On the evening of December 28, 2025, at Dong Thanh Stadium (Trang An Road, Hoa Lu Ward, Ninh Binh Province), the Ninh Binh Tourism and Culinary Festival 2025, themed “The Essence of Ancient Capital Cuisine,” was officially opened in a vibrant and festive atmosphere, attracting the attention of a large number of local residents and visitors from within and outside the province.
Attending the opening ceremony were: Mr. Ha Van Sieu – Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism; Mr. Le Quy Phuong – Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association; Ms. Dinh Thi Lua – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Tran Song Tung – Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan – Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Communication and Mass Mobilization; Mr. Mai Thanh Long – Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Mr. Bui Van Manh – Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Tourism; Mr. Bui Thanh Dong – Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hoa Lu Ward; representatives from Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Tourism Promotion Centers of provinces including Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, among others; representatives of provincial departments, agencies and mass organizations; the Tourism Association; the Provincial Culinary Culture Association; tourism service providers, OCOP enterprises, cooperatives, culinary artisans; along with journalists from central and local media outlets, and a large number of residents and tourists.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Bui Van Manh – Director of the Department of Tourism – emphasized that following administrative restructuring, Ninh Binh has entered a new phase of development with expanded opportunities. Ninh Binh cuisine represents a harmonious blend of the ancient capital’s distinctive natural conditions, profound cultural and historical depth, and the skillful craftsmanship of generations of artisans. From simple, rustic dishes to renowned specialties such as mountain goat meat, crispy rice, eel vermicelli, and Gia Vien fermented shrimp paste, each flavor bears a unique identity rich in local character. Beyond satisfying culinary tastes, Ninh Binh cuisine has become a distinctive tourism product, helping to tell the story of the land, its people, and its cultural traditions. This is a key advantage for enhancing visitor experiences and strengthening the competitiveness and appeal of Ninh Binh tourism in the new development stage.
Following the opening ritual, delegates and visitors enjoyed an impressive live culinary performance by artisans with the 12-meter-long work titled “Three-Region Banh Mi,” and toured exhibition spaces showcasing and introducing regional cuisines, sampling signature dishes from across the country, and participating in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities within the framework of the festival.
The Ninh Binh Tourism and Culinary Festival 2025, held in Hoa Lu Ward, is a major large-scale event featuring hundreds of booths. The festival space is scientifically designed into six thematic exhibition zones, honoring Ninh Binh cuisine, the culinary traditions of the three regions of Vietnam, outstanding OCOP products, traditional craft village specialties, and a system of tourism, travel, and experiential service booths. The diverse and well-organized layout has created an attractive highlight, offering residents and visitors vivid and engaging experiences of culinary culture associated with local tourism.
The festival runs through January 2, 2026, with a series of rich and dynamic activities, promising memorable culinary and tourism experiences while contributing to the promotion of Ninh Binh as a safe, friendly, and culturally rich destination.
