From Parisian-style bistros tucked into old town alleys to gastronomic tables set inside colonial villas, Vietnam is full of addresses where French cuisine meets local produce and spirit. Here's a selection of 19 restaurants, from north to south, in no particular order — just good tables worth seeking out wherever you happen to be.
Hanoi — 5 French addresses not to miss
Beaulieu, at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, is considered the city's very first French restaurant, open since 1901. Colonial decor, a memorable Sunday brunch with seafood, foie gras and champagne: it's the historic address par excellence.
La Verticale, set in a 1930s French villa, is the table of Breton chef Didier Corlou, who arrived in Vietnam in 1991 to run the kitchens at the Metropole. His French-Vietnamese fusion cuisine, rich in rare spices, has made it one of the city's benchmark addresses since 2006.
Maison Vie is a genuine French fine-dining table right in the heart of Hanoi, often praised for its warm welcome and carefully executed classic dishes.
La Badiane offers French-Asian cuisine in an elegant setting, a reliable choice for lovers of reinvented French gastronomy.
Cousins, on the West Lake (Tây Hồ) side, is run by French owners and has a more relaxed vibe, perfect for a dinner with friends or a Sunday brunch.
Ho Chi Minh City — 5 French addresses not to miss
La Villa, run by a French-Vietnamese couple, is one of the city's most acclaimed tables for an upscale French dining experience, with impeccable service to match.
RuNam d'Or, housed in a historic villa near Saigon's Notre Dame Cathedral, blends classic French architecture with contemporary touches, with signature dishes like duck breast with orange sauce.
Le 17 Bistro charms guests with its warm ambiance and distinctly French architecture — an ideal spot for a romantic dinner or a business meeting.
The Refinery, set inside a former opium refinery, serves up French bistro staples (steak frites, salads) in a history-filled setting, complete with a lovely garden terrace.
La Cuisine offers classic French cooking — fig foie gras, pan-seared duck with béarnaise sauce — helmed by a French chef long settled in Vietnam.
Da Nang — 5 French addresses not to miss
Le Comptoir, run by chef Olivier Corti from Lyon and Italian sommelier Myriam Moretto, is now Da Nang's most recognized French table, featured in the Michelin Guide. Reinvented bistro cooking paired with a sharp wine list.
Gụ Wine Bistro, near My Khe Beach, is built entirely around natural wines and small producers, with simple, generous French cooking designed to pair with the glass.
La Maison 1888 is considered one of the very first foreign-run restaurants to open in Da Nang, with a French direction in place since the early 2000s.
Le Rendez Vous serves authentic French cuisine at reasonable prices — filet mignon, kebab, caramel pudding — in a convivial atmosphere loved by regulars.
Le Petit Bistro Da Nang, run by Peter and Thuy Lawson, serves Franco-European classics — duck confit, beef bourguignon — in a cozy, warm setting.
Hội An — 4 French addresses not to miss
Maison Lucien, at 7/1 Đường Phan Bội Châu, is a French bistro run by Normandy-born chef John Gallais and his local business partner Vy Nguyen. The space was renovated and hand-built by the two of them — reclaimed old wood, tables inspired by Parisian brasseries, warm lighting — with a menu that brings together Vietnamese produce and French imports (camembert, livarot, pont-l'évêque, Normandy butter). A recent addition, but already well established on the city's culinary map.
Le Petit Bistro Hoi An, run by Peter and Thuy Lawson, offers warm Franco-Scottish cooking (escargot, duck confit, beef bourguignon) in a rustic, intimate setting, very well rated by visitors.
Cobb, near the Thu Bồn River, blends fine dining with bistro comfort through modern French cuisine, with dishes like water buffalo tenderloin tartare or bouillabaisse.
Cabanon, set in a rustic, cozy atmosphere, is known for its duck confit and carbonara, paired with a fine selection of French wines.
This list isn't a ranking — just an overview of good French tables worth discovering wherever your trip takes you in Vietnam. Bon appétit!
Planning a stay in Hội An? See our menu, read why we named the restaurant Maison Lucien, or how we built it by hand.
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7/1 Phan Bội Châu, Hội An · Open for lunch & dinner · Closed Saturday