Sunday, 31/05/2026 12:45
(GMT+7)
The Colors of Highland Cuisine
HNN.VN - As part of the 1st Festival of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Ethnic Groups in Mountainous Areas, on the morning of May 30, the Highland Culinary Festival and Traditional Cooking Contest officially launched at A Luoi 2 Commune Market.
The event serves as a meaningful activity to honor and promote the unique culinary beauty of local ethnic minority communities.
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| The distinctive flavors of the highlands showcasing through dishes presented by the A Luoi 5 Commune team |
This year’s culinary festival was hosted by A Luoi 2 Commune, with the cooking contest bringing together teams from 5 localities across A Luoi region.
Each participating locality was represented by a four-member team, comprising 2 men and 2 women. Within 90 minutes, the teams were required to prepare 3 to 4 signature dishes, reflecting the rich culinary traditions and distinctive flavors of their local ethnic communities.
Ms. Le Thi Luan, a member of the Pa Co ethnic group from A Luoi 2 Commune, said that this was the first traditional cooking contest held since local administrative units were merged and the two-tier local government model was introduced. “Not only me, but also residents, and everyone attending the event today feel extremely proud and excited. We come to the festival not merely to compete, but more importantly to exchange experiences, learn from each other, and strengthen connections among ethnic communities, localities, and visitors,” she said.
The People’s Committee of A Luoi 2 Commune said that participating teams would prepare all ingredients in advance. Once the dishes were completed, the teams would present and display their entries, accompanied by a detailed introduction outlining the cultural significance, origins, and how the dishes were cooked before the judging panel.
The following are some photos taken by the reporter:
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| The teams preparing their dishes for display and presentation before the judging panel |
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| The A Luoi 3 Commune team and their competing “meal spread” |
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| Another team bringing highland culinary flavors to the cooking contest |
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| Traditional dishes showcasing the distinctive flavors of the highlands |
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| Each four-member team working against the clock to complete the dishes within the 90-minute time limit |
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| Presenting and introducing the dishes to visitors |
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| Black glutinous rice, a key ingredient chosen by many teams for their dishes |
By Ha Nguyen