Recently, social networks have shared images of two restaurants with the same name, Hello, located a few hundred meters apart, both hanging Michelin certified signs, causing a stir.
One restaurant is located at 98 To Ngoc Van, the other at 28, lane 11 To Ngoc Van, both in Tay Ho district ( Hanoi ).
Both restaurants have the words "Hello - Vietnamese Restaurant", only the font is different. The fanpages of the two restaurants have similar names: "Chao Ban Vietnamese Restaurant" and "Chao Ban Vietnamese Restaurant Official".
Currently, in front of the restaurant at 98 To Ngoc Van, the Michelin Guide certification for 2025 is displayed. Meanwhile, the restaurant at 28, Alley 11 To Ngoc Van displays the Michelin Guide certifications for 2023 and 2024.
Many customers cannot distinguish which places are truly Michelin-recognized.
Two restaurants on To Ngoc Van Street with similar names and signs, causing confusion for customers (Photo: Screenshot).
In a post on the fanpage of the restaurant at 28, lane 11 To Ngoc Van, an account named LHT asked: "Where is the restaurant Hello Ban that once had the presence of chef Hang?".
The restaurant responded in the comment section that Mr. Vincent (the owner of the restaurant) had hired Ms. Hang to work, but she had quit in mid-April. Also in this response section, the restaurant said that the dishes were built on Mr. Vincent's more than 10 years of experience working in the culinary industry at Vietnamese restaurants in Paris and Hanoi, as well as from his family's culinary background, as his mother is Vietnamese.
This similarity makes many customers, especially international customers, not know which restaurant is Hello, which was honored by Michelin.
Chef Hang (middle) and her colleagues at the restaurant "Hello" at 98 To Ngoc Van - a Michelin-recognized location (Photo: Character provided).
Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Ms. Helene Hoai, owner of the restaurant Hello at 98 To Ngoc Van, shared that many customers asked if the restaurant had moved location, while the restaurant is still open regularly.
“We are still operating normally, chef Pham Thi Thu Hang (Madame Hang) is still cooking here. However, recently, the restaurant has seen a 40% decrease in customers because many people mistakenly thought the restaurant had moved to another location,” said Ms. Helene Hoai.
Two restaurants hang "Hello" signs a few hundred meters apart with Michelin certification (Photo: Le Phuong Anh).
It is known that Ms. Pham Thi Thu Hang, head chef with more than 30 years of experience, represented the restaurant Chao Ban No. 98 To Ngoc Van to receive the Michelin Guide award in 2024 and 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang .
Ms. Helene Hoai said that although the business had been registered since 2020, because the name Chao Ban was quite popular, the restaurant could not protect the exclusive trademark. This made it difficult for them to prevent the use of duplicate names, causing serious misunderstandings.
“We have worked with lawyers to collect evidence, and hope Michelin will speak up to protect the restaurant that they officially recognize,” Ms. Helene Hoai shared.
Although Dan Tri reporters have called and sent questions, they have yet to receive a response from the restaurant Chao Ban at 28, Lane 11, To Ngoc Van (Tay Ho, Hanoi).
It is known that Mr. Vincent Cao Minh - the founder of the restaurant at 28, Alley 11 - once cooperated with Ms. Helene Hoai in the early stages. However, Mr. Vincent has not yet given an official response and is currently not in Vietnam.
Michelin only recognized the restaurant at 98 To Ngoc Van in the Bib Gourmand list (Screenshot).
Sharing with Dan Tri reporter about the fact that two restaurants named Chao Ban have the same Michelin certification sign in Hanoi, causing confusion for customers, the representative of Michelin Guide in Vietnam said that Michelin only recognized restaurant number 98 To Ngoc Van in the Bib Gourmand list.
This information is also clearly shown on the official website of Michelin Guide, where 98 To Ngoc Van is the only place in the area to be honored. The images, description of the space, menu and the name of chef Madame Hang all match this restaurant.
"Currently, Michelin Guide has noted this issue and we are reviewing the situation to make an official announcement," said the representative.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/hai-nha-hang-o-ha-noi-trung-ten-va-treo-bang-michelin-gay-hieu-lam-20250614124458626.htm
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