HCMC – The Italian Consulate General in HCMC concluded the 10th Week of Italian Cuisine in the World on December 1, highlighting deepening culinary and cultural links between Italy and Vietnam.
The closing dinner focused on pairing Italian wines with Vietnamese cuisine.
Vietnamese dishes, including lotus salad, crab soup, Luc Lac beef tenderloin, and abalone rice, were matched with Italian wines such as Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC Bianco, Pinot Grigio DOC Ramato, Papale Primitivo di Manduria, and Morelli Moscato d’Asti DOCG, illustrating the harmony between local flavors and Italy’s diverse wine heritage.
Italy’s Consul General in HCMC, Alessandra Tognonato, said the initiative reflects Italy’s strategy to promote its wine culture, boasting over 500 native grape varieties, in new markets through cross-cultural culinary experiences.
According to the Italian Consulate, pairing wine with Vietnamese cuisine aims to foster cultural connections and strengthen people-to-people ties, expanding Italy’s cultural footprint in Vietnam.
This year, the program, held in HCMC and Danang, included fine-dining events and product showcases. Key events during the program included a fine-dining dinner in Danang on November 21 with Chef Alessio Rasom, a gala dinner in HCMC on November 25 attended by business and diplomatic representatives from southern Vietnam, and an exclusive masterclass on December 1, organized with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM) and the Vietnam Sommelier Association, focusing on pairing Italian wines with traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
The global initiative, led by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasizes health, culture, and innovation as core elements of Italian gastronomy.
Italy is now Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner within the EU. Two-way trade between the countries exceeded US$4.3 billion in the first seven months of 2025, up 5.1% from the same period in 2024, according to Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
