Vietnam Food Tours Launch from Ho Chi Minh
Two new culinary experiences have launched in Ho Chi Minh City: the "Street Food Savvy" cruise tour starting at $180 USD for adventurous eaters seeking authentic street food culture, and a "Market Visit and Cooking Class" priced at $170 USD featuring a 4½-hour experience with local market tours and hands-on cooking lessons. Both tours focus on cultural immersion, with the cooking class emphasizing Vietnamese food presentation traditions. A Taste of Spain is also pushing their "Ultimate Foodie Tour of Spain" for May 24-31 with last-minute spots available.
- Ho Chi Minh City's tourism sector is a significant economic driver, welcoming 8.5 million international visitors in 2025 with tourism revenue reaching approximately $10.4 billion. The city has set a target to welcome 11 million international visitors in 2026. - The culinary tourism market in Vietnam is projected to grow significantly, from a revenue of $222.7 million in 2023 to an expected $806.5 million by 2030. - The "Street Food Savvy" tour will likely feature iconic Saigon dishes such as *Cơm tấm*, or broken rice, which originated as a humble meal and is now a staple, and *Bánh xèo*, a crispy, sizzling pancake filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. - The "Market Visit and Cooking Class" may delve into the Vietnamese culinary philosophy of balance, which incorporates five fundamental tastes (sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and spicy) and aims for a harmony of colors and textures in its presentation. - These tours are part of a larger boom in culinary travel across Southeast Asia, where food has become a primary motivation for tourists seeking authentic cultural experiences beyond traditional landmarks. - The global profile of Vietnamese cuisine has been rising, bolstered by the arrival of the Michelin Guide in the country in 2023, which helps establish new standards and promotes local food on the world stage. - A core element of the local cuisine is the abundant use of fresh herbs and vegetables, which are central to many dishes and provide a characteristic freshness. - Unlike Thailand's government-led culinary promotion campaigns, Vietnam's global food reputation has grown more organically, largely propelled by its diaspora communities and social media buzz.
