Michelin to unveil Vietnam stars June 4

Michelin is coming back to Vietnam on June 4 — and for the country’s restaurant scene, that date matters more than it might sound at first. This is when Michelin will publish its 2026 Vietnam selection for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, effectively resetting the pecking order for the country’s most watched dining guide. Michelin framed it as the fourth edition of its Vietnam guide, with the ceremony set in Hanoi and a livestream starting at 5 p.m. local time. ### What is actually happening on June 4? Michelin is holding its 2026 Vietnam restaurant ceremony on Thursday, June 4, 2026, where it will unveil the full new selection for the three cities it currently covers — Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. That means stars, Bib Gourmand picks, Green Stars, and the broader “selected” list can all move. Michelin also said the full list will go live on its website and app the same day. (guide.michelin.com) ### Why do those three cities matter? Because Michelin’s Vietnam guide is still city-based, not nationwide. For now, the covered map is Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang — basically the country’s biggest tourism and restaurant hubs. That creates a very specific kind of competition: chefs are not just chasing a star, they are competing inside the three markets Michelin has decided are mature enough to inspect closely. (guide.michelin.com) ### What was the bar last year? The 2025 guide recognized 181 establishments in total. Inside that were 9 one-star restaurants, 2 Green Stars, 63 Bib Gourmand picks, and 109 Michelin Selected restaurants. That was already a record-sized Vietnam list, so the June 4 reveal is not just about who gets in — it is about whether Michelin thinks Vietnam’s top tier is deepening fast enough to expand beyond last year’s benchmark. (guide.michelin.com) ### Which restaurants were on top in 2025? Vietnam did not have any two-star or three-star restaurants in the 2025 guide. The starred tier was entirely one-star, with names including Gia, Hibana by Koki, and Tầm Vị in Hanoi; Long Trieu, Ănăn Saigon, Akuna, CieL, and Coco Dining in Ho Chi Minh City; plus La Maison 1888 in Da Nang. CieL was a new one-star entry, and Coco Dining was promoted into the one-star group. (guide.michelin.com) ### So what is Michelin really judging? Michelin says its anonymous inspectors use five universal criteria: ingredient quality, mastery of cooking, harmony of flavors, the chef’s personality in the cuisine, and consistency across time and the menu. Basically, it is not meant to be a best-decor or hottest-reservation contest. Michelin wants repeatable excellence on the plate — which is why promotions tend to matter more than buzz. (guide.michelin.com) ### Why does this feel bigger than one awards night? Because Vietnam is still early in its Michelin era. The 2026 edition is only the fourth one, which means the guide is still shaping reputations in real time. A star or even a Bib Gourmand mention can change booking demand, pricing power, investor interest, and culinary tourism visibility for a restaurant almost overnight — especially in a market where international attention is rising but still not fully settled. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin itself described Vietnam’s dining scene in 2025 as fast-evolving and increasingly driven by young local chefs. ### Why mention the 100th anniversary? Because Michelin is tying this ceremony to a bigger global milestone: 2026 marks 100 years since the Michelin Star system began in 1926. That does not change the judging rules, but it does give this year’s Vietnam reveal extra symbolism. Vietnam is no longer being treated as a novelty market — it is being folded into Michelin’s centenary story about where serious dining is growing next. (guide.michelin.com) ### Bottom line June 4 is not just another list drop. It is Michelin’s next verdict on whether Vietnam’s restaurant boom is broadening, deepening, and producing more places that can hold global attention — not for one flashy season, but consistently. (guide.michelin.com)