Running from August 23 to 25 at the Tran Nhan Tong pedestrian zone in Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, the Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2024 is set to dazzle visitors by showcasing the capital’s charm as a “Safe - Friendly - Quality - Attractive” destination. This vibrant event aims to captivate audiences in anticipation of National Day on September 2 and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Capital’s Liberation on October 10, 1954 - 2024.

This annual tourism stimulus event, organized by the Hanoi Tourism Department, is designed to elevate Hanoi's tourism appeal and showcase the city's vibrant attractions.

The check-in point of Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2024. Photo: Chuyen cua Ha Noi Group

Honoring Hanoian cuisine

Hanoian cuisine is famous nationwide and is characterized by the elegant style of Trang An, the ancient Vietnamese capital. Along with the development of all aspects, Hanoi cuisine also imported the essence of many regions throughout the country with some local tweaks.

Street food in Hanoi is varied, including breakfast, lunch, and light meals in the afternoon. Breakfast usually included Pho or Vietnamese traditional flat noodle soup with beef or chicken, banh mi or Vietnamese sandwich, banh cuon or Vietnamese steamed rice rolls, xoi or sticky rice, among others.

With the theme “Hanoi Noshes”, Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2024 aims to honor the culinary quintessence of Hanoi while also contributing to preserving and promoting folk culinary culture. At the same time, it also discovers and honors folk artisans, collects and upholds ancient recipes and processing methods, and the culinary treasure not only of the Vietnamese people but also of ethnic minorities across the country, thereby contributing to the development of the capital's tourism sector.

The booth of the Royal Chefs Association of Vietnam showcases and promotes Hanoi cuisine at the festival. Photo: Hoai Nam

The festival features the participation of about 100 groups, including more than 20 food booths and multiple check-in spaces for visitors. Many typical culinary products of Hanoi on display, such as Me Tri green rice flakes, Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls, Pho ‘banh mi’, Huong Mai pho rolls, Duong Lam peanut candy, braised sweet dessert soup, Hanoi draft beer, spring rolls, candied lotus seeds or sausage cake.

Attending the Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival for the first time, the owner of He Fish Cakes revealed that the shop had prepared ingredients to make about 100 rolls a day, but they were sold out between the afternoon and the opening evening. “This is a very practical activity to promote the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine, and an opportunity for eateries to introduce their products to the locals and tourists”, she said.

The Moc Lam green rice facility presents Hanoi's green rice products to tourists. Photo: Hoai Nam

Meanwhile, according to owner Vu Thi Phuc, Moc Lam Green Rice Flakes offers 10 products made from green rice flakes or com at the festival, featuring fresh com, com sticky rice, com meatballs, com cakes, stir-fried com and others. “When it comes to Hanoian autumn snacks, Hanoian com is a must-mention dish. We’ve spent many days preparing the products, ensuring quality and safety for visitors”, she affirmed.

Captivating experiences for tourists

Dao Tung Lam, a visitor from Cau Giay District, expressed his enthusiasm about trying the Hanoi craft beer, or bia hoi, at the festival. “It was fascinating to enjoy such delicious bia hoi amid the lively festival atmosphere,” he told The Hanoi Times.

“This beer bar recreates a beer shop from the subsidy era. We get to enjoy a cold beer in the cool autumn weather while soaking in the festive atmosphere of this once-a-year celebration,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sandra, a visitor from Spain, delighted in making Tohe, a traditional Vietnamese toy crafted by artisans from Xuan La Village, Phu Xuyen District. These simple yet exquisitely made toys have been renowned for decades and are a popular gift for visitors to Hanoi.

Children enjoyed exploring the tohe toys from Xuan La Village, Phu Xuyen District, Hanoi. Photo: Hoai Nam

It’s surprising to see how Tohe artisans use simple tools to shape colorful toys, thanks to their skillful hands and creativity,” she told The Hanoi Times.

The suburban village of Hanoi has been producing these toys for nearly 300 years. This traditional craft village is the only place in Vietnam specializing in handmade rice toys.

Wherever a Tohe artisan appears on the street, he draws the attention not only of children but also adults, who enjoy waiting and looking at the way beautiful flowers, funny animals, or popular cartoon characters are gradually created. 

Going to the festival, visitors can not only sample the food and drinks or admire gift products from local craft villages, but also experience diverse activities such as making bamboo dragonflies, artistic flowers or recycled artworks. In addition, you can also interact with famous Hanoi flute kite artisans like People's Artisan Nguyen Huu Kiem, or Meritorious Artisans Pham Van Mai and Nguyen Gia Do - all from Hong Ha Commune, Dan Phuong District.

During the festival, there are also traditional art performances, including Gong performances of the Muong ethnic group from Thach That District, Cheo Tau singing of Tan Hoi Commune and Ca Tru singing of Thuong Mo Commune - both in Dan Phuong District, Hanoi.