The Saigontourist Group Culinary Culture, Delicacies Festival was named the World’s Best Culinary Festival at the 2026 World Culinary Awards.
This marks its fourth consecutive global title since 2023 and fifth straight Asian title since 2022.
Held at the Van Thanh Tourist Area in Ho Chi Minh City, this year’s festival attracted nearly 80,000 visitors, 10,000 more than the previous edition.
The event featured around 500 dishes organized into 10 culinary themes, allowing visitors to explore regional specialties from across Vietnam in one place.
These ranged from the northwestern highlands and central Vietnam to coastal seafood, royal cuisine, and southern specialties.
An international section included contributions from the Thai and Dutch consulates, adding foreign flavours to the predominantly Vietnamese offerings.
The experience extended beyond eating. Visitors could watch artisans at work and try their hand at making traditional cakes and pottery and weaving conical hats.
It featured performances of Cham dance, Central Highlands gong music, and bai choi, a central region folk tradition that combines singing and a card game, and other regional art forms.
Saigontourist Group chairwoman Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said the festival is being developed as a cultural and tourism brand for Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.
The competition’s other nominees were: Dine Out Vancouver (Canada), Foodies Festival (England), Jamica Food & Drink Festival, Qatar International Food Festival, Brasil Restaurant Week, Tasting Australia, and African Food & Drink Festival (Nigeria).