The 2024 Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival, themed “Hanoi’s Culinary Delights,” came to a successful close on August 25 at the Tran Nhan Tong pedestrian street in Hai Ba Trung district. This three-day celebration showcased the very best of Hanoi’s culinary scene and local specialties, captivating both locals and visitors alike.
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| Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, Dang Huong Giang, delivers a speech at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival. Image credit: Hanoi Department of Tourism |
With over 20,000 visitors in attendance, the festival highlighted the irresistible allure of Hanoi’s unique culture and cuisine. The closing ceremony featured a speech by Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, who commended the event for its successful promotion of the city’s culinary excellence. This year’s festival played a pivotal role in Hanoi being crowned TripAdvisor’s “Best Food Destination for 2024.”
Nearly 80 booths graced the festival, each a vibrant showcase of Hanoi’s cultural and culinary heritage. Attendees indulged in a plethora of mouth-watering specialties, such as the iconic pho bo (beef noodle soup), delicate banh cuon (steamed rice crepes), chewy banh com (young sticky rice cakes), and the aromatic Tay Ho lotus tea. These dishes offered a tantalizing taste of the capital’s diverse and delectable food scene.
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| Representatives of the Hanoi Department of Tourism visiting a booth at the festival, interacting with exhibitors, and sampling the delights on offer. |
The festival also showcased chic items from famous craft villages, including Bat Trang ceramics, Van Phuc silk, and Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan products. These artisanal creations added a layer of cultural richness to the event, captivating attendees with their unique charm.
Beyond the culinary delights and handcrafted products, the festival buzzed with interactive activities. Street circus performances, culinary workshops, folk painting classes, and ethnic music shows created a lively and engaging atmosphere for all who attended. The organizers successfully presented Hanoi as a dynamic, modern city that proudly celebrates its rich cultural heritage.
Dang Huong Giang shared the Hanoi Tourism Department’s future plans, which include launching more innovative promotional activities to attract tourists to the city throughout the year. The festival’s fashion show at the closing ceremony was a testament to Hanoi’s vibrant and diverse cultural offerings.
