Vietnam’s culinary prowess is no secret, with its traditional dishes helping to draw tourists from all over the globe.
But the country’s fine dining scene has quickly earned a reputation for itself on its own right, culminating in two restaurants being named on a regional "Best of" list.
Despite the moniker “Asia's 50 Best Restaurants,” the list — in its ninth iteration — actually ranks the top 100 across the continent. For this edition, Anan Saigon and Hanoi’s T.U.N.G. Dining came in at No. 38 and No. 98, respectively. It is the first time since 2013 that any eatery in Vietnam has made this list; previously Don's in Hanoi placed at No. 47.
Anan Saigon, led by Chef Peter Cuong Franklin, has earned praise for rethinking Vietnamese staples, elevating them through the use of premium ingredients and creative cooking techniques. The restaurant has thus become an important culinary node within Ton That Dam’s old market.
In the capital, T.U.N.G. (“Twisted, Unique, Natural and Gastronomique”) Dining’s Nordic, minimalist interior is the site of elaborate 18-course dinners prepared by Hoang Tung and his kitchen team. The same group launched Å by TUNG earlier this year in Saigon.
According to the voting criteria, selections for “Asia's 50 Best Restaurants” were made by a group of over 300 industry leaders divided into six regions: India & Subcontinent; South-East Asia – South; South-East Asia – North; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau; mainland China & Korea; Japan.
Each region has a panel of 53 members — comprising "food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded foodies" — led by a chairperson. Restaurants could not apply to be considered nor did the program’s sponsors have any sway over the selections.
Four other Vietnam restaurants were named in the unranked section based on recommendations from the chefs of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020 and 2021: Hanoi’s Pho Gia Truyen, Saigon’s Ngoc Suong Seafood & Bar, Pizza 4P's and Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen in Hoi An.
[Top photos via Vietnam Tourism and T.U.N.G dining]
