh whelk meat.

For international accents, La Lola brings Mediterranean charm with velvet-clad interiors and local prawn gambas al ajillo, while the newly opened Apero turns heads with its unpretentious, incredibly creamy carbonara and house-made tiramisu.

Da Nang's Hearty Heritage

The coastal capital of Da Nang keeps flavors remarkably punchy and focused. Bà Vui keeps things beautifully simple, mastering just two deeply savory items: bún gà and xôi gà (chicken noodle broth and hearty chicken sticky rice).

Bánh Bèo - Bánh Đập serves sets of five steamed rice cakes blanketed in wood ear sauce, alongside crispy-meets-soft bánh đập. For a bowl of true character, Lê Gia Khang simmers a robust, fresh Huế-style beef broth daily, featuring its signature xí quách beef bone rich with diverse textures.

The Rising Stars: Special Awards and Openings of the Year

Reflecting the broader human narrative of a changing industry, the Guide introduced the MICHELIN Guide Opening of the Year Award for 2026. The inaugural honor was proudly presented to Chef Chris Fong and the team behind NÔM in Ho Chi Minh City.

Named after the ancient Vietnamese script, NÔM is a multi-floor sensory journey through the nation's heritage. Each level mirrors a different region of the country, acting as a "mini-museum" of traditional crafts. The tasting menu reworks familiar national favorites with breathtaking finesse—such as a reimagined, complex Huế-style beef noodle soup and a rich fish soup heightened with herb oil and caviar.

Ultimately, the 2026 MICHELIN Guide selection proves that Vietnam's gastronomic renaissance is anything but fleeting. Driven by an unyielding respect for the past and a fearless curiosity for the future, the country's culinary scene is no longer just rising—it has officially arrived.