Fine dining in Vietnam is having a wonderful moment, and the two big cities each tell the story differently. Hanoi leans toward heritage and craft, Ho Chi Minh City toward playful invention. This guide shows you which starred tables to know and how to plan a trip around them.
Fine dining in Vietnam: Hanoi first
As of this writing, Hanoi has four starred restaurants, and they suit very different moods. Gia, on Van Mieu Street in Dong Da, serves a tasting menu of more than ten dishes under chef Sam Tran, changing it every three months. The kitchen reimagines familiar comforts such as crab soup noodles and eel soup so thoughtfully that you may not recognize them until the first spoonful.
Tầm Vị, on Yen The Street, is gentler. Think northern Vietnamese home cooking in a room with the feel of a traditional tea house: shrimp and meat rolls, stir-fried water spinach, a dried shrimp and green mango salad, braised pork, all served with steamed white rice or black bean rice. The menu follows the seasons.
For something entirely different, Hibana by Koki brings teppanyaki to Capella Hanoi, working with Japanese beef and seasonal fish. A newer arrival, ONVIT, offers a Korean-Vietnamese tasting menu.
Ho Chi Minh City, the inventive side
Saigon’s starred list is longer, with six restaurants holding a star at the time of writing. Ănăn Saigon, in District 1 on Tôn Thất Đạm, is the one many travelers hear about first. Chef Peter Cuong Franklin offers à la carte dishes and two tasting menus of ten and twelve courses, and the playful Dalat pizza and foie gras spring rolls have become signatures.
Upstairs presents a modern Vietnamese tasting menu with Central Vietnamese roots. Long Trieu, Akuna, CieL and CoCo Dining complete the list, and each deserves a look if your itinerary allows more than one evening.
Tips for planning
Reserve early. Starred tables here are small, and popular nights fill weeks ahead. Many restaurants confirm bookings by message, so keep your phone number handy.
Pair a tasting menu with a lighter day. Eat a simple noodle breakfast, walk a museum or a lake, and arrive at dinner curious rather than full. In Hanoi, the craft ateliers in our guide to silk and lacquer in Hanoi make a graceful afternoon before an evening at Gia or Tầm Vị.
Ask about the tea or non-alcoholic pairings. Vietnamese tea culture is rich, and several kitchens take real pride in their drinks programs.
Add a coastal stop if time allows. Lantern-lit evenings in 48 hours in Hoi An balance the intensity of two big cities nicely, and the imperial charms of Hue are covered in our day in Hue.
Menus and star status can change, so confirm details with each restaurant when you book. Then go hungry, and go with time to spare. The best meals in Vietnam are never rushed.
