Visitors learned about a Cà Mau province's OCOP product at the 'Cà Mau Culinary Cultural Essence Festival' at Bạc Liêu Ward on September 27. – VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY – With over 100 booths featuring the cuisines and OCOP products of Cà Mau Province and HCM City, the 'Cà Mau Culinary Cultural Essence Festival' at Bạc Liêu Ward offered visitors unique culinary, cultural and shopping experiences.

The festival, which will last until September 30, is part of the Cà Mau provincial series event programme in response to World Tourism Day, themed ‘Cà Mau - the southernmost point of the nation, a place where nature and tranquillity converge’.

Among the stalls are 30 OCOP stalls from localities in Cà Mau Province, introducing more than 130 of its unique products. 

It is co-organised by the People's Committee of Cà Mau Province, the HCM City People's Committee, and the Vietnam Tourism Association. 

Ngô Vũ Thăng, deputy chairman of the Cà Mau Province People's Committee, said that the festival would serve as a message to showcase the province's goal of making cuisine a signature tourism product and promoting the province's tourism image nationally and regionally.

The cuisine of Cà Mau reflects the cultural identity of Southern Việt Nam, with its rich and distinctive features influenced by the Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer peoples.

Signature dishes include Vietnamese crispy pancake A Mật, Vietnamese noodles in coconut cream sauce Ngan Dừa, and Vietnamese spicy beef rice noodle soup, as well as dishes made from famous local seafood, such as shrimp and crab.

"The event aims to promote the province's cuisine, create a cultural tourism highlight and enhance visitor experience," Thăng said.

Meanwhile, it would also help boost business connections and cooperation, as well as develop speciality tourism products, thereby creating a diverse chain of services. 

He also highlighted that the cooperation with HCM City had helped create a unique feature for the festival and enrich the visitor experience.

Thăng hoped that the event would help promote many unique culinary tourism products, combining ecotourism, community, and cultural tours to make the province an unmissable tourist destination.

One of the highlighted activities was the "Talented Chef Introducing the Culinary Quintessence of Cà Mau" competition, held on September 28, with 15 teams from Mekong Delta provinces and HCM City participating. 

The winner will be selected as the province's Culinary Ambassador and will accompany the province in its tourism promotion programs. – VNS