Finding a place for Vietnamese cuisine

Vietnamese cuisine, not only diverse but also refined, has become an ambassador for spreading Vietnamese cultural identity. However, the journey of affirming and promoting Vietnamese cuisine still faces many obstacles. For example, food safety and hygiene have been a persistent problem for many years, and many images have left negative impressions on diners both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, the proliferation of food festivals and events has generated much controversy. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that Vietnamese cuisine has made significant progress in recent years.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quynh, General Secretary of the Vietnam Chefs Association, believes that Vietnamese cuisine is still facing many challenges. The question is how to maintain and further develop the country's culinary heritage, elevating it to even greater heights. Information about Vietnamese cuisine is not only spreading strongly domestically but is also developing rapidly internationally , receiving high praise from international friends.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quynh - General Secretary of the Vietnam Chefs Federation (VCF).

Over the years, Vietnamese cuisine has made significant strides on the international stage with a series of awards. The World Culinary Awards – a global initiative – honored Hanoi as the “Best Emerging Culinary City Destination in Asia 2023”. In 2022, Vietnam also surpassed many countries in the region such as China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, etc., to become the “Best Culinary Destination in Asia” at the World Culinary Awards. In June 2023, the world-renowned Michelin Guide awarded stars to four Vietnamese restaurants, including three in Hanoi and one in Ho Chi Minh City.

Furthermore, many world-renowned travel and food magazines have praised Vietnamese cuisine. In 2023, TasteAtlas – a world-famous food information website – ranked Vietnam 6th among Asian cuisines and 20th among the world's best cuisines. TasteAtlas also listed 5 of Vietnam's most representative dishes: banh mi, pho, spring rolls, beef stew, and Hue beef noodle soup; and 5 representative food products: iced coffee, Phu Quoc fish sauce, Vietnamese coffee, egg coffee, and Vietnamese sausage.

Australian travel website Traveller also suggested Vietnamese rice rolls as one of the top 10 delicious dishes that tourists should try in 2023. American travel website Travel and Leisure honored Vietnam as a top culinary destination in Asia in its Bucket List Places in Asia 2023, especially for its street food.

Vietnamese banh mi (sandwich) ranks 7th in the Top 50 best street foods in the world.

Cuisine is considered a bridge between countries around the world. A nation with a strong culinary culture is highly successful in developing its national brand. Focusing on developing its cuisine with a clear roadmap is one of the fastest ways to introduce its culture, country, and people to the international community. The value of culinary culture spreads quickly and widely. Many foreigners who have never visited Vietnam are already familiar with Vietnamese cuisine in their home countries. Culinary culture is an indispensable part of building a national brand.

However, along with the encouraging achievements and results, there are also many challenges. According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quynh, appropriate investment is needed, because otherwise, it will be very difficult. It must be done from top to bottom, considering how to orient, how to implement, how to standardize… there is so much to be done in the culinary industry. The fact that we haven't standardized yet is a challenge and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Only with standardization can we have something to compare ourselves to; otherwise, it will just be spontaneous and without direction. To develop like Thailand, India, and Japan, we must do things systematically and invest in order to achieve a worthy position.

Pho, a famous Vietnamese specialty dish.

When tourists visit a country, in addition to admiring the scenery and learning about its history, the cuisine is also something they want to explore. Therefore, it is crucial to position Vietnamese cuisine on the world culinary map. To establish itself on the global culinary map, Vietnamese cuisine needs to demonstrate the values ​​inherent in its cultural identity. From this cultural identity, cuisine can develop in many ways. This is also a way to develop Vietnamese cuisine sustainably.

Associate Professor Bui Hoai Son, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, believes that there are many ways to promote and establish the position of Vietnamese cuisine, but the most important thing is to build a brand. “We should also consider submitting our culinary heritage, such as pho, to UNESCO for recognition. Recognizing a dish as a heritage has a significant economic and social impact, and this helps us develop our socio-economic aspects through that brand. That means we shouldn't just stop at a small brand anymore. We also need to think about branding a city in terms of its cuisine.”

Culinary culture will be a "gold mine" for developing tourism in particular, and promoting national culture to international friends in general. However, the most important thing is to affirm and create a brand for Vietnamese cuisine. To achieve this, it's not only about creating dishes with exquisite and unique flavors, but also about thoroughly addressing other factors such as ensuring food safety and hygiene, and service attitude. In particular, there needs to be seamless and coordinated cooperation from management agencies to the community, as well as a policy that adequately encourages the community and the culinary profession. "The culinary profession needs to be emphasized and highly valued. Appropriate policies are needed to develop the culinary profession in line with the needs and demands of society. Attention should be paid to the quality of training and professional benefits to honor the culinary profession in a new era of culinary development," Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quynh stressed.

Vietnam has long been considered one of the world's most renowned culinary destinations. However, we haven't fully exploited our strengths and potential to increase competitiveness and attract tourists. It's time for our country to assert the position of Vietnamese cuisine with over 3,000 dishes, diverse and unique, rivaling even the world's culinary capitals like Thailand and China. We already have the basic foundations to take off faster based on our own internal strengths. Vietnam became a culinary destination chosen by the Michelin Guide in 2023, following Malaysia's honor in 2022. By awarding these hopeful "stars," Michelin has significantly contributed to the transformation of Vietnamese cuisine, helping it gradually conquer a new position.

Source: https://vov.vn/du-lich/tim-vi-the-cho-am-thuc-viet-nam-post1088080.vov