Ho Chi Minh City has unveiled a series of new food-themed travel experiences, aiming to transform the southern metropolis into a premier culinary destination within Vietnam and the wider region. The initiative, launched by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism on October 22, is a significant step in diversifying the city’s tourism offerings and capitalizing on its rich gastronomic heritage.
These newly developed culinary tourism programs are the result of collaborations with local travel enterprises. They are meticulously designed to integrate the city’s extensive network of dining establishments, shopping districts, and historical sightseeing locations, creating immersive experiences for visitors. This strategic push aligns with the city’s broader 2025 culinary tourism development plan and its overarching tourism development strategy through 2030, which prioritizes gastronomy as a central pillar of its tourism product.
“The diversity and cultural richness of these culinary tours help reaffirm the city’s position as an international tourism hub and a must-visit destination on the global travel map,” stated Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism. She expressed optimistic hopes that these programs will be rapidly introduced to both domestic and international travelers, thereby fostering a dynamic and sustainable tourism ecosystem for the city.
The stated objectives of these culinary tourism initiatives extend beyond mere dining. They are intended to serve as a vibrant medium for showcasing the city’s unique culture, its layered history, and the distinct character of its people, all through the lens of its celebrated food. This aligns directly with the city’s ambitious target of attracting 10 million international visitors and generating 290 trillion VND (over 11 billion USD) in tourism revenue for the current year, as further elaborated by Hieu.
Green Food Festival to Highlight Vegetarian Cuisine and Sustainability
In conjunction with the launch of the new culinary tourism programs, the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Beverage Association (FBA) and the authorities of Binh Phu ward have jointly announced plans to host the 2025 Green Food Festival. Scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 4 at Binh Phu Park, this event is poised to be the city’s largest vegetarian food festival to date. Its primary aim is to celebrate the depth and breadth of Vietnam’s vegetarian culinary traditions while actively promoting the ethos of “Live Green – Live Healthy.”
The festival is committed to operating under a “Green Festival – Zero Waste” model. This eco-conscious approach is bolstered by the support of the Vietnam Foodbank Network and the GreenHero Project, who will also collaborate on a “Food Waste Recycling Day” to ensure the event maintains a clean and environmentally responsible footprint.
A significant community-focused element of the 2025 Green Food Festival will be the “Beloved Kitchen – 1,000 Free Meals” program, designed to foster a spirit of generosity and support within the community. Attendees can anticipate a comprehensive array of activities, including demonstrations of vegetarian cooking techniques, informative talks on nutrition and sustainable living, an exhibition showcasing Vietnamese vegetarian ingredients, an international seminar on vegetarian cuisine, a forum dedicated to green tourism and sustainable development, and various cultural and musical performances.
Nguyen Tan Viet, Chairman of the FBA and head of the festival organizing committee, highlighted the significance of the upcoming event, noting that it will build upon the success of its 2023 predecessor. He described this year’s festival as a “key highlight of the city’s culinary calendar,” underscoring its importance in the local gastronomic landscape.
The festival is expected to gather hundreds of stalls, featuring a diverse range of participants including restaurants, renowned chefs, skilled culinary artisans, and prominent vegetarian brands. Beyond its role in showcasing the finest aspects of Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine, the event aims to inspire and encourage the wider community to adopt a more environmentally conscious and sustainable lifestyle. The initiative underscores the city’s commitment to integrating its cultural attractions with modern sustainability practices, thereby enhancing its appeal to a global audience.
