On the evening of May 10th, at Nguyen Du Flower Garden, the Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with relevant units, held the opening ceremony of the Hai Phong Culinary Festival 2025. This event is part of a series of activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong’s Liberation – The Heroic City (May 13, 1955 – May 13, 2025) and in response to the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival – Hai Phong 2025.
Attending the opening ceremony were representatives from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, leaders of the Hai Phong and Hai Duong Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, representatives from various city departments, districts, and a large number of local citizens, as well as domestic and international tourists.
The Hai Phong Culinary Festival 2025 takes place at two locations: Nguyen Du Flower Garden and Hai Phong Railway Station, with a total of 25 booths. At Nguyen Du Flower Garden, 20 booths are divided into 9 stalls showcasing the city’s signature street food (Hai Phong Foodtour) and 11 stalls displaying delicious dishes, specialties, and OCOP products from various districts. At Hai Phong Railway Station, 5 booths display souvenirs, takeaway food items, tourism information, and introduce the Hoa Phuong Do tourist train route.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Hai Phong’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism emphasized that this is an opportunity to introduce and promote the city’s unique culinary values, while honoring the traditional culinary culture associated with Hai Phong’s friendly and hospitable people. The festival also concretizes the city’s tourism development strategy for the "Hai Phong Foodtour" product, enriching the experience for visitors. The event includes activities to promote railway tourism, particularly the Hoa Phuong Do train route, aiming to attract tourists and boost Hai Phong's tourism industry.
Immediately after the opening ceremony, a vibrant art program combined with live cooking demonstrations of signature dishes such as crab noodle soup (bánh đa cua), crab spring rolls (nem cua bể), sweet and sour stir-fried horseshoe crab (sam xào chua ngọt), Cat Ba grouper steamed on volcanic stone (cá mú Cát Bà xông đá núi lửa), and gold-leaf flamed Sakura beef (bò Sakura dát vàng đốt lửa) captured the attention and enthusiastic response of both locals and visitors.
The Hai Phong Culinary Festival 2025 runs for three days, from May 10 to May 12. In addition to food displays, tastings, and demonstrations, the organizers have arranged live performance spaces, photo check-in spots, interactive activities, and experiential zones to create an exciting, lively atmosphere, stimulate tourism demand, and promote the effectiveness of the city’s new tourism products. The program not only showcases Hai Phong’s dynamic, friendly, and culturally rich image but also offers a platform for businesses, enterprises, and culinary artisans to network, present their products, and contribute to the development of services, tourism, and the city’s socio-economic growth.