# Vietnam culinary recognition in 2026

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-culinary-recognition-in-2026
> Updated: 2026-08-18T01:17:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Vietnam has received significant international recognition for its culinary offerings in 2026. Initially, Ho Chi Minh City was named the world’s best street food city by Time Out, securing the top position with a 63% approval rating in a global survey.

Following this, the country was also named the world’s top culinary destination in the NZ Herald Travel Readers’ Choice Awards. In this ranking, Vietnam surpassed established gastronomic hubs such as Italy, Japan, Thailand, and France. The recognition highlights the global appeal of Vietnamese traditions, fresh ingredients, and regional flavors, specifically noting dishes like pho, banh mi, and nem.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-18: Vietnam named world's top culinary destination for 2026

Vietnam has been voted the world's best culinary destination for 2026 by the NZ Herald Travel Readers’ Choice Awards, outranking Italy, Japan, and Thailand.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-named-worlds-top-culinary-destination-for-2026

### 2026-08-08: Ho Chi Minh City named world's best street food city for 2026

Ho Chi Minh City has been named the world's best street food city for 2026 in a Time Out survey of 24,000 residents, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ho-chi-minh-city-named-worlds-best-street-food-city-for-2026

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Cite as: Vietnam culinary recognition in 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-culinary-recognition-in-2026