Italy's culinary heritage to be celebrated in Vietnam with week-long program

The 11th Week of Italian Cuisine in Vietnam is organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM), restaurants, chefs, and Italian and Vietnamese business partners.

The 2026 edition, entitled 'Italian Cooking, UNESCO Heritage: Territories and Value Chains of Excellence,' follows the recognition of Italian cuisine as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2025.

It highlights the links between culinary traditions, local communities, agricultural biodiversity, and the quality of regional food products.

Events will showcase the diversity of Italy's regional cuisines, wines and food products, as well as initiatives exploring the relationship between Italian gastronomy, design, and Vietnamese culinary traditions.

The culinary experiences will cover a wide range of options, from fine dining restaurants to home-style and street food.

Launched in 2016 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the annual Week of Italian Cuisine in the World promotes Italian food culture, regional culinary traditions, and the principles of the Mediterranean diet.

Speaking exclusively to Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, Alessandra Tognonato, Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, said she hoped to show Vietnamese people that Italian cuisine is far more diverse than the few familiar dishes commonly associated with the country.

Italian cuisine is built on diversity, as each region has its own local produce and cooking traditions, she said.

According to the Italian diplomat, UNESCO recognition celebrates not only the quality of ingredients but also the love of cooking and sharing.

This is also something Italians and Vietnamese have in common, Tognonato added.

Dining is not only about satisfying hunger but also nourishing the soul, she noted, saying the dining table becomes a lively place where people laugh, talk, share stories, ask about each other's lives, and sometimes even share their worries.

“It is part of family and social life, going far beyond eating,” she said.