Binh Dinh Culinary Culture Festival: Stimulating tourism from... chopsticks

DNVN – During the upcoming long holiday from April 30 to May 1, a culinary culture festival with many attractive activities will take place in Quy Nhon City. Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh – Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Dinh Province shared with reporters of Vietnam Business Magazine about the story of stimulating tourism from… chopsticks.

This is the second time Binh Dinh has organized a culinary culture festival. Can you tell us some highlights of this year's program?

Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh: As an activity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) and the International Labor Day (May 1), the 2nd Binh Dinh Food and Culture Festival will take place for 3 days (May 1 - 3) at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square (Quy Nhon City), with the highlight being the opening night at 8:00 p.m. on May 1 and culinary, cultural and entertainment activities to stir up the festival atmosphere, serving people and tourists.

Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh - Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Dinh province.

As a culinary culture festival, surely local culinary quintessence will be the main inspiration of the program, right?

Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh: Organizing the festival is not only a tourism stimulus program under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST); the key plan of the Provincial People's Committee, but also a meaningful event to honor, preserve, maintain and promote the quintessence of Binh Dinh culinary culture - where traditional dishes become a bridge between local people and tourists from all over.

From gai leaf cake, straw bouillon, An Thai song than noodles, Bau Da wine, shrimp spring rolls, Quy Nhon fish noodles, jumping shrimp pancakes to Huyen market spring rolls, fresh seafood dishes from the Quy Nhon - Binh Dinh sea, each dish is an indispensable part of Binh Dinh's cultural identity.

At the festival, these specialties are not only sold but also prepared on-site by members and chefs of the Binh Dinh Culinary Culture Association and chefs from 4-5 star hotels in the province. Not only does the festival introduce delicious dishes, it also cleverly inspires by incorporating cultural and historical stories behind each ingredient, each preparation method, and each decoration.

In particular, the participation of OCOP booths - typical agricultural products and local handicrafts - will contribute to creating a comprehensive picture of the intersection between culinary culture and green agriculture, experiential tourism and sustainable development.

In an open, intimate and colorful space, each culinary experience at the festival is a friendly invitation: come to Binh Dinh not only to enjoy the scenery, but also to deeply feel the "hometown flavor" spread in each rustic, rich and proud dish.

Taking place during a long holiday, to attract a large number of people and domestic and foreign tourists to participate, the festival cannot be just "homegrown"?

Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh: This Binh Dinh culinary culture festival is not only a space to enjoy delicious food, but also a meeting place for many unique culinary cultures from regions in the country and expanding to international units.

Leaders of Binh Dinh province, people and tourists participate in the first Binh Dinh Province Culinary Culture Festival in 2024.

Up to now, according to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there have been 55 food stalls, OCOP stalls of registered units and one booth promoting tourism in Binh Dinh province. Of which, 4 units will bring special dishes from countries: Thailand, Korea, Japan; 8 culinary units outside the province (Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Thanh Hoa and Southern cuisine) and 23 dining establishments, restaurants, and hotels in the province participating.

The event is an opportunity for restaurants, hotels, and food service establishments inside and outside the province to exchange, share experiences, and learn from each other about service styles, modern processing trends, and how to preserve traditional flavors. Through this, the festival not only improves service quality but also promotes professional and creative development in the culinary industry.

In particular, the culinary performance space taking place over two nights is a unique artistic highlight, where locals and tourists can directly witness chefs showing off their skills, from preparation to cooking, combined with attractive presentations about the origin and cultural significance of each specialty dish.

The fusion and blend of traditional - modern, local - national - international cuisine at the festival is a clear demonstration of the openness, dynamism and unique identity of Binh Dinh land.

If cuisine is considered the "wordless language" of a land, what story does Binh Dinh want to tell domestic and international friends through this culinary festival, madam?

Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh: Through the organization of a provincial-level culinary culture festival with close coordination between departments, branches and sectors and the support of the business community, Binh Dinh is gradually building the image of a friendly, hospitable and professional cultural - culinary tourism destination. That is also the story of stimulating tourism from... "chopsticks".

Chefs present dishes at a food show.

From the arrangement of a spacious, scientific, and clean festival space at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square - the new symbol of Quy Nhon coastal city - to the work of ensuring food safety, environmental sanitation, security and order... all demonstrate the spirit of thoughtful, open reception and respect for visitors by the local government and people of Binh Dinh.

At the same time, the department has discussed with the Binh Dinh Tourism Association and travel agencies to actively design sightseeing and experience tour programs combined with festivals, and at the same time implement preferential price policies for tourists and delegates. This is a practical way to stimulate domestic tourism, creating momentum for the development of accommodation, food and beverage, and transportation services during the April 30 - May 1 holiday.

The festival is also a strong communication message about the image of Binh Dinh - not only a heroic "land of martial arts", "land of poetic literature", but also a place where culinary quintessence and rustic, friendly people are ready to welcome friends from near and far. This is the foundation for Binh Dinh to continue to affirm its position on the tourism map of Vietnam and the region.

Thank you!

Minh Thao

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/le-hoi-van-hoa-am-thuc-binh-dinh-kich-cau-du-lich-tu-doi-dua/20250424084401186