A unique culinary map of Vietnam.

The "Glorifying Vietnamese Culinary Culture" festival, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association in collaboration with relevant agencies to promote and honor the unique culinary culture of various regions across the country, officially opened on the evening of October 20th at the Reunification Hall in Ho Chi Minh City.

A culinary paradise

According to a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, as the night of October 20th approached, the number of visitors coming to the festival to explore and enjoy the food increased significantly. Many families brought their children along to experience characteristic dishes from various regions. Approximately 100 stalls offering signature dishes from provinces, cities, and regions across the country attracted many visitors.

One of the highlights of the festival is the competition to prepare and display 126 dishes on the Vietnamese Culinary Map, while also establishing a record for the Vietnamese Culinary Map featuring characteristic dishes from all regions of the country.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, stated that the Vietnamese Culinary Map has set a record with 126 dishes, and the number will gradually increase in the next phase. The Culinary Map is a way to preserve and honor traditional culture, bring Vietnamese cuisine to the international stage, and contribute to tourism promotion. The goal is to strive to make Vietnam a culinary paradise of the world .

The "Glorifying Vietnamese Culinary Culture" festival takes place at a time when Vietnam's tourism industry is focusing on implementing solutions to accelerate tourism recovery, especially efforts to attract international tourists during the peak season at the end of this year. According to the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, the tourism industry has so far welcomed nearly 10 million international visitors and approximately 100 million domestic visitors. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has adjusted the target from 8 million international visitors to around 12-13 million, creating new momentum to accelerate tourism growth.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, stated that the efforts of the entire tourism industry have contributed to making Vietnam a bright spot on the regional and international tourism map. In the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, culinary culture is identified as a key cultural element, and cuisine is proving its attractiveness. "Pho, beef noodle soup, Quang noodles... have become attractive dishes for international tourists, contributing to promoting and elevating Vietnamese culinary tourism. Cuisine is always emphasized in tourism promotion programs and at festivals, with Ho Chi Minh City paying particular attention to promoting culinary tourism," Mr. Khanh said.

Delegates pressed the button to officially open the "Glorifying Vietnamese Culinary Culture" festival on the evening of October 20th. Photo: BINH AN

Becoming the "kitchen of the world"

According to experts and businesses, cuisine is a crucial factor in the tourism industry, contributing significantly to business success and representing one of Vietnam's tourism strengths. The distinctive cuisine of a destination helps attract tourists, extend their stay, increase average spending per visitor, boost tourism revenue, and generate income for the local tourism sector. For example, in Ho Chi Minh City, during the economic slowdown in the first quarter of 2023, while four out of nine key service sectors experienced negative growth, the accommodation and food service sector stood out with the highest growth rate, exceeding 24% compared to the same period.

According to Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, one of the highlights of Vietnam's culinary tourism products in 2023 was the first time 55 restaurants in the city were recognized by the Michelin Guide – a prestigious world-renowned culinary guide over 120 years old. This is a major step forward for Ho Chi Minh City's culinary tourism, contributing to increased media coverage and attracting domestic and international tourists to experience its rich and appealing cuisine.

The draft Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, also identifies cuisine as one of the city's main tourism products. The specific development goals for the city's tourism sector in the 2022-2025 period are to enhance domestic and international tourists' awareness of its cuisine; and in the 2025-2030 period, cuisine will be the main driving force for tourism growth and will have an internationally recognized brand. Therefore, activities and events that honor and promote culinary tourism products are essential.

"As Vietnamese cuisine in general, and Ho Chi Minh City cuisine in particular, becomes increasingly well-established on the international culinary map with its diverse and appealing dishes, culinary tourism will continue to develop. The goal of becoming the 'kitchen of the world' – an attractive destination for international visitors – will no longer be far off," said Ms. Ngoc Hieu.

The festival takes place over three days, from October 20th to 22nd. Visitors will experience a variety of engaging programs, including culinary demonstrations, cooking classes on stage, food experiences and explorations, and a display of the Vietnamese Culinary Map featuring 126 delicious dishes from 63 provinces and cities.

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