At the week-long festival, chefs from a dozen of countries, including Germany, Greece, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Portugal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and the United States, will make their countries' special dishes from local ingredients, including herbs, from Hoi An.
The event is expected to draw a dozen  world-class cooks who will make their country’s specialties using local materials in different restaurants in the ancient town, which is a world cultural heritage site. They will share cooking techniques with local cooks in Hoi An, while joining an exchange among international and famous chefs in Hoi An. The festival will contribute to highlighting the brand name of Hoi An’s cuisine and gives chefs the chance to exchange experience with international cuisine experts. 
Coming to the festival, visitors will be introduced about traditional crafts, cuisine of Hoi An and try various kinds of international food.
Hoi An International Food Festival is an opportunity to promote Hoi An’s culinary value and introduce the beauty of the World Heritage Site Hoi An Ancient Town to the world.
The organizers plan to hold a similar food festival in the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi in the coming time.
Hoi An is famous for its cuisine. In 2011, TripAdvisor honored the old town in the "Top destinations with the best food in the world".
In 2013, Quang noodles and Cao Lau were recognized by the Asian Record Organization as some of the best Asian dishes.