Michelin Guides announced  its latest Bib Gourmand list for 2024 on June 20, highlighting five new restaurants in Hanoi and eight in Ho Chi Minh City, for a total of 42 award-winning restaurants in Vietnam's two largest cities.

The dish of sticky rice with grilled chicken in lotus leaves prepared by the chef of Luk Lak Vietnamese Restaurant. Photo: Luk Lak

In total, the 2024 Bib Gourmand selection for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City features a diverse range of seven cuisines: Vietnamese Noodle, European Contemporary, Street Food, Vegetarian, Cantonese and Latin American. This is a testament to the vibrant culinary scene in both cities, where a variety of quality cuisine is available at affordable prices.

In Hanoi, the five newcomers to the Bib Gourmand list are Bun cha Chan or Chan's Grilled Pork with Fresh Noodles; Luk Lak; Mien Luon Dong Thinh or Dong Thinh eel Noodle Soup; Mr. Bay Mien Tay Vietnamese Pancake; and Pho Khoi Hoi or Khoi Hoi's Noodle Soup with Beef.

Bun Cha Chan is a small bun cha shop that has been around for over 10 years, serving not only the typical caramelized pork meatballs on rice vermicelli with a spicy, sweet broth, but also grilled pork belly or minced beef in betel leaf as an option.

The dish of Mien Luon or eel noodle soup at Dong Thinh Eel Noodles. Photo: Grab Food

Luk Lak is a restaurant serving traditional Vietnamese dishes with a unique character, such as Sapa pork belly in herb sauce, grilled to perfection and served with mắc mật leaves to cut through the richness and bring out the flavors, while Mien Luon Dong Thinh, a 40-year-old restaurant, offers an eel-centric menu with noodles, soup and eel soup.

Mr. Bay Mien Tay is a small shop known for its signature crispy bánh xèo pancake with various fillings, and also offers hot pot, spring roll, rice noodles and barbecue as its strong points.

Meanwhile, Pho Khoi Hoi, a street eatery, serves pho, or beef noodle soup, with many cuts to choose from, including rare cuts like beef heel muscle.

The beef noodle soup at Khoi Hoi Pho Eatery. Photo: Mon ngon Ha Noi

According to Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Micheline Guides, with no less than 13 new Bib Gourmand restaurants in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City this year, the 2024 selection is an invitation to all gourmets to discover the charm, quality and infinite variety of Vietnamese cuisine.

 "The Bib Gourmand selection is a guarantee to enjoy authentic culinary experiences at a moderate, attractive price and to discover the lifestyle of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City through one of their most important assets," he said.

Within the Michelin Guide's selection of restaurants, the Bib Gourmand distinction, symbolized by the iconic "Bibendum" or "Michelin Man", highlights restaurants that stand out for their quality and value for money. As a result, Bib Gourmand restaurants are highly sought after by Guide users who are looking for affordable meals without compromising on quality or taste.