On the very first day, despite the unseasonal rainy weather with heavy rain at times, the festival attracted thousands of visitors, including Congressman Moriyama Hiroyuki, Chairman of the Committee on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of the Japanese House of Representatives; Congressman Nishida Kaoru; representatives of Osaka City leaders; Mr. Ngo Trinh Ha, Consul General of Vietnam in Osaka, Lieutenant General Le Hong Nam, member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and leaders of Osaka City; Mr. Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of Saigontourist Group; leaders of Japanese and Vietnamese enterprises, Saigontourist Group, Vietnam Airlines , media agencies... showing the undeniable appeal of Vietnamese culture and cuisine to the Japanese public and the overseas Vietnamese community.
Mr. Pham Huy Binh (right cover) introduces Vietnamese delicacies to the guests attending the opening ceremony on the morning of June 14.
This is not just a regular culinary festival, but also the first official "foreign" trip of the "international version" of the Saigontourist Group Food Culture Festival. This event is already a familiar name in Vietnam, having been honored with prestigious awards from the World Culinary Awards, including the "Best Culinary Festival in Asia" award for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024) and the "Best Culinary Festival in the World" award for two consecutive years (2023, 2024). Bringing the "brand" of this festival to the international market is a strategic step, affirming the stature and influence of Vietnamese culinary culture.
Taking place on June 14 and 15, 2025, the Festival is co-organized by Saigontourist Group, the Department of International Cooperation - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, the Embassy of Vietnam in Japan, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka, Vietnam Airlines, DCOM Money Express Company and Silk Company (Japan), Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association at Saigontourist Group, Saigontourist Travel Service Company, and other partners in Vietnam and Japan. This multilateral cooperation has created a solid foundation for the success of the festival.
Guests enjoy Vietnamese dishes introduced by Saigontourist Group. Congressman Moriyama Hiroyuki (right cover)
The highlight of the festival is the participation of 15 leading member units of Saigontourist Group, bringing the most unique Vietnamese culinary and cultural experiences. Participating units include familiar names such as Rex Saigon, Grand Saigon, Majestic Saigon, Caravelle Saigon, Continental Saigon, Kim Do, De Nhat, Saigon - Da Lat, Saigon - Ha Long, Saigon - Morin hotels, Hoa Viet Joint Venture Company, Binh Quoi Tourist Village, Saigontourist School of Tourism and Hospitality (STHC), Saigontourist Travel Services Company and Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center Company (SECC).
At the festival, member units of Saigontourist Group and Vietnamese culinary businesses in Japan created a "feast" for the taste buds with more than 50 delicious dishes with the flavors of three regions of Vietnam. From rustic street food to quintessential specialties, all are meticulously prepared, imbued with traditional flavors, introduced to a large number of Japanese people, overseas Vietnamese and international friends. With a fixed price of 700 Yen (equivalent to 110,000 VND) for a coupon to use services at culinary booths, visitors can freely explore and enjoy their favorite dishes.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of Saigontourist Group, Head of the Festival Steering Committee, emphasized the significance of this special event: " The Saigontourist Group - Vietnam Culinary Culture Festival 2025 in Osaka is a testament to Saigontourist Group's relentless efforts in promoting the quintessence of Vietnamese culinary culture to the world. We are extremely happy and proud that the Festival has received enthusiastic support and special warm feelings from the people of Osaka, international friends and the Vietnamese community in Japan. The number of thousands of guests carrying umbrellas to avoid the rain to participate on the first day of the event is the clearest proof of the interest and love that the international public has for Vietnamese culture and cuisine ".
Although the weather on the first day was not favorable, many Japanese visitors and overseas Vietnamese still braved the rain to participate.
The atmosphere at Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park on the first day of the festival was explosive. Laughter, whispers of admiration, and the enticing aroma of Vietnamese dishes blended together to create a vivid picture of cultural exchange. Many visitors could not hide their excitement and surprise at the scale and quality of the festival.
After enjoying the dishes, Congressman Moriyama Hiroyuki commented, " I have enjoyed Hue beef noodle soup before, but today I can fully appreciate the delicious taste of the Saigontourist Group chefs. In addition, the Da Lat grilled rice paper dish of the festival is also wonderful. Thank you to the organizers of a very meaningful event ."
Ms. Akari Tanaka, a resident of Osaka, shared with a bright look: " I have eaten pho at a few Vietnamese restaurants in Osaka, but here, everything is different. There are many dishes that I have never seen before, and the taste is amazing. I especially like the banh xeo, the crispy skin and the rich shrimp and meat filling. I feel like I am traveling to Vietnam! This festival really exceeded my expectations ."
Meanwhile, Takeshi Sato, a university student majoring in Southeast Asian culture, also expressed his surprise: " I am very impressed with the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine. I thought Vietnam only had pho and fried spring rolls, but when I came here, I realized there were countless other delicious dishes. I tried bun cha and goi cuon, both of which were delicious. In addition, I also really like the vibrant and friendly atmosphere here. I think this festival is a great opportunity for Japanese people to better understand Vietnamese culture ."
A lot of people attended the festival.
Not only attracting local people, the festival is also an ideal meeting place for the Vietnamese expatriate community in Osaka. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thao, an overseas Vietnamese who has lived in Osaka for more than 10 years, could not hide her emotion: " When I heard about this festival, I was really looking forward to it. I missed home and my hometown dishes so much. Coming here, I felt like I was back in Vietnam. The dishes are all very authentic, from crab noodle soup, bread to sweet soup. I am also very happy to see many Japanese people attending and showing their love for Vietnamese cuisine. Thank you Saigontourist Group for bringing this meaningful festival to our overseas Vietnamese community ."
Mr. Tran Van Hung, an engineer working in Osaka, also shared his thoughts: " This festival is not only a place to enjoy cuisine, but also a space for cultural exchange. I met many new friends, both Japanese and other overseas Vietnamese. The traditional performances were also very special. I think this is a very necessary event to promote the image of Vietnam to international friends. Hopefully Saigontourist Group will continue to organize festivals like this in the future ."
With the great success on the first day, the Saigontourist Group - Vietnam Food Culture Festival 2025 in Osaka has affirmed its position as one of the leading international cultural and culinary events. The festival not only brings the opportunity to enjoy delicious food, but also serves as a cultural bridge, strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Japan, and is also the pride of the Vietnamese community abroad. The event promises to continue to explode on the last day, leaving a deep impression on the Japanese public and international friends about a beautiful, diverse and flavorful Vietnam.
The event will be open until 7:00 p.m. on June 15, 2025, at Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, Osaka City, free admission.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhat-ban-va-kieu-bao-thich-thu-voi-le-hoi-van-hoa-am-thuc-saigontourist-group-185250614161240833.htm
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