Vietnam's "Culinary Capital"

(To Quoc) - For both domestic and international tourists, Hue cuisine holds a special appeal. In fact, many tourists choose Hue as their travel destination primarily because of their desire to explore and enjoy the local cuisine.

A land where excellence converges.

In 2023, Taste Atlas, a website specializing in world- renowned cuisine, ranked Hue City 28th among the top 100 cities with the best food in the world. Hue cuisine received a score of 4.56/5 from international experts and diners. The most famous dishes mentioned include: beef noodle soup (bun bo), tapioca dumplings (banh bot loc), clam rice (com hen), grilled pork skewers (nem lui), sweet soups (che), steamed rice cakes (banh nam), sticky rice dumplings (banh phu the), and fermented shrimp (tom chua).

Culinary artist Ton Nu Thi Ha observes that Hue is a land where culinary excellence "converges" and "spreads." Many factors contribute to the unique characteristics and value of Hue's cuisine. These include its natural conditions, topography, and rich ecological landscape. Furthermore, Hue was once the capital of the Nguyen dynasty. From its early days, specialties from many regions, along with skilled chefs from North to South, converged in Hue. This land was also the Buddhist capital of Dang Trong, resulting in a diverse and distinctive system of vegetarian dishes.

Generally, Hue cuisine focuses on three main categories: royal cuisine, folk cuisine, and vegetarian cuisine. Of the more than 3,000 dishes nationwide, Hue accounts for over half, with approximately 1,700. Beyond its quantity and distinctive quality, Hue cuisine also encompasses the art of preparation, the setting and presentation, and the social and ceremonial nature of Hue's dining culture. Hue people approach cuisine not simply through a biological sense, but through their senses of smell, sight, and even hearing. This has contributed to creating a unique culinary brand for Hue.

Elevating the status of Hue cuisine.

In recent years, Hue has implemented strategic measures to consolidate its reputation and affirm the professionalism of Hue cuisine through the "Hue - Culinary Capital" project. If it joins the UCCN (Urban Culinary Innovation Center), Hue will have opportunities to access, cooperate with, and share with other culinary innovation cities. In particular, it could leverage its brand to promote and exploit the potential in this field.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Tam Hanh, from the Hue branch of the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts, when participating in the UCCN network on cuisine, each city has its own advantages, possessing unique culinary values ​​as well as methods and plans to promote them effectively. Hue can learn valuable lessons from these cities.

Specifically, localities need to view cuisine as a crucial driver of economic development. The most distinctive elements of their culinary heritage should be selected to build a brand. Building a culinary brand is essentially building a brand for the city. Strengthening promotion, building the city's brand, and seeking collaboration opportunities can be implemented through food festivals. Furthermore, attention should be paid to education and training in the culinary field. Focus should be placed on preserving the local traditional cuisine. Initiatives for the sustainable development of local cuisine should be promoted, based on and for the community.

Therefore, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tam Hanh believes that building Hue into a creative culinary city is necessary, and the criteria of UCCN, as well as the experience of cities participating in the network, are important foundations that will help Hue effectively, optimally, and sustainably exploit its unique and rich culinary heritage.

According to the plan, the Department of Culture and Sports is the permanent agency tasked with coordinating with relevant units to build the dossier in accordance with regulations, ensuring quality, and setting a roadmap for submission to UNESCO in 2025. Successful implementation of this project will help Hue open up many opportunities for the development of the local cultural industry.

Recently, the National Assembly passed a resolution establishing Hue City as a centrally-governed city effective January 1, 2025. This is a historically significant event, making Hue the first cultural heritage city of Vietnam. This not only builds a culturally strong city but also creates momentum for development in the region and the nation. Therefore, Hue becoming a city of culinary innovation will contribute to affirming and enhancing the brand value of "Hue - Culinary Capital," raising the locality's position on the world culinary map. This also provides a basis for Hue communities to research and develop dynamic and creative production, business, and service models associated with Hue's culinary heritage, promoting sustainable economic and tourism development, and contributing to promoting the image of Vietnam's first cultural heritage city to the world.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/hue-kinh-do-am-thuc-viet-nam-20250126091127989.htm