In his opening remarks, Bui Van Manh, Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, stressed that this was the first large-scale cultural tourism event since the administrative merger, bringing together the distinctive culinary cultural values of the new Ninh Binh Province and regions across the country.
The festival introduces signature dishes and specialities from the province and other regions, alongside traditional craft village products, as well as hands-on experiences, exchanges and emotionally rich performances while also telling vivid and meaningful stories about Viet Nam’s culinary culture.
A highlight is the story of Pho – a national intangible cultural heritage – an emblem of Vietnamese identity and culinary refinement, together with outstanding traditional culinary values of the Northern Delta.
The festival is being held across three wards in the province through a series of diverse, culturally rich activities that have attracted strong public interest and participation. In recent days, the Northern Delta folk cake festival in Tam Chuc Ward and a bun and pho festival honouring rice-based products in Nam Dinh Ward have taken place in a lively atmosphere.
Its major programmes officially run in Hoa Lu Ward with the participation of 87 craft villages and cooperatives from 13 provinces and cities nationwide, creating a space to savour the culinary quintessence of the North, Central and South.
The event is linked with a “Traditional Northern Tet Space”, featuring around 180 booths, including: 120 booths showcasing signature dishes from Ninh Binh and other provinces and cities; 40 booths featuring OCOP products, regional specialities and traditional craft villages; and 20 booths dedicated to tourism, travel and experiential activities, promoting tours, destinations and culinary tourism services.
The festival runs until January 2, 2026.
