Vietnam Travel Guide Backpacking and Individual Travel Blog
On the vibrant evening of April 6, 2025, the heart of Can Tho City came alive as the 12th Vietnam Southern Traditional Cake Festival officially kicked off at the Binh Thuy District Square. A jubilant and lively atmosphere filled the air as locals, domestic and international tourists, and representatives from various provinces and cities gathered to celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Southern Vietnam.
Running from April 4 to April 8, 2025, this year’s festival embraces the theme “Preserving and promoting the value of Southern traditional cakes.” The event serves not only as a celebration of traditional cuisine but also as a meaningful cultural showcase that highlights the identity and values of the southern region. With over 200 booths on display, the festival features a stunning array of traditional cakes, regional delicacies, OCOP (One Commune, One Product) specialties, and a wide variety of engaging cultural activities.
Can Tho Welcomes Thousands to the 2025 Southern Traditional Cake Festival
Visitors were welcomed into a bustling space where delicious aromas wafted through the air, drawing food lovers to explore and taste a wide range of traditional cakes such as banh tet, banh da lon, banh in, and banh xeo. Each booth was a celebration in itself, often featuring live demonstrations where skilled artisans crafted cakes on the spot. These interactive experiences offered tourists not only the chance to taste the food but also to take part in the process — from shaping dough to wrapping banana leaves — making for an unforgettable and authentic encounter with local culture.
One of the standout elements of the festival was the hands-on workshop space designed especially for students. Here, artisans took on the role of teachers, guiding the younger generation through the steps of traditional cake-making. From preparing ingredients to mastering cooking techniques, students were immersed in the values of patience, creativity, and cultural pride. This initiative was widely praised as an inspiring way to preserve culinary traditions and instill cultural awareness in the youth of Can Tho in the Mekong Delta.
Preserving Flavor and Culture at Vietnam’s 12th Southern Traditional Cake Festival
Among the many remarkable highlights of the event were two culinary masterpieces that stole the show. First, a giant banh xeo — the iconic sizzling Vietnamese pancake — with a staggering circumference of 9 meters, drew crowds eager to witness its creation. Prepared with 100 lobsters, it was a spectacular display of local talent and imagination. In addition, a massive banh chung weighing over 1.6 tons wowed the audience with its sheer size and cultural symbolism. These giant cakes were not only feats of culinary engineering but also served as visual tributes to the richness of Vietnam’s food heritage.
The festival was also timed to coincide with significant national occasions, including the Hung Kings’ death anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025). As such, the event was infused with a deep sense of patriotism and pride, creating a meaningful link between culinary celebration and national remembrance.
With several days of activities still to come, the 12th Vietnam Southern Traditional Cake Festival continues to welcome guests with open arms. Beyond the flavors and festivities, it stands as a testament to the cultural resilience and creativity of the southern Vietnamese people — a deliciously heartfelt way to honor the past while shaping the future. For those in Can Tho during this special time, the festival offers a perfect blend of taste, tradition, and togetherness.
