It is the stories behind each dish that create lasting memories, transforming a meal into a journey of cultural discovery that visitors are eager to share, an expert has said.
More than a food showcase, the programme combines live cooking demonstrations, cultural talks, chef-to-chef exchanges, and business networking to strengthen the global profile of Vietnamese cuisine and promote deeper international connections through gastronomy.
According to Biba Magazine, Vietnam's regional culinary diversity, fresh ingredients and refined cooking techniques have elevated its cuisine far beyond iconic dishes such as pho and spring rolls, making it one of the country's most memorable attractions for international visitors.
Featuring more than 100 booths representing diverse cultures from around the world, the festival transformed the heart of Prague into a vibrant multicultural space where visitors could sample traditional dishes, enjoy folk performances, listen to traditional music and experience unique cultural showcases from different continents.
Vietnamese cuisine has continued to make its mark on the global culinary map, with the number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the country reaching double digits for the first time.
The festival featured more than 20 booths offering traditional Vietnamese dishes, including "pho" and spring rolls, alongside activities promoting Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditonal long dress). One of the highlights was the presentation of complimentary Ao Dai to Czech residents and international visitors.
A wide range of traditional handicrafts reflecting Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage, including ceramics, lacquerware, silk products, brocade textiles and other items, attracted considerable attention from visitors. Many products sold out early in the day.
The Vietnamese dish has been served at the university cafeteria for a two-week period beginning May 18, allowing students to experience and learn more about Vietnamese cuisine.
In recent years, Vietnamese dishes have gained wider global recognition through travellers and international rankings. A social media group named “Vietnam Banh Mi Appreciation Society,” with nearly 200,000 foreign members, is dedicated to reviewing banh mi from street stalls to established shops, reflecting growing international enthusiasm for the dish.
Participating businesses are showcasing a wide range of products, from agricultural produce, processed foods, beverages, and spices to equipment and technologies for processing, packaging, and preservation.
Vietnamese ‘banh mi’ has been ranked third in CNN’s list of the 25 finest sandwiches worldwide, announced in early April.
At the Glorious Spring Fair 2026 at the Vietnam Exposition Centre in Hanoi, the “Xuan My Vi” (Spring Flavours) zone has emerged as one of the most crowded attractions.
Here, hundreds of Vietnamese dishes are on display and sold.
Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh described pho as a “national dish” and a cultural symbol of Vietnam. He said the event aimed to build bridges bringing international friends closer to Vietnam's culinary culture, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and people-to-people exchanges.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Greece took part in the International Cultural Festival 2026, organised by the UNESCO Club of Piraeus and Islands in Greece, marking the embassy’s first activity of the new year and highlighting its efforts to bring the image of Vietnam closer to the Greek public and international friends through traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
Vietnamese rice paper is increasingly winning the hearts of European diners thanks to its versatility, easy preparation and ability to pair well with a wide range of Western ingredients. This culinary exchange not only broadens the reach of Vietnamese cuisine but also enriches the multicultural culinary landscape of Belgium and many other countries.
Amid the festive atmosphere welcoming the New Year 2026, the Vietnamese community in Malaysia on January 1 held a food fair at the Mines commercial complex in Selangor.
Co-hosted by the Trade Office of the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and the school, the event sought to highlight the sophistication of Vietnamese food to students and faculty. Over 50 attendees of varying ages joined the special evening, turning a standard classroom into a lively hub for cultural exchange.
VNAT Deputy Director Ha Van Sieu stressed that Vietnam is recognised as one of the top travel destinations in Southeast Asia, offering endless beauty and rich cultural heritage, where visitors can explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, relax on tropical beaches stretching over 3,000 km nationwide, and enjoy world-class hotels, resorts, and entertainment services.
Vietnam has achieved top rankings in several categories of the prestigious global Readers’ Choice Awards, voted by readers of the international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has reported.
Festival-goers enjoyed Vietnam’s signature fried spring rolls and prawn crackers while also watching live demonstrations of how the spring rolls are made.