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Ho Chi Minh City Launches 20 Culinary Tourism Programs for 2025: A Journey Through Flavor and Urban Culture

Ho Chi Minh City continues to strengthen its reputation as Vietnam’s “culinary capital,” not only as a top travel destination but also as a dynamic center where flavors, traditions, and creativity converge to captivate travelers from around the world.

On October 22, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism held a press conference to announce 20 new culinary tourism programs for 2025. These programs are designed to highlight the city’s diverse gastronomy and rich cultural heritage while positioning Ho Chi Minh City as a leading international culinary hub.

With the city’s administrative boundaries recently expanded, Ho Chi Minh City now boasts an even more diverse range of culinary resources. The newly introduced experiences blend local and regional flavors, offering visitors a deeper connection with Vietnam’s cultural identity through food.

The event marks an important milestone in redefining gastronomy as a “smokeless industry” that not only attracts visitors but also contributes to the sustainable growth of Vietnam’s tourism sector. From bustling local markets and vibrant night food streets to riverside villages and newly integrated coastal areas, the city’s culinary landscape reflects the perfect fusion of tradition and innovation. This diversity enhances the city’s potential to become a central culinary tourism destination in Southeast Asia.

Among the highlights of the new programs is the seamless combination of Saigon’s iconic street food culture with the distinctive tastes of neighboring regions, including countryside specialties from Binh Duong and fresh seafood from Vung Tau.

As part of its broader tourism development strategy, Ho Chi Minh City continues to innovate with a wide range of experience-based products, such as river cruises, heritage and cultural tours, eco-tourism, and community-based travel. Yet, gastronomy remains at the heart of this vision, serving as a powerful connector that allows visitors to engage with local life in the most authentic and memorable way.

Travel companies have created flexible tour options ranging from half-day experiences to three-day itineraries. Highlights include culinary Vespa tours, cocoa farm visits with hands-on chocolate-making workshops, and “Cook with a Chef” sessions in the heart of the city. These immersive programs are attracting strong interest from both domestic and international travelers.

According to Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism, “The new culinary tourism programs are not only about discovering flavors but also about exploring the culture, history, and people of this vibrant city.” She also shared that the city currently has 681 tourism assets ready for development, spanning from modern urban districts and historical landmarks to traditional markets and coastal attractions.

These initiatives are part of the city’s long-term Culinary Tourism Development Strategy toward 2030, aiming to welcome 10 million international visitors and achieve 290 trillion VND in tourism revenue by 2025.

Through this diverse program lineup, the Department of Tourism hopes to offer travelers fresh experiences while showcasing Ho Chi Minh City as a destination of creativity, vitality, and inspiration.