The Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026 awards ceremony took place in Hanoi on June 4. This year, 72 dining establishments were recognised in the Bib Gourmand category, which highlights venues offering high quality food at affordable prices. Pho Chi Mo was among 11 newly added entries.
Chi Mo announced a temporary closure just before being honoured by the Michelin Guide (Photo: Chi Mo).
The recognition surprised many diners because the restaurant had announced on June 3 that it would temporarily suspend operations.
The combination of a closure notice followed immediately by a Michelin honor quickly attracted attention from food enthusiasts and the wider culinary community.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, founder and owner Hung Nguyen said the restaurant was not shutting down permanently. Instead, it is preparing to relocate to a more central area in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly District 1.
According to Hung, the relocation plan had been under consideration for some time. However, the team did not expect the Michelin recognition to arrive at the same moment.
"On the evening of June 4, friends called to tell me that Pho Chi Mo had been included in the Bib Gourmand list. That was how I found out," he said.
The restaurant's management said earning Michelin recognition had long been part of its development goals, but the timing came earlier than expected.
"We were surprised because we never know when Michelin inspectors evaluate restaurants, and the result arrived sooner than we anticipated," Hung added.
In recent years, Pho Chi Mo has gained attention in Ho Chi Minh City for combining a modern dining and relaxation concept with traditional Vietnamese pho.
Rather than serving pho in a conventional setting, the restaurant focuses on presenting the dish as a cultural experience with greater depth and appreciation.
Chi Mo has promised to return in the near future with a more refined and thoughtful concept (Photo: Chi Mo).
This year, Michelin Guide Vietnam continued its selection program across Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to Michelin starred restaurants, the guide also recognises establishments in the Bib Gourmand and Michelin Selected categories, highlighting outstanding dining venues across different segments.
According to the newly released list, a total of 193 food establishments were recognised by Michelin Guide Vietnam in 2026. In Ho Chi Minh City, five new venues were added to the Bib Gourmand category: Banh Canh Cua Ba Ba, Banh Cuon Tay Ho 127, Bun Rieu Yen, Chi Mo and La Lola.
