Ho Chi Minh City turns cuisine into an attractive tourism product

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has just announced a series of culinary tourism programs in Ho Chi Minh City 2025 with 21 unique culinary tours.

International tourists enjoy street food in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: QUANG DINH

At the launching ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh City culinary tourism program series on October 22, Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism - said that the program marked a new step in the strategy of diversifying tourism products and affirming the city's position as the leading "culinary paradise" in Vietnam and the region.

During the in-depth survey in September 2025, the Department of Tourism coordinated with travel businesses to develop 21 unique culinary tourism programs.

Accordingly, each tour is a unique experience, closely connecting the food service system, shopping and destinations in all three areas: Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau .

This is also part of the city's strategic orientation for developing culinary tourism products by 2030, with the goal of welcoming 10 million international visitors and achieving tourism revenue of VND290,000 billion in 2025.

"With the diversity and richness of culinary tourism programs, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to affirm its position as an international tourism center, an unmissable destination on the world tourism map. The Department hopes that these programs will contribute to building a rich, sustainable and vibrant tourism ecosystem," Ms. Hieu shared.

Some of the featured programs include:

Tour "Saigon - The Old Fragrance, The Present Flavor" (half day): Journey to discover historical landmarks through the Secret Weapons Bunker of the Saigon Special Forces, enjoy fried breadsticks dipped in Bretel butter coffee, steamed rice cakes stacked on plates, and watch the city at night from the sky bar Social Club of the Hôtel des Arts Saigon.

"The Quintessence of Ho Chi Minh City Cuisine" Tour (half day): Takes visitors through the city's exquisite culinary spaces, from Dinh Cong Trang pancakes, Vinh Khanh night market to bars in the center of Saigon ward.

"Touch the taste of herbs" tour (1 day): Experience dishes combining medicinal herbs such as Ngoc Linh ginseng pho, visit Fito Museum of Traditional Medicine, black garlic factory, and relax at D'Latcha Tea & Bistro.

"Tropical Sweetness" Tour (half day): For "sweets" lovers, the highlight is Maison Marou, a famous handmade chocolate factory, combined with exploring the Ho Chi Minh City Museum and experiencing an open-top double-decker bus.

"Vespa Le La" Tour (1 day): A tour around the city by vintage Vespa, enjoying Saigon street food from sandwiches, pancakes, seafood, sweet soup to sidewalk coffee, recreating the vibrant and friendly life of the city's people.

"From Farm to Bar" Tour (1 day): Visit OCA organic cocoa farm in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, experience making chocolate yourself, enjoy a cocoa buffet and fresh juice - the most popular "from farm to chocolate bar" journey in the coastal culinary tour group.

In addition, inter-regional tours such as "Taste of the Blue Sea", "Finding the Taste of My Hometown" or "Unique Cuisine of Binh Duong" take tourists to discover regional specialties, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, opening up a rich space for inter-regional culinary experiences.

Expanded tourist map

After expanding its administrative boundaries, Ho Chi Minh City now has 681 tourism resources eligible for development, ranging from vibrant urban spaces to traditional craft villages, modern industrial parks and poetic islands.

The city's tourism map does not stop at familiar symbols such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market, but also extends to Long Hai, Dinh Mountain, Binh Duong ceramic villages, creating a solid foundation for diversifying tourism products.

AS PEACEFUL

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-dua-am-thuc-tro-thanh-san-pham-du-lich-hap-dan-20251022140720495.htm