HCMC to host iconic cuisine festival at Dam Sen

Chef Vo Quoc introduces some food programs which will be available at the Dat Phuong Nam (Southern Land) gastronomic festival at Dam Sen Park - PHOTO: DAO LOAN

The annual Dat Phuong Nam (Southern Land) gastronomic festival will take place from May 24 to 28 at Dam Sen Cultural Park, 3 Hoa Binh St., Dist. 11, HCMC with an aim to promote tourism and food culture of the city and southern provinces.

The festival, which is expected to attract 100,000 visitors, will feature some 60 food stands, cultural activities and art performances to serve visitors all day.    

Themed “Saigon- Xưa và Nay (then and now)”, the festival will introduce the culinary and cultural traits with popular dishes attached to people’s childhood such as che (sweet soup), banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper cake) and Asian street foods including Korea’s Tteokbokki, Thai-style milk tea, and Japan’s takoyaki (grilled octopus cake).

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Tourism, told a press conference to introduce the upcoming event on May 18 that street foods are becoming increasingly popular with Saigonese young people, thus the festival is aimed at promoting the culture of street foods and tourism images to international tourists. 

Apart from special programs for street foods, the organizer will host numerous interesting activities including typical culinary performances of the regions, and folk games. Besides, visitors will have a chance to admire fresh farm produce market and unique activities of craft villages.

In addition, ten art ensembles under the HCMC Southern folk music club will be available during the five-day event to show exceptional performances.

SGT