After a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese Culinary Culture Festival is set to make a return from December 1 to 3 at Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi.
Traditional cuisine captivates the palate of visitors.
Under the theme “Hanoi International Culinary Culture Exchange,” the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2023 will feature the participation of 80 booths divided into three zones: the international culinary zone, the area showcasing the culinary cultural spaces of typical craft villages and performances by traditional craft artisans of Hanoi, and the area for sales and tasting of cuisines from provinces and cities. The international culinary zone will introduce the public to characteristic dishes from various countries, accompanied by exhibitions of utensils and representative products from nations such as India, Iran, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and more. Visitors can also explore and savor the art of tea-making in a special space featuring high-quality tea varieties.
The cultural space area introduces patrons to exquisite dishes and iconic products representing traditional craft villages of Hanoi, such as Me Tri young sticky rice, Phu Thuong sweetened rice with sweet soup, So Village rice noodles, Bao Phuong traditional mooncakes, Uoc Le pork sausage, Thach Xa nutty ginger sticky rice bars, Ngau Village rice wine, Quang Phu Cau porridge, Hoa Nam rolled rice pancakes, Tam Hiep soybean paste with pickled eggplant, Hong Van Nam bananas, and Ha Mo “Se” porridge. Some dishes are showcased along with demonstrations of their preparation, including Uoc Le pork sausage, rolled Pho, Thanh Tri steamed rolled rice pancakes, and West Lake shrimp cakes.
Renowned Thanh Tri steamed rolled rice pancakes. Photo by Nhat Minh.
In the section showcasing regional specialties, Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2023 presents products from various regions such as Ha Giang (“Gu” square rice cake, kitchen air-dried beef, and mint honey); Son La (coffee, milk); Bac Ninh (chrysanthemum wine, wedding cakes, and rice cakes); Ha Nam (peanut candy, Dai Hoang banana and Nhan Hau braised fish); Ninh Binh (goat meat); and Quang Binh (ginseng jam, ginseng tea, and braised ginseng chicken).
Within the framework of the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival, there will be exchange and diplomatic activities such as photo exhibitions on culture, tourism, and representative cuisine within the country and internationally (Denmark, Venezuela, India, Iran, Panama, South Korea, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia); a mobile book exhibition introducing books promoting cultural arts, tourism, and representative cuisine within the country and internationally. Traditional art performances include Hoi An singing, ethnic music and dance, circus performances, the cultural heritage non-material culture competition “Guardian of ethnic colors,” ceremonial singing, Cheo singing, Xam singing, drum singing, Do singing, Bong Tan Trieu dance, and the Muong ethnic group’s Gongs art performance… Fun, entertainment, and dynamic activities: Toy figurine workshop, bamboo dragonfly making, calligraphy, Dong Ho painting, and various folk games, minigames, craft village experiences.
Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Do Dinh Hong, stated that the festival aims to introduce and promote Hanoi as a remarkable cultural, culinary, and tourist destination, showcasing Hanoi’s culinary artistry as an exquisite heritage formed within the flow of Vietnamese culture, appealing to both domestic and international audiences. This occasion also serves to strengthen diplomatic activities between Hanoi and the embassies of various countries, contributing positively to enhancing mutual understanding, tightening friendship, and fostering comprehensive cooperation between the people of Vietnam and, more specifically, Hanoi with international friends. The festival will be closely monitored for food safety and hygiene, with designated handwashing areas provided for visitors’ peace of mind while enjoying the products. According to Mr. Do Dinh Hong, Hanoi is in the process of compiling a dossier proposing that pho, the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, be recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Once completed, Hanoi will continue to collaborate with other localities to develop applications seeking UNESCO recognition of Vietnamese pho as a world intangible cultural heritage.
In 2022, Hanoi was ranked 22nd out of 25 most suitable culinary destinations worldwide by the Tripadvisor Travellers’s Choice Awards. Accordingly, Hanoi is an enchanting capital with its ancient streets, historical relics, and parallel architecture alongside modern developments. Time-honored delights that visitors should try in Hanoi include “Pho”, rice noodles with Vietnamese grilled pork, crab noodle soup, rolled rice pancakes, “Banh mi”, grilled fish, egg coffee, and so on.
Minh Quan
According to Dai doan ket