On the evening of April 23, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association coordinated with relevant units to organize the 4th Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival in 2026 with the theme "Vietnamese Banh Mi: World culinary values - Spreading across five continents".
This festival not only introduces the typical banh mi flavors of Vietnamese street food but is also a place of Vietnamese-French cultural exchange.
In addition, rich experience spaces such as festival gates are mascots of the Year of the Horse and small lotus flower scenes, Eiffel Tower made of bread, attracting a large number of people and tourists to visit and check-in.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Pham Huy Binh - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism - said that Vietnamese banh mi is not only a familiar and simple dish, but has become a unique culinary symbol, contributing to creating a Vietnamese cultural brand on the world map.
The Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival held annually is not only an opportunity to honor the value of this typical dish, but also an opportunity to promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular - a dynamic, friendly, and culturally rich destination," Mr. Binh emphasized.
Regarding food safety and hygiene assurance at this festival, Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh - Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association - said that this is always a top priority issue. The Organizing Committee coordinates with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety to seriously implement regulations and procedures for inspection and supervision of compliance with food safety and hygiene regulations.
The organizers want to send a message to all bread businesses to be responsible for community health. Absolutely ensuring safety for diners is also how we preserve and affirm the brand of world delicacies," Ms. Khanh said.
This year, the Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival gathers 168 booths with many rich activities, including performances of 50 banh mi dishes, art performances every night and many free banh mi distribution hours for visitors.
Recorded on the evening of April 23, the festival atmosphere became bustling as stalls were continuously crowded with customers. In many areas, people had to queue to buy and enjoy bread.
Ms. Thi Ly Thai Uyen (Phu Lam ward, Ho Chi Minh City) shared that right from the moment she entered the festival, she clearly felt the bustling and crowded atmosphere. "Although sometimes I am a bit tired because the number of visitors is quite large, I am still very excited to immerse myself in this unique culinary space," Ms. Uyen said.
This festival is held from April 23 - 26 at Le Van Tam Park.
