HCM CITY — The "Saigontourist Group 2024 Culinary Cultural Festival" was launched at Văn Thánh Tourist Site on March 29. 

Visitors at the festival - VNS Photo Hồng Linh

The event features over 400 distinctive dishes and beverages representing various regions of Việt Nam, all showcased at more than 40 culinary booths organised into three zones corresponding to each region of Việt Nam: North, Central, and South.

For the Northern region, visitors will have the opportunity to savor dishes such as Hanoi-style grilled pork with vermicelli (bún chả Hà Nội), Lã Vọng-style grilled fish (chả cá Lã Vọng), Hạ Long-style crab vermicelli soup (bún bề bề Hạ Long), and Móng Cái-style grilled pork belly (thịt khâu nhục Móng Cái).

A chef prepares a tuna at a booth in the Central region zone at the event – VNS Photo Hồng Linh

In the Central region, guests can indulge in renowned "royal dishes" that hold significance in Vietnamese culture, including Huế salted rice (Cơm muối Huế), Bố Chính candied ginger (mứt sâm Bố Chính), along with other popular dishes like seafood pancakes from Ninh Ngữ served with various special dipping sauces.

Chefs make Coconut rice cakes (bánh khọt) and seafood pancakes (bánh xèo hải sản) at a booth in the Central region zone at the event – VNS Photo Hồng Linh

The Southern region offers a wide selection of salads alongside famous dishes like coconut water-soaked shredded duck (vịt khìa nước dừa), sautéed snails with coconut milk (ốc len xào dừa), and fermented fish vermicelli soup (bún mắm), as well as renowned sweet cakes and desserts.

Besides the unique culinary space, the festival also brings forth distinctive cultural activities from various regions, such as Quan Họ Bắc Ninh folk songs, Huế's traditional songs and folk tunes, performances like coconut dancing and monkey dances, Khmer music, and the enchanting melodies of traditional Southern folk music (đờn ca tài tử).

A man practices calligraphy at a booth in the Southern zone at the festival.  – VNS Photo Hồng Linh

Phạm Huy Bình - Chairman of Saigontourist Group, Head of the event programme steering committee, said: “In addition to the goal of boosting domestic tourism, diversifying tourism products in HCM City, and promoting Vietnamese culinary culture, the Saigontourist Group's Culinary Culture Festival is also aimed at becoming an internationally recognized event, as evidenced by its swift recognition through prestigious international awards. 

“In its third edition returning to the public, there will be numerous interactive activities for attendees, such as participating in the voting for their favorite dishes, learning the art of making simple cakes from skilled artisans, and enjoying traditional art performances in the form of roving displays with visitor participation, along with many other engaging activities." 

Samuel Mathieu, a visitor from Belgium, said that this is his first time in Việt Nam and attending such a wonderful event. He expressed that it's a great experience for him to enjoy the food, culture, and atmosphere here.

The festival has had the honor of being awarded the title of "Asia's Best Culinary Festival 2022" and "Asia's Best Culinary Festival 2023" by the World Culinary Awards. Particularly noteworthy is its first-time achievement of winning the award for "World's Best Culinary Festival 2023," which was presented in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in October 2023. 

The event opens its doors to the public from 4pm to 10pm daily, and lasts until March 31. – VNS