1.8 Million Dong Cultural and Culinary Experience Launched at Independence Palace

A unique cultural and culinary experience program has been launched within the grounds of the Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập) in Ho Chi Minh City's central district, at the Guest House 108 Nguyễn Du, since mid-August. This program is meticulously designed to allow visitors to engage with Vietnam's rich history and traditional culture through all five senses. Participants can enhance their experience by donning traditional Vietnamese attire, including styles like the Nhật Bình dress, five-panel Áo dài, and various ethnic costumes, available for rent at 300,000 VND. The program opens with the resonant sound of drums reminiscent of the Đông Sơn bronze drum, setting the stage for artistic performances that draw inspiration from historical elements spanning from the ancient Văn Lang-Âu Lạc period through the Đinh, Tiền Lê, Lý, and Trần dynasties. These performances recreate folk heritage and traditional rituals from across Vietnam, such as the Xuân Phả dance, the Tịch Điền (plowing) ceremony, and the Nghê dance. The culinary aspect features a 6-course meal, showcasing traditional dishes from various regions of Vietnam, including grilled shrimp served with lotus-leaf sticky rice, crispy crab spring rolls (Nem cua bể), and Northern-style Phở. The dishes are served sequentially, synchronized with each artistic performance. The entire experience lasts for 90 minutes, with ticket prices set at 1.6 million VND or 1.8 million VND per guest, depending on seating location. Nguyễn Hữu Thanh, the program's general director, explained that the venue's design is inspired by the folk concept of 'the sky is round, the earth is square.' The circular stage at the center, combined with tiered seating, ensures that all guests have an unobstructed view of the performance. A particularly captivating segment is the reenactment of the Tịch Điền ceremony, featuring a vibrantly decorated buffalo model. A foreign tourist visiting Ho Chi Minh City in late August described the experience as "impressive in every aspect – from the costumes and food to the theatrical performances." They found the scene of classical Tuồng (Vietnamese opera) particularly engaging, where artists meticulously apply their makeup before the show. The tourist noted that the integration of music, visuals, and cuisine makes Vietnamese culture easily accessible to international visitors without language barriers. The program development team conducted surveys and research on similar cultural and culinary experience models in countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, and France before implementing it in Vietnam. A representative from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism lauded the program for adding a regular cultural tourism product to the city, providing visitors with more experiential choices. Source: VnExpress