Vietnamese cuisine is increasingly making its mark on the global culinary map. From beloved street food to restaurants recognised by the MICHELIN Guide, the appeal of Vietnamese cuisine extends beyond its distinctive flavours to the rich cultural stories, unique identity and continuous creativity behind every dish.
As Vietnamese cuisine gains international recognition, Vietnamese brands with international quality standards also play an important role in showcasing the country's culinary excellence to the world.
In recent years, Vietnamese cuisine has earned growing recognition through prestigious international awards and rankings. Vietnam was named Asia's Best Culinary Destination 2025 at the World Culinary Awards, while Hanoi received the title of Asia's Best Emerging Culinary City 2025. Meanwhile, Time Out magazine ranked Ho Chi Minh City fourth among the world's 20 best cities for food in 2024.
Bia Saigon Special and MICHELIN Guide introduce a fresh perspective on the art of food and beer pairing.
These achievements reflect the growing international appeal of Vietnamese cuisine and the evolution of the country's dining scene. Today, diners seek more than exceptional food. They increasingly appreciate thoughtful presentation, complementary beverage pairings and memorable dining experiences.
For the fourth consecutive year, Bia Saigon Special has partnered with MICHELIN Guide to explore new possibilities in the art of food and beer pairing. This collaboration reinforces Bia Saigon Special's positioning as a premium beer crafted with brewing expertise and carefully selected ingredients, while celebrating the distinctive qualities of Vietnamese cuisine as it continues to gain recognition worldwide.
WHEN BEER BECOMES AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MICHELIN-RECOGNISED DINING EXPERIENCE
In preparation for the "Trải Nghiệm Độc Bản, Thưởng Vị Extra Special" event at BỜM Kitchen & Wine Bar, a MICHELIN Guide-recognised restaurant, Chef Thạnh Nguyễn drew inspiration from familiar Vietnamese dishes to create a specially curated menu paired with Bia Saigon Special.
Rather than treating beer simply as an accompanying beverage, Chef Thạnh explored how Bia Saigon Special could become an integral ingredient, adding new dimensions of flavour to each dish.
"Every beer has its own characteristics and hop varieties. With Bia Saigon Special, I discovered that reducing the beer brings out the aroma of Yakima hops more prominently, creating an intriguing finish. This inspired me to incorporate the beer into a special dipping sauce for fresh spring rolls," Chef Thạnh shared.
The newly developed sauce enhances the flavours of the ingredients within the spring rolls, bringing a refreshing twist to a dish deeply familiar to Vietnamese diners.
The specially crafted dipping sauce enhances the flavours of traditional Vietnamese spring rolls, offering a fresh interpretation of a familiar favourite.
According to Chef Thạnh Nguyễn, successful food and beer pairing begins with a deep understanding of both the dish and the beverage. His creative process therefore focused on the distinctive flavour profile of Bia Saigon Special, particularly the aroma of Yakima hops and its signature balanced finish.
These characteristics allow the beer to complement a wide range of Vietnamese dishes, from delicate appetisers to richer, more flavourful creations.
"When paired with Bia Saigon, the interplay between beer and food can offer fresh interpretations of traditional, everyday Vietnamese dishes, helping bring these culinary experiences closer to international audiences," Chef Thạnh enthusiastically shared.
Chef Thạnh Nguyễn shares the creative inspiration behind the specially curated menu for "Trải Nghiệm Độc Bản, Thưởng Vị Extra Special".
This approach demonstrates how beer can go beyond being a beverage served alongside food to become an essential element in elevating the overall dining experience.
This is particularly meaningful for an internationally acclaimed beer such as Bia Saigon Special, which has received multiple prestigious international quality recognitions. In 2026, the product was honoured at renowned competitions, including the World Beer Championships (USA), World Beer Awards (UK) and International Beer Challenge (UK).
Bia Saigon Special and MICHELIN Guide explore new possibilities in the art of food and beer pairing.
CELEBRATING VIETNAMESE CULINARY PRIDE
The growing prominence of Vietnamese cuisine is reflected not only in the increasing number of internationally recognised restaurants and prestigious awards, but also in the contributions of Vietnamese brands that are helping shape this journey.
For Bia Saigon Special, its continued partnership with MICHELIN Guide represents more than a culinary collaboration. It provides an opportunity for a Vietnamese beer brand to help tell the story of the country's rich culinary traditions, creativity and growing presence on the international stage.
Through innovative pairings of beer and Vietnamese dishes, familiar elements of Vietnam's culinary culture are reimagined through a contemporary lens while preserving their authentic identity.
These experiences not only introduce new ways for local diners to appreciate Vietnamese cuisine, but also help bring the richness and distinctiveness of Vietnam's culinary culture closer to international audiences.
* People under the age of 18 are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages.