The opening ceremony for the Saigontourist Group culinary and cultural festival 2026 will take place at 5:30 p.m. on 26/3 at Van Thanh Tourist Area, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The festival will welcome visitors daily from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. until 29/3. Honored as the "World's most unique culinary festival", the event has become a popular gathering for locals and tourists in late march, helping to promote Vietnamese cuisine internationally.

Under the theme "connecting the essence of Vietnamese culinary culture", this year's festival gathers over 50 4-5 star hotels, resorts, and restaurants from the Saigontourist Group system nationwide, alongside local partners. The event space is designed as an open "culinary map", where each area represents a distinct region or theme.

Hoat dong hat bai choi boc tham trung thuong tai le hoi nam ngoai. Photo: Saigontourist Group

The entire venue is arranged as a continuous journey, guiding diners through 10 "stops" with different identities: from northwestern, central, and southern Vietnamese cuisine to island seafood, royal cuisine, rice-based dishes, Vietnamese tea, and green culinary trends. According to the organizers, this layout allows visitors to easily access all dishes, creating the feeling of a "cross-vietnam tour" in just a few hours.

The "500 dishes - 10 journeys of flavor" program is a highlight of this year's festival. Hundreds of dishes, ranging from familiar folk cuisine to highland specialties, elaborate royal dishes, and modern creations, are reinterpreted by professional chefs with contemporary twists. Combining various culinary styles in one space allows diners to enjoy and compare flavors from different regions.

Khong gian dung bua duoc bo tri thoai mai theo tung khu vuc, vung mien voi cac tieu canh, giup tao khong khi nhu dang an tai dia phuong. Photo: Saigontourist Group

Alongside traditional dishes, sustainable cuisine is also emphasized, with many stalls featuring dishes made from natural, eco-friendly ingredients. This trend is gaining global attention and is increasingly incorporated into large-scale culinary events in Vietnam.

Notably, the "cuisine without borders" zone will debut with the participation of various consulates general and international brands in HCMC. Diners will have more choices with characteristic dishes from different cultures worldwide, extending beyond the S-shaped land of Vietnam. The organizers state that this area will be a culinary crossroads, where visitors can experience both domestic and international flavors.

Before the opening day, professional competitions were held to honor the skills of chefs and culinary artisans. Categories such as top 10 regional dishes, top 10 excellent chefs, and top 6 skilled bartenders were selected from many participating units. The award-winning dishes will be showcased live at the festival, offering the public closer access to preparation techniques and the stories behind each dish.

Beyond the culinary experience, the festival also offers a diverse cultural and artistic space. Performances such as water puppetry, bai choi singing (a traditional folk game), Hue folk songs, don ca tai tu (southern Vietnamese folk music), Tay Nguyen gong music, and xoe dance are organized alongside modern music acts. Many traditional craft villages are also recreated at the event, providing interactive experiences for visitors.

Visitors can participate in making folk cakes, weaving conical hats, pottery, crafting wooden clogs, or paper fans. Check-in areas are enhanced with miniature landscapes recreating images of rural villages, ancient towns, and floating markets. These activities aim to connect attendees with indigenous cultural values, enhancing the festival's experiential aspect.

Hoat dong thu lam gom tai khu lang nghe gom Bat Trang. Photo: Saigontourist Group

Concurrently, a tourism stimulus program is being implemented at the festival, offering many incentives for visitors. Domestic and international tours and service packages are introduced at attractive prices, along with direct consultation and interaction. Some on-site livestream programs are also organized to update information and create additional access channels for customers.

In 2025, the event attracted over 70,000 visitors. According to the organizers, all preparations are complete before the opening, from the space and stalls to performance programs and auxiliary activities. The flexible opening hours from afternoon to evening allow residents to easily arrange their schedules, suitable for various groups such as families, young people, and international tourists.

"With comprehensive investment in content and format, this year's festival is expected to continue attracting a large number of attendees, becoming a prominent destination in HCMC during late march, while contributing to the spread of Vietnamese culinary values in an era where experiential tourism is increasingly popular," a representative of the organizing committee stated.

Dan Minh

The festival is supported by Vietnam Airlines for transportation, Hien Event for sound, and Satra as a partner.

Contact for tickets:

Binh Quoi Tourist Area 1, 2, 3: 0901889701 – 0901889702 – 0901889703

Tan Cang Tourist Area: 0901889704

Van Thanh Tourist Area: 0901889705.

Hotline: 0901889709