Saigon, the pearl of the Far East, has always been an attractive destination for tourists due to its dynamism, modernity, and especially its rich and diverse street food scene. Immersing in the bustling atmosphere of the city, the 2nd Saigon Street Food Festival in 2024 has officially opened, offering diners a unique and colorful culinary journey.
“Ngũ Vị Sài Gòn” Festival: Quintessence of Street Food Confluence
This year’s festival, held at Dam Sen Cultural Park, gathers more than 30 booths, each offering unique dishes that authentically reflect the rhythm of life and culinary culture of Saigon past and present. With the theme “Ngũ Vị Sài Gòn” (Five Flavors of Saigon), the festival is inspired by the original flavors of Vietnamese cuisine, symbolizing the stages of growth and development of Saigonese people.
Visitors enjoying street food at a vendor stall at the festival
“Ngũ Vị Sài Gòn” is not just a theme, but also a culinary story told through five flavors:
- The flavor of innocent childhood: Dishes that evoke childhood memories, familiar street vendors, sweet snacks.
- The flavor of fresh youth: The taste of discovery, creativity, dishes with a youthful, modern style.
- The flavor of challenging stumbles: Bold, spicy dishes, representing the difficulties and challenges in life.
- The flavor of mature adulthood: Traditional, sophisticated dishes, showing understanding and appreciation for cultural values.
- The flavor of profound life: The harmony of all flavors, creating a rich and multi-dimensional culinary experience, imbued with the love for Saigon people and land.
Journey to Discover Saigon Street Food
Coming to the festival, visitors will be spoiled for choice to explore and enjoy hundreds of typical Saigon street food dishes, from familiar dishes such as bánh mì, phở, bún riêu, gỏi cuốn… to unique, creative dishes, bearing the personal imprint of talented chefs.
Must-try dishes:
- Saigon Bánh Mì: With a crispy crust, generously filled with cold cuts, Vietnamese sausage, pate, herbs, and special sauce, Saigon bánh mì has become a culinary icon of the city.
- Pho: Vietnam’s national dish, Saigon pho has a distinctive flavor with sweet broth, soft noodles, and fresh beef.
- Bún Riêu (Crab Noodle Soup): A rustic dish with the sour taste of tomatoes, the sweetness of crab paste, and an attractive reddish color.
- Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Spring Rolls): A light, refreshing dish with thin rice paper, fresh vegetables, vermicelli, shrimp, meat, and sweet dipping sauce.
- Various Snail Dishes: Saigon is famous for its diverse snail dishes, from boiled snails, snails stir-fried with tamarind, grilled snails with scallion oil… to unique and creative snail dishes.
“Street Flavor – Saigonese Essence”: Meaningful Message
The Saigon Street Food Festival is not only a place to enjoy delicious food, but also an opportunity to discover and experience the unique culinary culture of Saigon. With the message “Street Flavor – Saigonese Essence”, the festival aims to bring visitors not only the original culinary flavors, but also the harmony of the special “spices” that create the beauty and story of the land and its people.
“Saigonese” is used as a Gen Z language, representing the youthful, dynamic, and urban spirit of Saigon. The festival is a combination of traditional values and modern creativity, creating a unique and attractive cultural space.
Explore Saigon Street Cultural Space
The festival space is designed and recreated to resemble the street scene of Saigon past and present in a vivid way. Visitors can easily recognize familiar street corners, street vendors, sidewalk eateries… realistically and emotionally recreated.
The festival is divided into different culinary zones, linked to the stages of human life. Visitors can stroll through each zone, discover dishes typical of each stage, and feel the change of Saigon cuisine over time.
Opportunity to Promote Saigon Cuisine and Tourism
The Saigon Street Food Festival is not only a culinary and cultural event, but also an opportunity for businesses in the Ho Chi Minh City culinary and tourism industry to introduce and promote delicious dishes and famous, diverse, and unique specialties to domestic and international tourists.
This event is a bridge between related units and partners, contributing to promoting the development of the city’s tourism and culinary industries. The festival is also an opportunity to introduce the special street food culture of the former Saigon people and present-day Ho Chi Minh City to international friends.
Detailed Festival Information
- Location: Dam Sen Cultural Park, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Time: From 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, until December 15, 2024.
Come to the Saigon Street Food Festival to discover and experience the unique flavors of Saigon, immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere, and feel the youthful and dynamic “Saigonese” spirit.
Saigon is not just a city, but an experience. And the Street Food Festival is an indispensable part of that experience.