In Ho Chi Minh City, the culinary culture and specialties festival is a hit
Organized by Saigontourist Group, the culinary culture and specialties festival, taking place from March 26 to 29 in Ho Chi Minh City, revolves around the theme “Feasting on the excellence of Vietnamese gastronomy.”
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According to the organizing committee, this year’s festival offers the public an immersive and unique experience, with a space designed as a cultural flow encompassing the three regions of the country.
Each thematic space represents a chapter of the heritage journey: from Northwestern cuisine to Central flavors, to coastal regional cuisine, royal gastronomy, Southern cuisine, rice-based specialties, traditional cakes, Vietnamese tea art, Northern flavors, and vegetarian cuisine.
In particular, the space titled “Cuisine without Borders,” enhanced by the participation of the consulates general of the Netherlands and Thailand, as well as international partners, offers a multi-sensory experience celebrating global culinary diversity.
The event also highlights several exceptional culinary contests and themes, including the recognition of 10 chefs who have created 10 iconic regional specialties, honoring 10 mixology experts for their most innovative and flavorful creations, and public voting to select the 10 most attractive and original stands and animations.
Photo: BTT/CVN
Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, president of Saigontourist Group and head of the organizing committee, emphasized that this event is part of the major national celebrations of 2026 and the 51st anniversary of the group’s founding.
She mentioned that the event goes beyond being a gathering for culinary enthusiasts, serving as a bridge between heritages, promoting Vietnamese cultural identity, and establishing the country’s cuisine on the international map.
A unique artistic space
Apart from gastronomy, the event stands out as a true cultural celebration featuring traditional art performances, folk games, and the promotion of Vietnamese handicrafts.
Artistic performances include Cham dance, bai choi singing, Hue folk songs, ca tru singing, gong performances from the Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen), and the Northwest xoe dance.
In the craft areas, visitors can observe artisans at work and learn about the making of various traditional cakes, conical hats, ceramics, and other typical handicrafts.
The culinary culture and delights festival by Saigontourist Group is the only large-scale gastronomic event in Vietnam to receive the prestigious title of “Best culinary festival in the world” for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, and 2025) and “Best culinary festival in Asia” for four consecutive years (2022-2025), awarded by the World Culinary Awards.
Photo: VNA/CVN
Nguyen Quoc Anh, deputy general director of Saigontourist Group, stated: “Thanks to its continuously improved scale, quality, and international dimension, the 2026 edition of the festival continues to assert its status as a leading gastronomic and tourist brand in Vietnam, contributing to promoting the image of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam as a vibrant, open, and culturally rich destination.”
NDEL/VNA/CVN
