Several restaurants previously featured in the 2024 Bib Gourmand list - known for quality food at affordable prices - have been unexpectedly excluded from Michelin Guide Vietnam’s 2025 edition.

Speaking to VietNamNet on the morning of June 9, Do Van Kiem, owner and head chef of Don Duck Old Quarter, a duck specialty restaurant on Bat Dan Street in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem District, expressed his surprise after his restaurant was removed from the Bib Gourmand category.

Don Duck Old Quarter had been listed for two consecutive years.

“I was truly shocked. We’ve maintained consistent quality in operations, customer service, and pricing. In fact, we’ve been packed all year,” Kiem said. “From October to December, we filled all 60 seats every day. Western tourists would queue up outside - it was a sight anyone walking by could see.”

“Even during the off-season in summer, our restaurant was still full,” he added.

Kiem said that when he didn’t receive an invitation to this year’s Michelin Guide announcement event, he assumed the organizers had simply forgotten and still flew to Da Nang for the ceremony.

“Since being listed in the Michelin Guide, our customer numbers soared. I’ve never relaxed my control over food quality and service standards. Our reviews across platforms have been excellent,” he said.

On Tripadvisor, Don Duck Old Quarter has received 835 reviews, averaging 4.7 out of 5 stars. On Google, the restaurant has over 1,700 reviews with a 4.6-star average.

Kiem noted that right after the Michelin Guide’s announcement, all references to his restaurant were removed from the official website. He expressed concern that this could impact international visitor traffic. He plans to reevaluate every operational aspect of the business in hopes of returning to the list next year.

“Whatever happens, we’ll keep striving to be better each day,” he stated.

The duck restaurant has been open for six years, with a temporary two-year closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The menu includes traditional Vietnamese duck dishes, Peking duck, and French-style duck cuisine. Located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the restaurant attracts more international tourists than locals.

Alongside Don Duck Old Quarter, four other establishments previously featured in the 2024 Bib Gourmand list have also been dropped: Pho Hoa Pasteur, Dim Tu Tac, Xoi Bat, and Mon Viet. Michelin has yet to release any official explanation for the exclusions.

Like Don Duck, Xoi Bat (Ho Chi Minh City) had been in the Bib Gourmand list for two consecutive years. Its chef-owner, Huynh Phuc Thinh, told reporters the restaurant was likely removed due to a temporary closure since late 2024 caused by location issues.

Thinh said he received an email from Michelin Guide in February inquiring about a new address. However, the restaurant has not yet secured a new location. “I’m still actively searching for a site that meets all the criteria. I believe we’ll return to the Michelin Guide,” he said.

This year’s Michelin Selected list also excluded Tre Dining, Hervé Dining Room, and MaSa French Eatery by Hervé.

Michelin Guide officially began listing restaurants in Vietnam across three categories - Michelin Selected, Michelin Guide Special Awards, and Bib Gourmand - in 2023.

The newly announced lists have sparked mixed reactions online.

Some diners were surprised by the inclusion of restaurants deemed unpopular with locals or those where food quality had declined. Meanwhile, many long-standing eateries with loyal local followings were left off the list. Additionally, restaurants labeled “affordable” are often reasonably priced for foreign tourists but expensive for the average Vietnamese customer.

Globally, Michelin Guide has also faced ongoing criticism regarding transparency and objectivity.

Linh Trang