Having savored various dishes at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide, Jennifer, a Canadian tourist, sees Vietnam as a place full of good food at reasonable prices. 

Jennifer spent four days exploring the street food scene in Hanoi, as Vietnamese food is tremendously popular in Canada.

The Canadian tourist heard about the inaugural edition of the Michelin Guide in Vietnam, so she visited the Michelin Guide website and selected Tam Vi Restaurant, awarded one Michelin Star by the prestigious French dining guide Michelin, as a destination for her lunch.

“I have heard that the Michelin Guide touched down in Vietnam two days ago. This [restaurant] is near my hotel, so I came to try the food,” Jennifer told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

She was served with thit kho (braised pork), mango salad, and fruits for dessert at Tam Vi, situated on Yen The Street in Dong Da District.

The Canadian visitor of Chinese descent said that the taste of thit kho at Tam Vi was wonderful. 

The combination of the dishes in the meal was very interesting, she added.

“I do like this dish [thit kho] due to its high quality. For me, it deserves one Michelin Star,” Jennifer stated. 

Jennifer recounted that she had enjoyed food at some different Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, but Tam Vi offers the cheapest price.

She paid a mere VND300,000 (US$13) for her lunch at Tam Vi Restaurant.

Learning about Tam Vi via Michelin Guide, Thu Trang, a resident of Ha Dong District in Hanoi, visited the restaurant to enjoy the taste of her homeland after many years of living abroad.

“In the past, my grandmother ran an eatery serving some familiar dishes such as pickled white eggplants, crab soup, and fried tofu, among others," Trang said.

"However, since my grandmother passed away, I have yet to enjoy such dishes again.

“The space here [Tam Vi] brings to mind a feeling of familiarity, while the dishes are appetizing and eye-catching.”

Being honored by Michelin was a surprise to Mai Anh, founder of the restaurant, who said that the eatery has been open for four years.

“Since it was awarded one Michelin Star, the number of diners has surged. However, due to the limited number of tables and small space, the eatery cannot serve too many diners,” Mai Anh told Tuoi Tre.

Located in the heart of Hanoi, Hibana by Koki, which also earned one coveted Michelin Star, was serving crowds of diners on June 8, two days after the recognition from Michelin was announced.

“I will focus on training staff at the restaurant. Securing a Michelin Star, the restaurant is expected to welcome more diners, including local and international guests,” Yamaguchi Hiroshi, a chef at Hibana by Koki, told Tuoi Tre.

“How to maintain the quality of cooking and service at the restaurant is my priority.

“I expect to serve more domestic and international diners.

"The Michelin-starred restaurants will contribute to making Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general catch the eye of foreigners worldwide, I hope.”

Benefiting from the recognition from the Michelin Guide, Nguyet Chicken Pho Eatery has seen its sales soar 20 percent.

Bui Minh Thu, daughter of the owner of the eatery of pho, which is a Vietnamese soup usually served with rice noodles, slices of beef or chicken, and herbs, said that all customers had sent their congratulations as the eatery was named on Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list.

Bib Gourmand recognizes restaurants and eateries which serve great food at moderate prices.

“We are greatly honored for the recognition, but we are facing a little pressure. Nguyet Chicken Pho Eatery will enhance its efforts to serve and satisfy diners,” Thu said.

A total of 103 eateries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were honored by Michelin on June 6.

Among them were four restaurants awarded one Michelin Star, 70 eateries recognized with Michelin Selected, and 29 awardees of the Bib Gourmand Awards.

Meanwhile, three individuals were honored for Michelin Guide Special Awards.

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