Vietnamese cuisine is admired around the world. Da Nang in the eyes of tourists is considered a culinary centre with many characteristics of central Vietnamese culinary culture. What makes Vietnamese cuisine, Da Nang cuisine in particular, superior? Cuisine contributes to attracting tourists, promoting strong growth of tourism.

'Capital' of world cuisine

Foreign press commented that Viet Nam is the capital of world cuisine. The Cuisine Magazine of the World Culinary Association, in September 2023 wrote: "Cuisine is culture, cuisine is the essence of a country and its people. Vietnamese cuisine is worthy of that quintessence”.

Vietnamese ‘banh chung’ (square glutinous rice cake) has been around since the time when Hung King built upthe country, and is still indispensable in every Vietnamese family when spring comes and Tet approaches.

For Vietnamese people and overseas Vietnamese, Tet fruit trays to worship ancestors always have ‘banh chung’ in a solemn position. Over thousands of years, the custom of wrapping ‘banh chung’ on Tet to offer to ancestors has never been lost in the minds of every Vietnamese person, demonstrating the harmony between heaven and earth, and welcoming a prosperous and peaceful lunar new year. ‘Banh chung’ is a traditional dish, a typical culinary culture of Viet Nam.

Thailand's Minister of Tourism, at the time when Mr. Thaksin Shnawatra was Prime Minister, came to the Marble Mountains, Da Nang as a traveler. In his interview with travel magazine Bangkok Post, this official said: “Coming to Viet Nam, you must enjoy delicious dishes, cannot miss Hue royal cuisine, Quang noodles, Da Nang belly pork and vegetables wrapped in soft rice pape. Without enjoying the cuisine, the trip is only half successful”.

When talking about Vietnamese cuisine, it is impossible not to mention ‘pho’(a noodle dish served with hot broth cooked from beef or chicken.) : the national soul, the national essence of the Vietnamese people. Viet Nam chooses December 12 every year as Vietnamese ‘Pho’ Day.

On October 7 and 8, 2023, at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan, the first Vietnamese ‘Pho’ Festival was held, attracting the attention of a large number of Japanese people, foreign countries and the Vietnamese community in Japan. Japanese politician, Mr. Yamaguchi Natsuo, Chairman of the Komei Party, highly commented: “It is very special as the pride of Vietnamese cuisine is spread from the Pho festival”.

In the in Van newspaper, the predecessor of today's Vietnam Arts Weekly edition, in 1957, Vietnamese writer Nguyen Tuan wrote, when he attended an event in Finland, “Right now, by Otaniemi Lake. In the cold weather, there's nothing better than a steaming bowl of Ha Noi ‘pho’. Let's order 6 bowls right away. ‘Pho has been around for hundreds of years. Wherever we go, we always remember ‘Pho’, the magical dish of true Vietnamese people”.

Along with ‘pho, vermicelli with tofu and shrimp paste originating from the Vietnamese capital city of Ha Noi, with thousands of years of civilization, has spread to the other side of the Pacific Ocean. In 2023, in Chinatown - Manhattan, a restaurant serving Ha Noi-style ‘bun dau mam tom’ (fermented shrimp paste with fried tofu and rice vermicelli) opened, attracting thousands of US customers every week.

A Ha Noi girl married to an American man, and she brought Vietnamese cuisine to the other side of the Pacific Ocean, ‘bun dau mam tom’ captivated and ecstatic many people, both Western and Vietnamese! The Vietnamese girl plans to continue spreading this unique and strange dish to other states in the US in a bid to promote the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine.

When many heads of state come to Viet Nam, they want to experience Vietnamese culinary culture. The leaders jogged and cycled by Hoan Kiem Lake, enjoyed ‘bun cha’  ( rice noodles with grilled pork and meatballs), shrimp cakes, and sipped the flagship Vietnamese coffee, ‘ca phe sua da’. In May 2016, former US President Barack Obama paid an official visit to Viet Nam. He went to Huong Lien restaurant located on Le Van Huu Street to eat Trang An ‘bun cha’.

From now on, every time tourists have the opportunity to taste ‘bun cha’, everywhere they go, they call it fun and lovely ‘Bun cha Obama’.

In particular, The former US president concluded his speech by reciting another Vietnamese poem, this time celebrated 18^th-century poet Nguyen Du’s ‘Truyen Kieu’ (The Tale of Kieu), which reads, “Please take from me this token of trust, so we can embark upon our 100-year journey together.”

