The awards ceremony for the Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026 was held in Hanoi on June 4, 2026, and the newly created “Opening of the Year” was won by the Ho Chi Minh City restaurant “NÔM.” Crowning its name with chu Nom, Vietnam’s old writing script, and incorporating a “mini-museum” of traditional crafts, its immersive dining experience was recognized.
The first winner of the new award is Ho Chi Minh City’s NÔM
On June 4, 2026, Michelin announced the 2026-edition selection of the guide covering Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang in Hanoi. The newly created “Opening of the Year” is an award given to a restaurant or team that opened within the past 12 months and influenced the local food culture with an original tasting concept. NÔM’s chef, Chris Fong, was chosen as the inaugural winner.
A gastronomic experience journeying through the old script “chu Nom”
The restaurant’s name “NÔM” derives from “chu Nom,” an old writing script used in Vietnam. This writing system, created based on Chinese characters, was once used to write the Vietnamese language. Using this script as an entry point, NÔM expresses Vietnam’s history and culture through its dishes, and by incorporating a “mini-museum” introducing traditional crafts inside the restaurant, it offers an experience of tracing the country’s culinary heritage through a meal.
In Japanese terms, it’s close to an attempt to layer the worldview of Man’yogana or old documents onto cuisine. That you can experience not just the flavor but the story of Vietnam’s script and crafts was judged fitting for the new award.
The full picture of the Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026
| Classification | Count |
|---|---|
| Total number of listed restaurants | 193 |
| One star | 11 (2 new) |
| Bib Gourmand | 72 (11 new) |
| Michelin Selected | 110 (9 new) |
| Green Star | 3 |
Vietnam’s highest rating is a single star again this time, with no two- or three-star restaurants. One-star reaching 11 marks Vietnam’s first time hitting double digits.
The industry’s main reception
- With the creation of the new award, a spotlight now falls on ambitious newly opened restaurants too
- One-star hitting double digits at 11 was received as a milestone showing the maturation of Vietnam’s dining scene
- The three-city structure of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang has taken root, and the presence of regional cities is also growing
Impact for readers in Japan
Michelin-listed restaurants become a strong indicator when choosing culinary destinations for a trip to Vietnam. An immersive restaurant like NÔM is worth booking as a cultural experience rather than just a meal. Not only starred restaurants but also Bib Gourmand—choosing good-quality shops at reasonable prices—increased to 72, broadening the options to suit your budget.
Attention also gathers on hidden gems in the back alleys.the Michelin-listed shellfish specialist "Ốc Đào"As with, the trend of a local bowl making the guide suits food-crawl-style travel.
Ripple effects on food’s power to communicate
The international evaluation of Vietnamese cuisine is rising outside Michelin as well.the selection of coffee capital Buon Ma Thuot on the world stageAlongside and entering global rankings for noodle dishes, food communication tied to culture is becoming a pillar of tourism.The first Vietnamese to become a Tasters world championA feat like this can also be called part of this broad lift.
Summary
The Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026 gave the new award “Opening of the Year” to NÔM and recorded a first-ever double-digit total of 11 one-star restaurants. NÔM’s attempt to weave script and crafts into cuisine shows the depth of Vietnamese gastronomy. On your next trip, choose a restaurant where you can enjoy both flavor and story.
