The event, organised by leading tour operator Saigontourist Group, brought together Japanese locals, international tourists, and overseas Vietnamese from Osaka, the Kansai region, and across Japan, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Ngo Trinh Ha, Consul General of Vietnam in Osaka, stressed that this is the largest Vietnamese culinary festival ever held in the Kansai region, attracting significant interest from both the Japanese public and the wider international community.

The festival served not only to promote the beauty of Vietnam’s landscapes and culture but also to showcase Saigontourist Group’s capacity to organise large-scale international events, said the diplomat.

A major highlight of the event was the participation of 15 top hotels, travel agencies, and service brands under Saigontourist Group, presenting signature Vietnamese dishes alongside traditional art performances, folk games, and cultural exchange activities.

Vietnam has been honoured with prestigious accolades from the World Culinary Awards, including the title of “Asia’s Best Culinary Festival” for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024) and “World’s Best Culinary Festival” for two consecutive years (2023, 2024).

The attendance of hundreds of thousands of visitors over the two-day event is the clearest testament to the interest and affection that guests have shown for Vietnamese culture and cuisine, said Pham Huy Binh, chairman of Saigontourist.

This is a tremendous source of motivation for Saigontourist to continue striving to bring Vietnamese cultural values closer to the world, he added.

As part of the programme, Saigontourist also hosted a tourism business networking conference and a signing ceremony for cooperation in developing Vietnam–Japan tourism. The signing ceremony attracted key players in tourism, aviation, and media from the Kansai region, marking an important step toward strengthening direct promotional channels and boosting inbound tourism to Vietnam.

This was the first time that Saigontourist has held a cultural, culinary, and tourism festival abroad.

Saigontourist Group to debut Vietnam culture and cuisine festival in Japan

VOV.VN - The Saigontourist Group Vietnam Culture & Food Festival 2025 is set to take place abroad for the first time from June 14 to 15 at Osaka’s Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, serving as a way to connect Japanese locals, overseas Vietnamese, and international visitors.