YANGON, July 26 — The “Taste of the Golden Land 2026” Traditional Food Exhibition and Competition successfully concluded after a two-day run from July 25 to 26 at the Yangon Convention Centre (YCC) in Yangon. Organized by the Myanmar Restaurant Association (MRA) under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, Hotels and Tourism, the inaugural event aimed to elevate Myanmar’s traditional cuisine to international fine-dining standards, promote gastronomy tourism, and attract international travelers.
The opening ceremony was graced by Vice-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye. Artistes from the Department of Fine Arts performed a dance presentation accompanied by the song “A Land Full of Diverse Delicacies.” In her opening address, the Vice-President highlighted that food culture plays a vital role in showcasing national identity and cultural heritage. She noted that Myanmar, home to diverse ethnic groups, possesses unique regional culinary traditions. She further stressed ongoing efforts to gain UNESCO recognition for renowned traditional foods such as Myanmar tea leaves and Htamane as intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing that promoting food tourism directly benefits local hotels, restaurants, agriculture, livestock, and MSMEs.
As the first event of its kind in Myanmar, the two-day showcase featured over 120 exhibition booths alongside a competitive fine-dining event featuring seven teams from prominent hotels and restaurants. Exhibitors from various regions showcased local delicacies and heritage products, including Kayin State’s regional cuisine and Hpa-An travel information, Ayeyarwady Region’s dried fish served with traditional sticky rice, and Bagan’s local jaggery, tamarind products, and lacquerware.
The event program also included industry knowledge-sharing sessions, presentations by the Myanmar Tea Association and Myanmar Coffee Association, networking opportunities for local MSMEs, and cocktail-making demonstrations utilizing local Myanmar ingredients.
The event concluded with Vice-President Nan Ni Ni Aye and key officials awarding honorary prizes to competition winners, judges, and sponsoring partners. The landmark exhibition successfully highlighted the rich diversity of Myanmar’s food culture while establishing new opportunities for the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.