The honoring ceremony took place as part of the 22nd Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival (from 2/4 to 5/4), organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism. The ceremony is a component of the cooperation agreement between Grab and the Department, signed in 12/2025.

Grab Vietnam honors a series of exemplary eateries at the Ho Chi Minh City 'Distinguished Eateries' awards ceremony. *Photo: Nhu Quynh*

Grab selected the list of 60 Ho Chi Minh City 'Distinguished Eateries' through a multi-step screening process, based on GrabFood platform data and real-world assessments. These establishments needed to meet criteria including a rating of 4,5 stars or higher with a substantial number of reviews, as well as operational and service experience standards such as service quality, hygiene, and community feedback.

The 'Distinguished Eateries' awards are divided into three categories: 'Distinguished Flavor', 'Peak Experience', and 'Growth Star'.

The 'Distinguished Flavor' category honors 40 eateries that embody local culinary heritage, contributing to the preservation of Ho Chi Minh City's gastronomic identity. Recipients include: Banh mi Huynh Hoa, Banh beo chen Bau Bang, Banh mi thit bo nuong Co Lanh, Sui cao 162, and others.

The 'Peak Experience' category recognizes 10 restaurants and eateries highly rated by users for their food quality, service, and overall experience. Notable establishments include: Com nieu Thien Ly, The gioi tau hu, CocoCake - Banh bo thot not nuong, Star Maxx Milktea, and others.

Finally, the 'Growth Star' category honors 10 establishments that have demonstrated outstanding development, operational flexibility, and proactive digital innovation. Honorees include: Phong Tra - Tea & Coffee, Banh mi Chim chay, Co Thao tom ca - ca hoi ngam tuong, Chop chep banh trang tron top mo trung long dao, and others.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Anh, Director of Marketing and Enterprise Commerce at Grab Vietnam, stated that Grab launched the awards ceremony to honor restaurants and eateries that preserve and disseminate local culinary identity. The program's execution within the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, along with support from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, has further amplified the city's distinctive culinary values. 'Through Grab's technology platform and ecosystem, we aim to connect these culinary experiences more closely with both residents and tourists, thereby contributing to promoting Ho Chi Minh City's image and fostering digital tourism development,' Ms. Nguyen Thanh Anh said.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Anh, Director of Marketing and Enterprise Commerce, Grab Vietnam, speaks at the honoring ceremony. *Photo: Nhu Quynh*

The Ho Chi Minh City 'Distinguished Eateries' awards ceremony is the latest event in a series of initiatives honoring local cuisine, implemented by Grab in collaboration with various government agencies across cities such as Hai Phong, Hue, and Da Nang. This series of activities underscores GrabFood's leading role in integrating digital platform data with local cultural and tourism promotion, helping cuisine become a crucial part of the travel experience.

In parallel with the honoring activities, Grab introduced several amenities to support tourists in experiencing the Tourism Festival more conveniently. Among these is the Travel Pass, an exclusive offer for international visitors, integrated directly into the Grab application. Priced at 25.000 dong per package, it is valid for 4 weeks. With this offer, tourists can save up to nearly 2,5 million dong when using Grab services, from transportation and food delivery to online grocery shopping. This enables tourists to explore Ho Chi Minh City and other destinations across Vietnam more conveniently and seamlessly.

Beyond honoring restaurant partners at physical events, Grab also features partners in the 'Distinguished Eateries' collection on GrabFood, enhancing their visibility and reach to users. Combining these two activities, GrabFood aims to connect local cuisine with actual user demand, thereby supporting restaurant partners in boosting revenue and fostering sustainable business development.

According to a Momentum Works report published in January, Vietnam's online food delivery market's gross merchandise value (GMV) for 2025 is estimated at approximately 2,1 billion USD. GrabFood is among the platforms with a leading market share, thereby contributing to expanding access to local cuisine for both users and tourists.

Hoang Anh