Vietnam gets 10th and 11th Michelin-starred restaurants

The two new entries, each getting one star, are Onvit in Hanoi and Upstairs in Ho Chi Minh City.

Chef Truong Hiep, 31, co-founder of Upstairs, opened 18 months ago, said the restaurant offers contemporary Vietnamese cuisine by preserving the spirit of traditional dishes but with a fresh perspective.

"The Michelin star is a reward for the efforts and dedication of the entire staff."

Chef Tran Phuoc Hau of The Monkey Gallery Dining won the Michelin Guide Young Chef Award while Mai Bich Ngoc of Onvit restaurant bagged the Michelin Guide Sommelier Award.

Nguyen Thanh Van of HCMC’s Tales by Chapter Restaurant, received the Michelin Guide Service Award.

Tales by Chapter received the Michelin Green Star for its eco-friendly approach to gastronomy.

The Michelin Guide recognized 110 restaurants in its Michelin Selected category this year, including nine new ones, while 74 made the Bib Gourmand list, including 11 newcomers, for offering high-quality food at reasonable prices.

Nine other restaurants in the country have one star: Hanoi's Hibana by Koki, Gia, and Tam Vi, HCMC's Anan Saigon, Long Trieu, Akuna, CieL, and Coco Dining, and Da Nang's La Maison 1888.

According to the Michelin Guide, its inspectors assess venues based on five criteria: the personality of the chef as presented in the cuisine, harmony of flavors, mastery of cooking techniques, quality of products, and consistency both over time and across the menu.

One star signifies a very good restaurant, two mean excellent cooking that is worth a detour, and three mean exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.

According to the Michelin Guide website, there are over 3,000 starred restaurants in nearly 40 countries.

Here is a list of 193 Vietnamese restaurants honored by the Michelin Guide this year.