For six generations, the Doan family of Hanoi has created and refined one of the Capital’s most exquisite culinary specialties – cha ca – patiently distilling and perfecting its recipe over time. This body of culinary knowledge has now been officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
The knowledge of preparing Cha Ca La Vong has been inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Photo: Alamy
At the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2025, held on the evening of December 19 in Hanoi, the Organizing Committee will announce the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to inscribe “The knowledge of preparing and enjoying Cha Ca La Vong” on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
On this occasion, the story of six generations devoted to nurturing this quintessentially Hanoian dish, beloved by diners from near and far, will be shared by a representative of the Doan family themselves.
Over more than 150 years of cultivating and passing down the culinary knowledge behind this famed dish, once described by The Sydney Morning Herald of Australia as “a must-eat when visiting Vietnam,” countless fascinating and compelling stories have been woven into its legacy.
With this new recognition, Hanoi now has seven culinary traditions inscribed as national intangible cultural heritage, including Hanoi pho, Me Tri young green rice (com), Quang An lotus tea, Phu Thuong sticky rice, Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls, and the traditional knowledge of preparing ceremonial feasts in Bat Trang, among others.
Regarding the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2025, at a press briefing on the afternoon of December 16, a representative of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports announced that the festival will take place from the evening of December 19 through December 21 at Thong Nhat Park.
This annual event, organized under the direction of the Hanoi People’s Committee, aims to promote and enhance the value of the city’s culinary heritage. This year’s festival carries the theme “Hanoi – A Culinary Journey Connecting Creativity.”
The 2025 edition will feature 60 exhibition spaces showcasing cuisine from Hanoi and other regions, alongside a wide range of activities such as thematic seminars on culinary workforce development, live demonstrations by artisans, and cooking competitions for students.
A key highlight of the festival will be the “A Thousand Words of Pride” check-in space, where residents and visitors can share their pride in Vietnamese pho.
In parallel, the festival will host traditional and contemporary art performances, photo and book exhibitions, and live presentations of culinary heritage, offering a rich and immersive cultural experience.
According to Thien Dieu https://tuoitre.vn/mot-gia-toc-ha-noi-6-doi-duc-rut-tinh-tuy-mon-cha-ca-la-vong-20251216213520895.htm?gidzl=rQeX5ZkbLHFRjoSLDRnG7Dgp8XqiwrOSahOd6dwzLnx3j28P8hXL7SEq8Hvzl5OObBGaJ3dOF4CnFALK5m