Honoring 29 Culinary, Traditional Cake, and Fruit-Vegetable Carving Artisans

(DTO) On April 27, in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Tourism Association held the second Ceremony Honoring Culinary Artisans, Traditional Cake Artisans, and Fruit-Vegetable Carving Artisans of 2026.  

At the event, the Vietnam Tourism Association recognized 29 artisans nationwide, including 27 culinary artisans, 1 traditional cake artisan, and 1 fruit-vegetable carving artisan. 

The ceremony serves as a meaningful occasion to acknowledge artisans’ contributions in preserving, promoting, and innovating the essence of Vietnamese cuisine. 

Its significance is amplified as cuisine increasingly plays a vital role in tourism, helping shape Vietnam’s identity in international integration. Vietnamese cuisine is not merely food. It reflects the lifestyle, customs, sentiments of the people, and the natural bounty of each land and cultural region. 

The artisan title is not only recognition but also a symbol of talent, commitment, and devotion. These celebrated values will continue to inspire and encourage the next generation to inherit and further develop Vietnam’s culinary heritage. 

On this occasion, the Mekong Delta Professional Chefs Association held a gathering to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The event was part of a series highlighting the contributions of the region’s chefs to the development of Vietnamese cuisine. 

Founded in 2016, the Association has steadily grown into a reputable professional organization with around 150 members, including chefs, artisans, culinary experts, and businesses in the region. 

Over the past decade, it has hosted and participated in nearly 20 culinary record-setting events, helping promote the image of Mekong Delta cuisine. Highlights include the giant banh chung (square sticky rice cake) weighing nearly three tons, and most recently, the “Largest Coconut-Milk Sticky Rice Map of Vietnam,” recognized as a Vietnam Record. 

By NAM PHONG
Translated by ANH DUC