The tourism sector of Ho Chi Minh City will develop traditional culinary culture into a special tourism product with a view to luring more tourists in 2017.

In fact, cuisine-based tourism has been developed recently by locals but it needs a municipal-scale development.

Minh Cuc from District 11 has organised a culinary tour for a year, drawing interest of numerous international and domestic visitors and travel agencies.

Tourists will visit renowned sites across the city such as Chua Ong (Ong Pagoda), Chua Ba (Ba Pagoda), Cha Tam Church, Mieu Tho To Kim Hoan (Goldsmith Great Grandfather Temple), and enjoy special local foods.

Minh Cuc said in 2017, she plans to organise night tours and take tourists to cake- making classes.

Han Nguyen Nguyen Nha, a historian, said cuisine is an important factor to lure visitors and Vietnam has potential to become the kitchen of the world with a myriad of delicious dishes in the three regions.

Chinese master chef Martin Yan, who has visited Vietnam for many times, said Vietnamese food is nearly perfect and the country needs to develop a plan to introduce its food to the world via mass media.

According to experts, to promote Vietnamese foods internationally, culinary tours should be developed in tandem with traditional food making classes.

Associate Professor, Dr. Phan Thi Thu Hien from the University of Society and Humanity HCM City pointed out limitations in developing food-based tourism, particularly food safety.

VNA