Current situation and solutions for developing the street food tourism value chain linked to community livelihoods in Ho Chi Minh City

This study examines the current state of the street food tourism value chain linked to community livelihoods in Ho Chi Minh City, with a focus on distinctive culinary spaces in the urban center and the Cho Lon area. The study uses secondary data from policy documents, tourism statistics, and relevant academic literature, combined with content analysis to assess the operation of the value chain and identify key development bottlenecks. Based on the findings, the study proposes a set of solutions, including improving the legal and policy framework, standardizing food safety and hygiene requirements, positioning and branding culinary destinations, strengthening linkages among actors in the value chain, and enhancing the adaptive capacity and livelihoods of local communities. The study thereby provides both theoretical and practical foundations for developing street food tourism in a manner that increases value creation, supports sustainable community livelihoods, and enhances the competitiveness of Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector.