On the afternoon of December 16 in Hanoi, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports held a press conference to introduce the Hanoi Food and Culture Festival 2025, themed “Hanoi – A Culinary Journey Connecting Creativity.”
The atmosphere of the press conference painted a vivid picture of the Capital’s cuisine, where daily dishes are being re-positioned as cultural heritage, tourism resources, and drivers of the cultural industry.
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| Overview of the press conference |
Attending the press conference were Assoc. Prof., Dr. Dang Van Bai, Vice Chairman of the National Council for Cultural Heritage; Le Thi Anh Mai, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports; Shimamura Masafumi, Marketing Director of Acecook Vietnam Joint Stock Company; representatives of vocational training institutions, partner organizations, culinary artisans, and a large number of journalists from central and Hanoi-based media outlets.
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In his remarks, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Dang Van Bai emphasized that culinary culture is a special form of cultural resource and a highly influential tourism asset. Citing statistics, he noted that approximately 81% of tourists are willing to spend money to experience and enjoy culinary culture at destinations. These figures demonstrate that cuisine goes far beyond eating – it has become a cultural language and a powerful way of telling stories about local identity.
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| Assoc. Prof., Dr. Dang Van Bai speaking at the press conference |
The Hanoi Food and Culture Festival serves as an occasion to honor artisans – those who practice, transmit, and safeguard traditional culinary knowledge every day. This recognition is not merely symbolic; it also contributes to the development of the food economy, links cuisine with tourism, and gradually forms value chains within the cultural industry.
From the perspective of a corporate partner, Shimamura Masafumi shared that in 2024, Acecook collaborated with media partners to honor Vietnamese pho as a culinary heritage. Entering 2025, marking 30 years of Acecook’s presence in Vietnam, the company reaffirmed its commitment to promoting and spreading culinary cultural values. Hanoi, in particular, is seen as a convergence point for many renowned dishes of both national and international significance. A highlight of this year’s festival is the “A Thousand Words of Pride” check-in space, where residents and visitors can share their thoughts and pride in Vietnamese pho.
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| Ms. Le Thi Anh Mai speaking at the press conference |
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| Mr. Shimamura Masafumi sharing at the press conference |
According to Le Thi Anh Mai, the Hanoi Food and Culture Festival is an annual event organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports under the direction of the City People’s Committee. Particularly in the context of implementing Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU on cultural industry development (2021-2025, vision to 2030 and 2045), cuisine has been identified as a key sector capable of generating sustainable added value.
From the historic 36 Old Streets to an expanded Hanoi shaped by cultural interactions with Xu Doai, the Capital’s cuisine has become increasingly rich and diverse. Since 2014, the inventory of intangible cultural heritage has identified hundreds of culinary heritages. To date, Hanoi has seven culinary heritages inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, including Me Tri green rice flakes, Quang An lotus tea, Phu Thuong sticky rice, Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls, and Bat Trang ceremonial feasts. After inscription, many of these heritages have “stepped beyond the village,” traveling far and wide, appearing in diplomatic and international exchange activities.
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| West Lake lotus tea artisan Doan Thi Kim Dung speaking |
A major highlight of the Hanoi Food and Culture Festival 2025 is the ceremony announcing the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to inscribe “Culinary Knowledge and Appreciation of Cha Ca La Vong (Hanoi)” on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The story of the Doan family, which has preserved this dish for six generations, deeply embedded in the collective memory of Hanoi residents, will be retold right at the festival, serving as a vivid testament to the resilience of heritage in urban life.
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| Journalists raising questions at the press conference |
Taking place from December 19 to 21, 2025, at Thong Nhat Park, the festival will feature a rich program of activities: thematic seminars on culinary human resource development; artisan-led workshops and demonstrations; experiential activities for students; traditional and contemporary art performances; photo and book exhibitions; a mobile library; and a dedicated space with 60 booths showcasing Hanoi cuisine and regional specialties.
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| Through performances, hands-on practice, exchanges, and heritage storytelling, the festival aims to transform culinary enjoyment into a holistic cultural experience. Cuisine is not only about good taste, it is also a way to understand history, community, and lifestyle of the Capital, where each dish represents a slice of memory, creatively connected to remain vibrant in today’s rhythm of life.
According to: https://ngaymoionline.com.vn/ha-noi-hanh-trinh-am-thuc-ket-noi-sang-tao-khi-di-san-buoc-ra-khong-gian-song-62541.html?gidzl=8cQ41mQkoLmiUu842BVCNYbrX0WLwibNON213qUyo5KmSeGC6xdALZ1oXmj4lSbJPtA2MJaI-tfl0Qx8M0 Text and photos: Thanh Ha |