From March 26 to 29, 2026, the "Cuisine and Food Culture Festival 2026 (Le hoi Am thuc & Van hoa 2026)," hosted by the Saigontourist Group, was held in the Van Thanh tourist area of Ho Chi Minh City (48/10 Dien Bien Phu Street, Thanh My Tay Ward). About 50 four- and five-star hotels and resorts exhibited, and it was one of Vietnam's largest gourmet events, gathering over 500 regional dishes from the country's three regions.
What kind of event was it: 500 dishes, 10 theme zones
The festival was held daily from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., in an experiential exhibition structure divided into 10 theme zones.
- Regional cuisine area of the north (Hanoi, Red River Delta): bun bo, pho, banh cuon
- Regional cuisine area of the central region (Hue, Da Nang): mi Quang, banh mi, com hen
- Regional cuisine area of the south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta): hu tieu, com tam, banh xeo
- Live cooking by chefs from luxury hotels and resorts
- An exhibition of traditional Vietnamese tableware and table settings
Admission was 200,000 VND for adults (about 1,200 yen), including a service coupon. Children under 120 cm were free. At the opening ceremony, the "Top 10 Regional Dishes Representing Vietnam" was announced, making it a perfect chance to learn the flavors of every part of Vietnam.
What is Saigontourist
The Saigontourist Group (Saigon Tourist Hospitality Company) is one of Vietnam's largest travel and hospitality companies, headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City. It broadly operates hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and tourist facilities, and hosts large food culture events every year. It's a brand familiar to travelers from Japan too.
A gourmet trip to Ho Chi Minh City: where should you go?
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest economic city and a gourmet capital where domestic and foreign food cultures gather. If you want to experience the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine at once, a food culture festival like this makes the best opportunity. While looking forward to next year's edition too, this year visit the restaurant areas (District 1, District 3, Binh Thanh District) where you can enjoy regional cuisine from all over Vietnam.
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