The Da Nang Food Tour 2026 not only creates a vibrant experiential space for locals and tourists but also demonstrates the city's direction in developing the cultural industry, making cuisine a distinctive tourism product.
Through a series of experiential activities, art performances, and community cultural spaces, Da Nang is gradually building its image as a regional destination for festivals, events, and cuisine.
Turning cuisine into a distinctive tourism product.
In the last days of May, the East Sea Park area, My Khe beach, and many coastal streets of Da Nang become vibrant with a series of activities belonging to the Da Nang Food Tour 2026 festival, taking place from May 20-24.
Thousands of locals and domestic and international tourists flocked to the festival grounds to visit, experience, and enjoy hundreds of signature dishes from Quang Nam province, other regions of Vietnam, and many international cuisines.
More than just a food promotion event, this year's festival demonstrates Da Nang's clear direction in developing tourism based on cultural identity, making cuisine an "ambassador" to promote the local image, while expanding the experiential space for tourists.
According to Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang City People's Committee, the festival is a highlight of the 2026 summer tourism season and a concrete step in the strategy to build Da Nang into a leading destination for festivals, events, and cuisine in the Asian region.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, cuisine is not just food to enjoy, but also a repository of memories, culture, and the soul of each region. In Da Nang, each flavor carries a story about the genuine, hospitable people of Central Vietnam, traditional crafts, fishing trips, and the everyday life that has been intertwined for generations.
“The Da Nang Food Tour 2026 is organized with the desire to make cuisine a distinctive tourism product, a new ‘cultural ambassador’ of the city in the process of integration and development,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi emphasized.
What sets the Da Nang Food Tour 2026 apart is its unique combination of culinary experiences with outdoor cultural, artistic, and community interaction activities. From street vendors on the beach to food preparation demonstrations, folk games, street art performances, and traditional craft experiences, the event offers visitors a vibrant cultural journey of discovery.
Along the stalls, many familiar dishes such as Quang noodles, banh xeo (Vietnamese savory pancake), cao lau (a type of noodle dish), Central Vietnamese seafood... are not only introduced as delicious local specialties but are also associated with stories about the life, customs, and genuine, kind-hearted people of Central Vietnam.
Among the crowds visiting the festival, Gigi Torres, a tourist from the United States, said she was impressed with the beauty and atmosphere of the central coastal city. “I find Da Nang very beautiful and interesting. We got to experience many local cultural aspects and enjoy many delicious dishes,” Gigi Torres shared.
The festival space also became a meeting place for different cultures. In particular, the area showcasing the cuisine of ethnic minorities attracted a large number of visitors due to its novelty and strong cultural identity.
Mr. Bnướch Bia, head of A Bát village and member of the Nam Giang commune's culinary delegation, said that the Cơ Tu people brought many traditional products to the festival, such as buffalo horn-shaped cakes, bamboo-cooked rice, free-range chicken, black sticky rice, and upland sticky rice.
"These are all specialties of the Co Tu people that we want to introduce to tourists from all regions when they come to Da Nang and participate in the festival," said Mr. Bnuoch Bia, adding that bringing traditional cuisine to the festival not only contributes to promoting the culture of the Co Tu people but also helps preserve and promote the values of ethnic cultural identity in modern life so that the younger generation and tourists can better understand the customs, traditions, and cultural beauty of the mountainous people.
According to the organizers, this year's festival brings together more than 200 stalls offering local, regional, and international cuisine. The city is also promoting tourism through the Da Nang Food Map - ShopeeFood, making it easier for tourists to find and experience prominent culinary destinations.
Building a tourism brand through cultural identity.
According to experts, in the context of tourism shifting strongly towards experiential and personalized trends, cuisine is no longer just an accompanying service but has become a crucial element in creating a unique identity for a destination. Each dish, each dining space, and the cultural story behind it all contribute to shaping tourists' perceptions of the locality.
Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo also identifies the task of developing the cultural industry, building unique cultural products with national identity, capable of competing and spreading Vietnamese values to the world. For Da Nang, exploiting the depth of its culinary culture is opening up a new direction for the development of tourism and the service economy.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang city, 2026 will be the second year the city organizes the Da Nang Food Tour Festival and is gradually elevating the event into a large-scale annual culinary festival.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An stated that the city is implementing a plan to develop its cuisine into a unique tourism product, while also hoping to honor the cultural values of Quang Nam province, enhance the experience, and extend the length of stay for tourists.
Tourism experts believe that Da Nang is on the right track in choosing cuisine as a strategic tourism product because it is easily accessible, rich in identity, and has the potential to spread strongly through tourists' real-life experiences.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, a representative of a travel agency in Da Nang, said that international tourists are increasingly interested in tours that offer cultural experiences and street food.
"Cuisine is the quickest way for tourists to experience the culture of a region. Activities such as cooking, visiting traditional craft villages, or enjoying local specialties with the locals often leave a deeper impression than typical tours," Mr. Thang commented.
For Da Nang, developing culinary tourism also contributes to boosting the night-time economy, supporting small businesses and local households, and creating more spaces for community cultural activities.
With each dish and experience at the festival, Da Nang offers locals and tourists new, modern, and emotionally rich experiences. This contributes to promoting the image of Da Nang – a dynamic, creative, and culturally rich destination – on the regional tourism, festival, and event map.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-am-thuc-gan-voi-ban-sac-van-hoa-post1112226.vnp
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