More than 600 delicious dishes converge at Saigontourist Group 2025 Food and Culture Festival

Saigontourist - Ảnh 1. — Banh khot and banh xeo of Binh Quoi tourist area are dishes chosen by many diners - Photo: QUANG DINH

On the evening of March 27, the Saigontourist Group 2025 Food and Culture Festival opened at Van Thanh Tourist Area. Over 4 days, from March 27 to 30, the festival took place with the participation of 4-5 star hotels, resorts, and restaurants belonging to the Saigontourist Group system in Ho Chi Minh City and provinces and cities across the country.

This event serves the culinary and entertainment needs of the community, is an opportunity to promote the tourism image of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, and introduce the unique cultural and culinary beauty of the country.

Overwhelmed by so many delicious dishes

In the festival grounds, visitors are overwhelmed by the culinary "forest". For example, Northern cuisine with bun thang, Thanh Tri rice rolls, Hanoi bun cha, and Gau Hung Yen village cakes. Or Hoi An cao lau, grilled veal at Mong bridge, "underworld rice" from Hue... from the Central region; and countless delicious dishes from the South such as Saigon street food, the flavors of the river delta, specialties of Ben Tre and Phu Quoc coconut lands...

The festival also introduces countless "unique and strange" dishes of the highlands. These include buffalo jerky, grilled fish from Ba Be Lake, grilled local pork with mac mat leaves, Cao Bang corn rolls, Trung Khanh chestnut cakes, Quan Ba thang co, Tien Yen chicken marinated with salt and pepper...

"I was overwhelmed, going from booth to booth and still not getting over the surprise. The food was delicious and the decorations were beautiful. Going to the festival was like seeing my hometown again," Nguyen Van Thien (from Ninh Binh) shared with Tuoi Tre Online.

Saigontourist - Ảnh 2. — A large number of diners enjoyed the dishes at the food festival on the evening of March 27.

Meanwhile, Ms. Ho Thi Nga boasted that she got a 20% discount when buying 4 entrance tickets because she was born on August 1, the same day Saigontourist Group was founded (August 1, 1975).

"My family and I enjoyed delicious dishes from three regions and watched traditional art performances this weekend," said Ms. Nga.

Saigontourist - Ảnh 3. — Grilled sea urchin with scallion oil from Phu Quoc is also present at the festival.

Not only delicious food, the festival is also bustling with cultural activities, art, traditional craft villages, and folk games attracting a large number of people and tourists.

There will be an "international version" of the Saigontourist Group Food and Culture Festival

Not only locals, international visitors are also interested in the festival, jostling to be present to experience many delicious dishes, folk games... Mr. Jack Son (British nationality), working for a fashion company, said that in 2024 he had the chance to attend the food festival, but only happened to pass by and meet it.

"This year, because my fashion brand is expanding in the Vietnamese market, I am here more often. So I will experience every delicious dish, because it is so interesting," said Mr. Jack Son.

Saigontourist - Ảnh 4. — Diners wait to buy pho at the Majestic Hotel.

According to Mr. Pham Huy Binh - Chairman of Saigontourist Group, after successfully organizing the Saigontourist Group Food and Culture Festival in previous years, Saigontourist Group has planned to bring this event abroad to serve overseas Vietnamese and international visitors.

At the same time, it is also an opportunity to contribute to promoting tourism in Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam tourism in general.

"It is expected that the "international version" of the Saigontourist Group Food and Culture Festival will participate in the Japan Expo 2025 exhibition in Osaka city, which will take place next June," Mr. Binh informed.

This year, there are 3 top food and drink lists that guests must try.

Mr. Chiem Thanh Long - culinary expert, head of the jury of the competition within the framework of the Saigontourist Group 2025 Food and Culinary Culture Festival - assessed that this year the number of dishes was very large, up to more than 600 dishes, so the jury expanded the voting list to 3 top lists, instead of only 1 top like last year.

"These are the top 10 must-try delicacies; top 10 must-try regional specialties; top 10 must-try drinks. This proves the richness and diversity of Vietnamese cuisine, giving festival-goers more choices," Mr. Long emphasized.