Hue City Center for Disease Control (Hue CDC), in coordination with the National Institute of Nutrition under the Ministry of Health, is surveying and collecting samples of food products and popular dishes in the city, with the aim of supplementing data and contributing to the completion of Vietnam’s Food Composition Table.

Beyond its heritage attractions, Hue is becoming a choice of culinary destination for many travelers. The distinctive local dishes of the former imperial capital are contributing to the formation of a unique appeal for Hue’s tourism.

With many dishes featuring distinctive local flavors, Hue leaves a lasting impression on international visitors. The city’s cuisine is an integral part of its appeal, giving travelers from around the world even more reasons to remember Hue long after their visit.

Recent culinary events and festivals in Hue have emerged as popular gathering points, drawing crowds of visitors from near and far. However, what truly retains them is not merely the flavors or the festive atmosphere, but the live performances and the narratives behind each dish, offering tourists deeper insights into the history, culture, and people of Hue.

Among about 3,000 dishes documented nationwide, over 1,700 are believed to be prepared in Hue styles, bearing the distinctive hallmarks of the former imperial capital’s cuisine. This rich culinary heritage is one of the key reasons that Hue has chosen gastronomy as the focus of its application to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Beyond a celebration of Hue Beef Noodle, the iconic dish of the Ancient Capital, the Hue - Culinary Capital 2026 program has become a vibrant showcase of culinary excellence from across Vietnam. From Hue’s traditional flavors to regional specialties from every corner of the country, each food stall and every dish tells a story of Vietnam’s rich cultural identity, taking visitors on a journey that awakens all their senses.

For the first time, Bun bo Hue (Hue beef noodle soup) will be celebrated through a nationwide festival. Featuring more than 80 food stalls, live culinary demonstrations serving hundreds of visitors, a stage production recounting the dish's more than 400-year history, and a variety of interactive experiences, these will turn Thuong Bac Park to become a gathering place for food enthusiasts from July 23rd to 26th.

More than just a place serving authentic dishes from the Ancient Capital, Hue Thuong restaurant in the heart of Osaka, Japan, has become a familiar gathering place for Hue natives living far from home. Through every delicately prepared dish, the restaurant preserves and shares the cultural values and culinary essence of Hue.

The people of Hue, no one knows exactly since when, but on the full moon (15th day) and the first day of each lunar month, many eateries close, and quite a few meat and fish stalls at the market also stop selling. Many places that normally serve meat-based dishes switch to vegetarian food instead.

The cooking class is included as part of Huetourist’s all-inclusive tour package. A local instructor takes the lead in demonstrating the process and helps visitors practice each step themselves. The selected dishes reflect the daily culinary traditions of Hue locals.

As part of the celebrations for Vesak 2570 (Buddhist Era) and Hue Festival 2026, the Vegetarian Food Festival - Hue Festival 2026 officially opened on the afternoon of May 28th (the 12th day of the fourth lunar month) at the riverside area along the Perfume River. The event is jointly organized by the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Hue City and the Organizing Committee of Hue Festival 2026.