South-East Asia Destination

By: Phuc Thinh

Recently, Vietnam food has been mentioned as internationalized words such as: Pho, Nem or Chung cake. One New York newspaper sees Vietnam as a "new Asia food star" which has high potentials to rank among top ten food over the world.

Mr. Didier Corlou, chief cook at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, who specializes in cooking Vietnamese dishes for leaders, VIP guests said "Pho is the most delicious dish in the world" and he spent time writing an entire book introducing Pho. He also has his books on Vietnam food such as: "Old and New Hanoi food", "My Vietnam dishes" or "Mountainous food" published.

Mr. Didier Corlou thinks that spices and flavor have made Vietnamese dishes, food typical and distinguished.

Mr. Nguyen Kien, a post chief cook at 5 star hotel named Holiday Villa Suban bases in Malaysia who ever took part in a cooking course in Luxembourg agreed that Vietnamese dishes have been favored by many foreigners. In some foreign restaurants, their menus include Vietnamese dishes, in which Pho, Nem or Nom are among most popular ones.

Comments of clients and experts show that Vietnamese dishes possesses equal spices, not too fatty like Chinese ones or too hot like Thailand's.

A survey by Pacific Asia Tourism Association shows that up to 80% tourists want to experience local dishes where they visit. Some developed tourism countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have organized food tours and regard this kind of tour as a unique tourism product.

Mrs. Kieu Phuong, an experienced tour guide, who owns a restaurant at Ngo Hue said:" My restaurant attracts foreign tourists mainly for unique traditional dishes, some among them are both traditional, delicious and luxurious". Local dishes named after their location are very attractive such as: Cha Ca La Vong, Ho Tay Shrimp, or Banh Cuon Thanh Tri.

However, promotion of Vietnamese dishes has been still ignored. Currently, tourist company only offer tour itineraries focusing on destinations without much introduction about Vietnamese dishes.

Vietnamese dishes have more potentials than they have been thought but no professional promotion has been given. Mr. Philip Kotler, father of modern marketing raised a question if Vietnam becomes a new food center in the coming time? The answer lies ahead.

Mr. Phuc Thinh, managing director of GoodmorningVietnam! -
http://www.goodmorningvietnam.com.vn