Food promotion should have its own list.

For two years now, Michelin has been publishing its lists of culinary destinations in Vietnam. However, these lists seem unable to satisfy everyone. More importantly, localities still lack lists to showcase their own culinary destinations. What are your thoughts on this?

Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy

It's true that if Vietnam needs to promote its culinary destinations, it should have its own lists instead of relying on Michelin. In fact, tourism management departments often create lists of recommended dishes, like Hai Phong's culinary map. But not every locality has a list like Hai Phong's. In Hanoi, these lists are developing spontaneously, without any agency evaluating them.

Hai Phong already has a list, but it's still too simplistic. According to you, how should a food map be created?

In my opinion, we should first establish clear criteria before making a choice. For example, the criteria for solo travelers will differ from those for large groups. A restaurant with limited capacity might be suitable for solo travelers or small groups exploring on their own; whereas a large group wouldn't be able to access deep, remote alleyways.

Another approach is to use user criteria, such as going and evaluating things ourselves. Based on such customer reviews, we can also create maps. This means we can create maps based on both our own criteria and those of our customers.

Does that mean we should also open a review channel to build a food map?

Previously, the Tourism Association used the "Green Lotus" rating system to evaluate establishments that made efforts in environmental protection, efficient use of resources and energy, contributing to the preservation of heritage, the economic, cultural, and social development of the locality, and sustainable tourism development. We could have similar ratings and labels for restaurants and food establishments in the culinary field.

It's not just the tourism industry; many organizations can participate in creating a culinary map. The Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association, for example, has designated the "Culinary Heritage Space" for Bà Ngoại's Snail Noodle Soup restaurant in Hanoi. This space is dedicated to highly-regarded traditional Hanoi dishes.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quang-ba-am-thuc-nen-co-danh-list-rieng-185240706233250907.htm