Likewise, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Tumbull  shared a ‘banh mi’ breakfast with Australian-Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen at a local street food restaurant on Tran Van Thanh Street, before beginning a busy day of meetings for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang. 

Tourists participating in the trans-Viet Nam tour enjoy local specialties: fried spring rolls and fish cakes in La Vong,Ha Noi, squid rolls in Quang Ninh, fish noodles in Hai Duong, Quang noodles, Hoi An’s ‘cao lau’, Tam Ky chicken rice, Quy Nhon noodle soup, Chau Doc - An Giang fish noodle soup, My Tho noodle soup, An Nhat ‘banh muot” (steamed rolled pancakes),  Ms Ba’s ‘banh beo’ (Vietnamese bloating fern-shaped cake attachment) in Vung Tau. In particular, the ancient capital of Hue shows off both royal cuisine and popular cuisine.

The appeal of Vietnamese cuisine is first of all due to this country's geographical advantage stretching 3,200km of coastline from North to South. Differences in terrain, weather, and climate between regions create richness and diversity of cuisine.

Viet Nam has 54 ethnic groups, each of which has strange, unique, and characteristic dishes. Dishes with many flavours and colours have something in common: they are harmonious, delicious, beautiful, good for health, and rich in historical and cultural traditions.

In the world, there are countries with similar climates but do not have cuisine like Viet Nam. As the owners of wet rice civilization, Vietnamese people .with ‘bare back exposed to the sun and dew’ in farming work, worrying about nature. In Vietnamese spirituality, all things exist according to the law of yin and yang balance, then all things can develop, in a person, in each dish.

‘Rich’ Quang cuisine

Talking about Vietnamese cuisine, it is impossible not to mention Quang cuisine and Central Vietnamese cuisine as a whole, a destination with three heritages connected together, promoting tourism growth.

Da Nang cuisine is known as ‘memorable’ dishes that are famous near and far. People say the list of delicious dishes in Da Nang is endless, every time of the year there are new dishes. The land is rich in products, diverse in ecological environment and culinary habits, with a continuing exchange process with the ancient capital of Hue, the land of the Flying Dragon - ‘Thang Long’, and the magnificent Saigon Gia Dinh, with a highland rich in produce, of which Da Nang and Hoi An ancient urban area are typical.

Quang noodles is a typical dish, neither dry nor watery, with a rich taste and attractive rustic flavour. The dish is easy to make, suitable for people with little money, easy to carry and fill the stomach. Quang chicken noodles, or Quang noodles with young chicken eggs mixed with some rice paper, dipping sauce, and delicious aromatic herbs. All kinds of frogs, eels, fish, pork, and veal can all be used to make Quang noodles. There are also Hoi An’s ‘cao lau’ dishes, Cau Mong barbecued veal, and famous fragrant Tam Ky chicken rice.

Belly pork and vegetables wrapped in soft rice pape is a famous delicious dish of Da Nang, Quang region at large. Rice paper is made from pure rice, firm and sweet pork that is alternately lean and fatty, boiled until just right. Raw vegetables and fruits are sliced thinly, wrapped in special rice paper, dipped in delicious and flavourful fish sauce. The person who wrote this article always remembers a beautiful and happy memory.

That day, in beautiful sunny Da Nang, with a gentle sea breeze, Chairman of the ASEAN Press Federation and Chairman of the Thai Press Federation Bandhit Rajavanadhanin enjoyed this dish at the foot of the Marble Mountains tourist site. The Thai journalist praised this delicious and unique dish. Later, no less than 5 times when he had the opportunity to return to Da Nang, he mentioned the culinary party with this dish. Twice coming to Da Nang, he asked to buy this delicious dish to bring back to Bangkok, calling dozens of valuable neighbours to his house to enjoy it.

Cuisine - Sublime travel! Quang Nam - Da Nang cuisine is like that: unique - strange and delicious. Each dish has a flavour, each way of preparation, and it's endless.

We would like to quote the opinion of our precious friend of the Vietnamese press, Mr. Bandhit Rajavadhanin, published in the Bangkok Post daily newspaper instead of concluding this article: “Viet Nam, and Da Nang in particular,  is endlessly rich, because they have many delicious dishes. Delicious food is an invaluable asset that is culinary culture. Viet Nam, and Da Nang in particular, has culinary cultures. Cuisine promotes rapid and sustainable development of tourism.

Reporting by PHAM QUOC TOAN - Translating by ANH THU