Event

The festival this year saw a 1.5 - fold increase in visitors compared to the previous year. Its success was predictable, given that ticket sales  had already  reached 10,000 two days before the official opening, nearly tripling the pre-sale figures of the 2022 festival and almost doubling those of the 2023 festival. 

Over 400 news reports and articles, constantly updated by different media outlets in HCMC and other provinces, covered the festival. Moreover, there were over 150,000 social media updates with diverse headlines and content approaches, emphasizing the festival's captivating, and unique essence.

"The Food and Culture Festival 2024's value is even greater than the statistical figures. It encompasses emotions, satisfication, and the fondness expressed by the attendees towards this event. Each evening, throughout the festival's four-day duration at Van Thanh Tourist Village from March 28 to 31, 2024, the melodious tunes of traditional folk songs seemed to instill the hearts of tourists a sentiment of attachment to the festival," said Pham Huy Binh, chairman of Saigontourist Group and head of the festival's organizing committee.

Attending the festival with his Vietnamese wife, Peter Smith, a British national and real estate expert living and working in HCMC, eagerly said:" No words can describe my feelings right now. I have had the chance to taste mnay delicious Vietnamese dishes, enjoy various forms of traditional art, and learn about handicraft villages and folk games - all at a single event. Your festival is truly remarkable and meaningful. I look forward to attending it again multiple times, should my work schedule allow, during my stay in HCMC."

A new addition to this year's festival is the "Top 10 Must-try Dishes" competition. On the festival's second day, March 29, 2024, the organizers conducted evaluations, voting, and announced the competition results. The winners, listed randomly and not ranked, are as follows: Grilled pork with clausena indica leaves (Saigon Ba Be and Saigon-BanGioc resorts), tuna eyes with herbs (Saigon-Phu Yen Hotel), Hoi An Cao Lau noodle soup (Saigontourane Hotel), Grilled Eel sausage (Saigon - Kim Lien Hotel), royal salt rice (Saigon-Morin Hotel), Dalat chicken soup with artichoke (Saigon-Dalat Hotel), pork noodle soup with herbs (Rex Hotel Saigon), noodle soup with perch (Hotel Majestic Saigon), Sardinella fish salad (Saigon - Phu Quoc Resort), and ostrich tendon stewed with red ginseng (Van Thanh Tourist Village). This could be seen as a suggestion to help guests easily find and choose dishes from among over 400 available at the festival.

Although the Saigontourist Group Food and Culture Festival 2024 ended over a week ago, its lasting impression persists in the hearts and minds of domestic and international tourists, as well as overseas Vietnamese worldwide.