Boosting tourism through food festivals.

Người Lao Động•22/03/2024

The Saigontourist Group's 2024 Culinary Culture Festival will take place from March 28th to 31st in Ho Chi Minh City, showcasing over 400 delicious dishes from all three regions of Vietnam to city residents and tourists.

Diversifying tourism products in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ms. Ngoc Minh (residing in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) said that attending and exploring delicious food at food festivals is a hobby of hers and her family. Last year, she took her whole family to the Saigontourist Group 2023 Food Culture Festival to enjoy a wide variety of dishes, from stuffed snails and Phu Yen tuna to grilled meats and bamboo rice...

In 2023, the festival welcomed over 80,000 visitors who came to enjoy the food. This year, the festival has been expanded to accommodate 12,000 visitors simultaneously. More than 40 member units of the Saigontourist Group will introduce visitors to over 400 regional specialties and drinks at food stalls arranged in three areas: North, Central, and South.

Những lễ hội ẩm thực là cơ hội tốt để quảng bá du lịch — Food festivals are a great opportunity to promote tourism.

Mr. Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saigontourist Group and Head of the Festival Steering Committee, said the festival aims to stimulate tourism, diversify tourism products in Ho Chi Minh City, and promote Vietnamese culinary culture. "The festival will feature many interactive activities between tourists and artisans, and will be a cultural and culinary meeting point for tourists, including overseas Vietnamese from all over the world," Mr. Pham Huy Binh expressed his expectations.

Furthermore, the second Bread Festival is scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City in May 2024. The Bread Festival will be held annually to become an attractive culinary cultural event and a tourism product that draws visitors. Last year, the first festival welcomed over 100,000 visitors.

"Banh mi is a very popular dish among international tourists who want to try it when they come to Vietnam. Therefore, the Banh Mi Festival in particular, and other well-organized, professional, and regular food festivals, will become a distinctive product, attracting the attention of tourists, especially international visitors. This year, we want to welcome at least 100,000 visitors to this festival," emphasized Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association.

Creating Vietnamese cuisine to suit international tastes.

For many years, culinary tourism has been identified as one of the important products contributing to enhancing the advantages of Vietnamese tourism.

Vietnam is renowned for its diverse and rich cuisine. Recently, the food website TasteAtlas published an article listing the 100 best sandwiches in the world, with Vietnamese banh mi ranking first. At the end of 2023, through voting by reputable food organizations and websites, Hanoi was honored to win the "Best Emerging Culinary City Destination in Asia 2023" award. TasteAtlas also announced the list of 100 Best Cuisines in the World, in which Vietnam ranked 22nd among the 100 best cuisines in the world in 2023. According to the list of 100 Best Food Cities in the World, Hue City ranked 28th among the 100 cities with the best food in the world…

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association, noted that with its unique geographical location bordering forests and the sea, stretching from North to South, Vietnam is considered by the world as a gateway from East to West. Thanks to its diverse and rich advantages, Vietnamese cuisine clearly reflects the profound cultural exchange with the world, through tourism. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese restaurants are located all over the world. Conversely, in Vietnam, most provinces and cities have restaurants serving traditional dishes from many countries.

According to the Chairman of the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association, agricultural tourism is indispensable for tourism development. In this context, cuisine and culinary culture are core elements that contribute to building a national brand to attract visitors.

To make Vietnamese cuisine a truly attractive destination worldwide, we need comprehensive and integrated solutions. Firstly, we must continuously improve the quality and innovation of Vietnamese cuisine. Vietnamese food needs to reflect our cultural identity while also incorporating modern elements to suit the tastes of international tourists. Secondly, we must create unique and engaging culinary experiences. Tourists not only want to enjoy delicious food but also want to experience Vietnam's culinary culture. Thirdly, we must effectively utilize digital technology to promote Vietnamese cuisine. Fourthly, we must strengthen cooperation with international culinary organizations and associations to promote Vietnamese cuisine globally.

Driving forces behind the night-time economy.

To attract international tourists in the most competitive way, Vietnam needs to leverage its culinary advantages and delicious dishes. Recently, the reorganization of Phan Xich Long food street in Phu Nhuan district and the launch of Xuan Thuy food street in Thao Dien ward, Thu Duc city, etc., in Ho Chi Minh City have attracted the attention of both locals and tourists. These initial successes demonstrate the right direction in developing culinary tourism, thereby contributing to the development of the night-time economy in line with the government's goals.