Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2025: Celebrating the capital’s gastronomic legacy

THE HANOI TIMES — Thong Nhat Park came alive as the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2025 officially opened on the evening of December 19, under the theme “Hanoi - A Culinary Journey Connecting Creativity.”

The festival honors traditional culinary values while showcasing Hanoi as a culturally rich and creative metropolis highlighting cuisine that shapes the city’s identity and global image.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism Le Thi Anh Mai stressed Hanoi’s commitment to culinary and cultural development, which has been launched since 2022 as a key pillar in the city’s cultural industries.

By transforming culinary heritage into valuable resources, Hanoi has nurtured both preservation and innovation, a philosophy that the festival vividly brings to life.

Hanoi’s cuisine, from the legendary 36 streets of the Old Quarter, reflects a convergence of regional cultures, particularly the rich traditions of the Doai region (the Western part of Hanoi). The city’s culinary landscape is celebrated for its diversity, refinement, creativity and standardization.

Today, hundreds of dishes rated cultural heritage items recognized in the City’s Inventory, highlighting the depth and sophistication of its culinary traditions.

Among these treasures, seven have been inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, including Hanoi noodle soup, the art of young sticky rice making from Me Tri Village, Quang An lotus tea infusion, Phu Thuong sticky rice, Thanh Tri rice rolls and Bat Trang traditional feast cooking knowledge.

A highlight of this year’s festival was the official inscription of “Knowledge of Processing and Enjoying Cha Ca La Vong (Hanoi grilled fish)” on the national heritage list.

The Cha Ca La Vong tradition, preserved for six generations by the Doan family of Hang Son Street (now Cha Ca Street), exemplifies the artistry and cultural significance of Hanoi’s culinary heritage.

Today, 22 Hanoi-style grilled fish restaurants, including Cha Ca Thang Long, Vua Cha Ca and Cha Ca Anh Vu carry forward this iconic dish, sharing its unique flavor with residents and tourists alike.

The formal recognition of this heritage not only honors its historical and cultural value but also ensure its continuity, adaptation and promotion in modern culinary life.

The festival offers an immersive journey through Hanoi’s gastronomic heritage, allowing visitors to engage with artisans, experience culinary demonstrations, participate in student competitions, explore photo and book exhibitions, while enjoying both traditional and contemporary art performances.

Featuring over 60 spaces, the festival showcases Hanoi’s local specialties alongside regional cuisines, creating a dynamic platform where heritage meets innovation.

The festival well reflects the community’s determination to keep the essence of traditional gastronomy spread and touched as it is more than a celebration of taste but a cultural exchange protecting traditional knowledge, inspiring creative culinary products and strengthening Hanoi’s position as a hub of gastronomic tourism.

By connecting the past and present, it demonstrates how cuisine can drive sustainable development of the city’s cultural industries.

Running until December 21, the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2025 invites everyone to savor the flavors, stories and creativity that define the capital’s culinary identity.