Ho Chi Minh City: A culinary haven for worldly tastes

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Ho Chi Minh City is a haven for gourmet enthusiasts, drawing visitors to savor a diverse array of dishes from countries like Thailand, India, Japan, Korea, China, and various regions of Vietnam. The city’s culinary scene offers a delightful exploration of flavors, making it an enticing destination for food lovers

Where Culinary Transformation Takes Center Stage
In the first 11 months of 2023, Ho Chi Minh City warmly welcomed 4.6 million visitors, constituting 41.1% of international arrivals to Vietnam. Tourism experts highlight the city’s appeal, attributing it to the open and culturally diverse urban landscape. Ho Chi Minh City stands out for its amalgamation of global cultures, offering visitors a rich tapestry of influences, resulting in a distinctive culinary scene known as “transformative cuisine.” This culinary haven seamlessly blends unique dishes from various regions, creating a harmonious fusion of flavors.

Ho Chi Minh City has a culinary tradition where many dishes, originally inspired by foreign cuisines, undergo creative transformations within Vietnamese households, ultimately evolving into uniquely Vietnamese creations that have gained recognition worldwide.

The renowned Vietnamese dish “Banh mi,” globally respected, has its origins in France. During the transformation process, the Vietnamese adapted the French baguette, altering its crust from thick and slightly soft to crispy and hollow, with a more spongy texture. The unique filling concept includes a combination of pâté, meat, shredded pork or pork floss, and pickled vegetables. Over time, “Banh mi” has not only won the hearts of the Vietnamese but has also become a favorite internationally, making its mark in various parts of the world. In 2011, the Oxford Dictionary officially recognized “Banh mi” as a distinct dish, granting it the status of a proper noun: “Banh mi”.

Ho Chi Minh City’s transformative cuisine creatively harmonizes the culinary cultures of the three regions. Notably, Pho – originating from the North – undergoes a spectacular transformation in taste and preparation when reaching the southern regions. “Pho – Saigon Style” features a sweeter broth, more cinnamon, varying noodle thickness, and accompaniments like beef balls, bean sprouts, hoisin sauce, and red sauce. This transformation has made Pho a global favorite, adapting harmoniously to local culinary cultures.

The campaign “Ho Chi Minh City – All you can eat”
Vietnam’s tourism development strategy until 2030 emphasizes cuisine as a key product to position the country’s tourism as a brand. In line with this, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has initiated the campaign “Ho Chi Minh City – All you can eat,” focusing on transformative cuisine to showcase cultural and culinary values. The campaign aims to leverage international media channels to promote key and potential markets globally, enticing more foreign tourists to visit and revisit Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr Le Truong Hien Hoa – Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism shared: ” The “Ho Chi Minh City – All you can eat” campaign will contribute to stimulating tourism demand, increasing the number of inbound visitors through culinary experiences and exploring local culture. The campaign not only promotes cuisine but also builds a diverse culinary map for tourists, and at the same time, promotes Vietnam’s rich cuisine to international tourists, making culinary tourism a popular product to attract international tourists from around the world to Vietnam.”

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is taking strategic steps to promote the city’s transformative cuisine globally. The department plans to air promotional videos showcasing Ho Chi Minh City’s culinary delights during prime time on prominent television channels such as CNN Asia, Discovery, and the Asian Food Network (AFN). These videos will also be shared on digital platforms and social media networks of Discovery and AFN. Additionally, a Heritage Guide, highlighting tourism in the city, is being distributed on all Vietnam Airlines’ international and domestic flights. These efforts aim to position Ho Chi Minh City as an attractive destination on the global tourism map.

« Back to Page

• Jinju City: Lantern legacy to Night Tourism gem in South Korea