Ho Chi Minh City possesses rich and diverse culinary potential. This is a prominent advantage to attract domestic and foreign tourists. In particular, after expanding administrative boundaries and merging provinces, the city's culinary resources are even more abundant with many regional dishes and specialties, contributing to creating new attraction for tourist destinations.
In order to exploit this strength, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is promoting the unique culinary values of the city through cooperation with leading technology platforms. Notably, it signed with Foody Joint Stock Company (shopee Food operator) to implement the Culinary Passport program - a smart interactive tool that helps visitors easily explore and check-in a unique culinary journey.
At the same time, the unit also coordinated with travel businesses to build and announce thematic culinary tours, introduce traditional dishes, specialty restaurants and new culinary experiences.
In particular, in 2025, Ho Chi Minh City Food Handbook will be reprinted in print and electronic form, adding many addresses and typical dishes in new wards and communes. The synchronous launch of the Culinary Passport, experience tours and the Culinary Handbook promises to bring visitors a colorful journey to explore, contributing to positioning Ho Chi Minh City as the leading culinary paradise in Vietnam.
In addition, Ho Chi Minh City also organizes many culinary events. Notably, the 1st Vietnamese Rice Fiber Festival in 2025, scheduled to take place from October 16 to 19 at September 23 Park, with about 100 - 150 booths displaying rice flour, fresh vermicelli, rice fiber, processed spices and many special side dishes. This promises to be a highlight to attract tourists to experience and explore the culinary values of Vietnamese cuisine right in the heart of the city.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, after expanding the scope of management, in urban space, architectural heritages, modern museums, traditional markets, creative spaces, festivals and especially street food have become typical highlights. This is the foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to develop a variety of tourism products, from MICE, city tours, cultural tourism to night tourism.
