The Saigontourist Group Culinary Culture and Delicacies Festival 2026, themed "Connecting the essence of Vietnamese culinary culture", will take place at Van Thanh Tourist Area in Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM). Organized by Saigontourist Group, the event runs from March 26-29, daily from 3 PM to 10 PM. Its location near a metro station offers easy access for visitors. Early bird tickets are available until March 23, offering a 10% discount or a "buy 10 get one free" promotion.
This year's festival will feature 50 four- and five-star hotels, resorts, and restaurants from the Saigontourist Group system nationwide. It also includes participation from localities partnered with TP HCM for tourism development, as well as various travel and tourism partners. Notably, for the first time, Consulates General in TP HCM will join the event, adding to the diverse experience.
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A "floating market" scene at the Saigontourist Group Culinary Culture and Delicacies Festival 2025. Photo: Saigontourist Group |
A "floating market" scene at the Saigontourist Group Culinary Culture and Delicacies Festival 2025. Photo: Saigontourist Group
The event space is designed into several themed clusters, recreating regional cultural flows such as Northern Market Village, Hoi An Ancient Town, Mekong Delta Floating Market, and historical and contemporary Ho Chi Minh City. This immersive setting allows diners to embark on "10 culinary journeys" with over 500 dishes, encompassing specialties from Vietnam's north to south, and even international influences.
Specifically, the Northern culinary zone will present traditional dishes like bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), pho, and highland specialties from the Northeast and Northwest regions. The Central zone will feature specialties from Hue and Hoi An, alongside coastal cuisine. The Southern zone will highlight banh xeo (sizzling savory pancakes), floating market dishes, and the cuisine of the Mekong Delta's reclamation era. Additionally, a modern culinary section will showcase "green" trends, healthy beverages, and contemporary fusion dishes.
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Don ca tai tu (southern Vietnamese folk music) performance at the festival. Photo: Saigontourist Group |
Don ca tai tu (southern Vietnamese folk music) performance at the festival. Photo: Saigontourist Group
Beyond culinary delights, the festival will host various cultural and artistic activities, including water puppetry, Cham dance, bai choi singing, Hue folk songs, call-and-response singing, don ca tai tu (southern Vietnamese folk music), Tay Nguyen gong performances, xoe dance, and contemporary pop music. A traditional craft village experience zone will allow visitors to observe artisans making folk cakes, weaving conical hats, crafting pottery, creating Dong Ho paintings, or Thanh Tien paper flowers. The organizers have also arranged numerous regional-themed photo opportunities and areas to experience traditional attire such as ao dai, ao ba ba, and highland ethnic costumes.
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Visitors explore and enjoy delicacies from Vietnam's three regions at last year's festival. Photo: Saigontourist Group |
Visitors explore and enjoy delicacies from Vietnam's three regions at last year's festival. Photo: Saigontourist Group
The Saigontourist Group Culinary Culture and Delicacies Festival stands as a major event in Vietnam. It has received prestigious accolades from the World Culinary Awards, being named "World's Best Culinary Festival" for three consecutive years (2023-2025) and "Asia's Best Culinary Festival" for four consecutive years (2022-2025).
This year's festival offers early bird tickets with special prices, valid from March 3 to March 23. Guests can choose between two options: buy 10 tickets and get one free, or receive a 10% discount on the total bill. A full-price ticket costs 200,000 VND for one adult, which includes coupons for services at the festival. Children under 1,2 m tall receive free entry when accompanied by an adult.
Dan Minh
Official ticket sales points:
Binh Quoi Tourist Area 1, 2, 3. Phone: 0901889701 – 0901889702 – 0901889703
Tan Cang Tourist Area. Phone: 0901889704
Van Thanh Tourist Area. Phone: 0901889705
Alternatively, contact hotline 0901889709 or any Saigontourist Group member unit nationwide.
