Tuna, stone fish of Phu Yen conquer tourists

People's Artist Thanh Hai and artists from Sao Bien Folk Music and Dance Theater performed a concert of lithophone, zither, and gong at VITM 2025, attracting special attention from visitors. Photo: LE TUNG

Ocean tuna attracts tourists

The highlight of the Phu Yen tourism promotion program at the tourism fair in the heart of the capital this year is the performance of processing ocean tuna, a famous seafood that has created a distinct culinary brand for this coastal land. Phu Yen ocean tuna is famous for its natural origin from the open sea, caught and preserved using modern methods, thereby retaining its sweet, rich flavor.

The talented chefs performed the technique of filleting tuna right on the spot. In front of many tourists, the 70kg tuna that had just been caught and brought to Hanoi by air was skillfully butchered and filleted. The knife glided lightly along the grain of the meat, each slice of red fish, smooth as… ripe watermelon, was arranged on a plate and served to the diners.

With the goal of stimulating tourism and attracting visitors to Phu Yen in 2025, the province has brought a unique cultural space to VITM Hanoi 2025. The program took place at the main stage of the fair on the morning of April 11 and continued at the Hanoi Gift Festival space (Tran Nhan Tong and Hai Ba Trung walking streets) on the evening of April 12, aiming to spread the unique cultural and culinary values ​​of Phu Yen. The program has attracted the attention of travel and tourism businesses, domestic and international tourists. Through that, we hope to build Phu Yen into an attractive, friendly and affectionate destination.

Deputy Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Yen Nguyen Le Vu

Raw tuna salad - the quintessence of Phu Yen cuisine - served with fresh vegetables from the Central region, such as: green mustard, white basil leaves, fragrant basil, perilla, a little green banana, sliced ​​sour star fruit, fragrant roasted peanuts... rolled in soft, sweet fish. The spring rolls are dipped in fish sauce with garlic and chili or a mixture of: soy sauce, chili sauce, lemon juice and mustard, creating a refreshing, aromatic, unforgettable harmony of flavors.

Not only raw salad, Phu Yen tuna is also the ingredient of more than 101 rustic and attractive dishes introduced by chefs. Tuna eyes stewed with Chinese herbs in a clay pot with jujube, wolfberry, and ginseng are not only nutritious but also rich in the flavor of Oriental medicine. Tuna loin grilled with salt and chili on charcoal fire, giving off an attractive spicy aroma. The tip of the fish tail is cooked with tomatoes, pineapple and spices, creating a rich soup that goes well with rice. Sweet and sour stir-fried tuna intestines are well-seasoned, crunchy and lightly fatty... All dishes made from tuna are irresistible, and once eaten, they are hard to forget!

According to nutritionists, Phu Yen ocean tuna is rich in Omega-3, vitamin B12, D, protein and many essential minerals, which are beneficial for the heart, enhance memory and vision function. This is the reason why Phu Yen tuna is not only popular domestically, but also exported to many demanding markets such as Japan, Korea and European countries.

Chefs demonstrate tuna filleting and raw salad on the spot, delighting visitors. Photo: LE TUNG

Many locals and tourists were excited about the performance of processing ocean tuna by Phu Yen chefs at VITM 2025. Ms. Nguyen Lan Huong (Lang Ha ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi) shared: "This is the first time I have witnessed the performance of processing Phu Yen tuna in Hanoi, it is very special. I also enjoyed the fresh, delicious tuna of Phu Yen here. This summer my family will travel to Phu Yen."

Ocean tuna with unique culinary values, is considered a special "ambassador", contributing to promoting the image of Phu Yen tourism to domestic and foreign tourists, gradually affirming its position on the map of Vietnam tourism.

Lithophone and unique cultural space of coastal region

In the Phu Yen cultural space at VITM Hanoi 2025, visitors can not only enjoy fresh tuna salad, but also admire folk art performances imbued with the breath of the sea, the land and the people. The lithophone performance "Words of Stone" (lithophone, stone trumpet, gong) performed by People's Artist Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of Sao Bien Folk Music and Dance Theater, resonates like sediment, echoing thousands of years ago. Meanwhile, the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the Bài Chòi and the song "Phu Yen Posture" revive the image of a Phu Yen countryside "a rich land, peaceful sky", with gentle and simple people.

Tuna in the talented hands of the chef is like a work of art. Photo: TRAN QUOI

And when the chant “Ho ra khoi” resounds, the excerpt “Ho ba trao” is sung, the audience seems to be accompanying the fishermen on their trips to the sea, rich in the cultural life of the coastal residents. The dance “Trang Thap Nhan” evokes the intact, splendid beauty and strong Cham Pa influence, Thap Nhan appears in the magical, shimmering moonlight of the full moon night.

The land of yellow flowers and green grass not only has the national scenic spot Bai Mon - Mui Dien - the place to welcome the first sunrise on the mainland of Vietnam, but also possesses famous scenic spots and beautiful mountains and rivers such as: Ganh Da Dia special national monument, Xuan Dai bay, Da Bia mountain, a diverse system of lagoons, bays, and small islands. Moreover, this land also has a strong historical and cultural identity, is a place where Vietnamese - Cham culture and the culture of ethnic minorities living together create the soul of Phu Yen in the depth of its roots. Each piece of music, song, and dance at the fair is not only an artistic performance but also the most natural invitation from the people of Phu Yen to friends from all over the world.

All of these things have made the image of Phu Yen at VITM 2025 not simply a tourism booth, but a vivid overall picture of the coastal land, sending a warm invitation: Let's go to Phu Yen!

Mr. Dang Hoang Vu, sales manager of Sao Mai resort, said that the promotion program of Phu Yen tourism at this year's VITM Fair really made a good impression on tourists and especially travel businesses. "We have connected and built good relationships with international travel agencies and many promises to bring Phu Yen destination into tour products in the near future," Mr. Vu shared.

With the theme “Developing green destinations, elevating Vietnam tourism”, the 2025 VITM Hanoi International Tourism Fair is an opportunity for Phu Yen to promote its unique cultural values, famous landscapes and especially, honor ocean tuna, a famous specialty of this sea area.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/du-lich/202504/ca-ngu-dan-da-phu-yen-chinh-phuc-du-khach-14653af/