The 2023 MICHELIN Guide for Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City highlights four MICHELIN Star restaurants, showcasing Vietnam's diverse cuisines. Let's explore what impressed the inspectors at these thrilling establishments
A must-try dish at Tầm Vị. (© Michelin)
Cha oc (Vietnamese ham with periwinkle snails)
Tầm Vị (Vietnamese, one MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)Inspired by the traditional dish from Huế, this homemade flat minced pork meat cake is mixed with chopped periwinkle snail and perfectly seared to a rich brown colour, creating a lightly caramelised crust. The seasoning is balanced to let the natural flavours of the ingredients shine. Served with fresh shiso leaves, mint, herbs, and vermicelli, it's irresistible—one might find themselves enjoying one after another, lightly dipping each in aromatic fish sauce…
Care for a hot bowl of pho? (© Michelin)
Pho bo (Beef vermicelli)
Phở Bò Ấu Triệu (Street Food, Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)The shop's most coveted dish is their one-of-a-kind pho. The noodles are exceptionally smooth and thin, perfectly complementing the clear, intensely flavoured beef bone broth. Topped with freshly chopped beef, plenty of spring onions, coriander, and onions, and served with a generous spoonful of piping hot soup poured into the bowl, this dish is more than just heartwarming—it lights up your day! Don't forget to add a squeeze of lime juice for an extra layer of flavour.
FURTHER READING: Phở Gà Nguyệt, the Gem for Chicken Pho Lovers in Hanoi’s Old Town
Try the dry chicken pho at Phở Gà Nguyệt in Hanoi. (© Michelin)
Pho tron dui canh (Chicken vermicelli)
Phở Gà Nguyệt (Street Food, Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)Served dry, the chicken noodles are generously packed with tender chicken thigh and wing meat. The intensely flavourful, soft, and tender chicken is incredibly delicious. The noodles are mixed with soy sauce, vinegar, coriander, deep-fried shallots, and peanuts, offering a rich texture and delightful taste. Accompanied by a bowl of clear chicken soup, this dish enhances the overall experience.
Rice roll with egg at Bánh Cuốn Bà Xuân. (© Michelin)
Egg banh cuon (Rice roll with egg)
Bánh Cuốn Bà Xuân (Street Food, Selected, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)The rice rolls are freshly made to order by the lady at the entrance, using a continuously steaming pot. Each rice sheet is carefully crafted and rolled before your eyes with expert hands. The filling, consisting of minced pork, black fungus, and a soft poached egg, is ample and offers a delightful texture, along with a hint of egg fragrance. Topping the rice rolls with golden, crispy deep-fried shallots adds a perfect finishing touch to these thin and smooth delights.
The delicious bún chả ta spot in Hanoi. (© Michelin)
Bun cha ta
Bun Cha Ta (Nguyen Huu Huan Street) (Noodles, Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)The pork chunks, grilled under the charcoal to deliver an aromatic barbecue flavour, are tender and juicy, retaining their natural taste. The small meat patties are well-seasoned and perfectly shaped, offering a toasty flavour. The soup strikes the right balance of sweetness and sourness, stimulating the appetite. The smooth rice noodles are a perfect complement. A basket of herbs and vegetables provides a fresh scent, rounding off the meal nicely.
A beautiful consommé at Tanh Tách in Ho Chi Minh City. (© Michelin)
Sup ga den kieu Phap - ga den (Black chicken consommé - black chicken)
Tanh Tách (Seafood, Selected, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)The consommé, with its crystal-clear broth, offered an incredibly aromatic experience. Its rich and concentrated flavour left a memorable impression on me. The soup contained some black chicken and shiitake mushrooms, which, with their very smooth and tender texture, paired wonderfully with the flavour of the mushrooms.
Chef Peter Franklin's twist on Vietnamese cuisine at Ănăn Saigon. (© Michelin)
Duck and banana blossom salad
Ănăn Saigon (Vietnamese Contemporary, one MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)The duck breast, evenly sliced and pink in colour, boasts a lightly crisp skin and a smoky aroma, showcasing its tender and delicate nature. Each condiment is freshly prepared and plays a role in enhancing the texture and flavour of the dish. Ingredients such as fennel, white cabbage, young lemongrass, banana blossom, peanuts, confit duck meat, and duck kidney provide a satisfying crunch and natural flavour. The nuoc cham sauce offers just the right amount of acidity, pleasing both the palate and the nose.
Aside pho, try the pate chaud at Phở Minh. (© Michelin)
Pate chaud
Phở Minh (Noodles, Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)While the beef noodle dish takes centre stage in this restaurant, we must not overlook this delightful offering. Presenting a freshly baked pastry with a delightful crispiness, served piping hot. Inside, you'll find a succulent meatball infused with robust flavours and a subtle spiciness. The pastry is skillfully crafted, exhibiting a vibrant hue, appealing appearance, and a tantalising aroma. It is a truly satisfying and delicious treat that should not be missed.
Stop by Bún Thịt Nướng Hoàng Văn in Ho Chi Minh City for this very dish. (© Michelin)
To thap cam
Bún Thịt Nướng Hoàng Văn (Street Food, Selected, MICHELIN Guide Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City 2023)A rice noodle dish combo with barbecue and spring rolls is served with fresh lettuce, bean sprouts, and shredded cucumber. It also includes ingredients such as julienned carrots, spring onions, and peanuts. The texture and flavour are rich, and the special sauce served shows a tangy and appetising taste. Overall, it is a delicious meal.
