Last weekend, more than 2,500 people attended the two-day Saigon Pizza Festival hosted by Saigon Outcast at The Global City. Diverse, delicious pizza was expected, but the event delivered even more with food, activities, live music, and entertainment. And by the time it was over, a new pizza had swept the judges and was the crowd favorite for best pizza.
The activities began the moment guests arrived, received their free bottle of C2 Green tea or Ginseng and Chrysanthemum Drink and visited the brand’s 360 camera booth and games. From there, it was a maelstrom of delicious slices that revealed the true variety of pizza. Everyone had their personal favorites, but some of the standouts included a crispy naan-based Indian pizza from The Indian Curry Pizza and a Mexican pizza created by The Taco King & Cielito Lindo, while children gravitated towards Snackshack’s mini deep dish version. Purists in attendance gravitated towards the Kingcross’s traditional pizzas as well as New York-style and wood-fired Neapolitan slices, Sicilian squares, tangy Tomato Pies, crispy Grandma slices, and simple tavern bar versions.
As festival-goers waited for their digestion to work, they found plenty to keep their attention. A full lineup of DJs curated by FTWR created a raucous atmosphere whose energy was only matched by the high-flying theatrics of Vietnam Pro Wrestling.
The weekend also provided a glimpse into Saigon’s dancing scenes with Happievent, Salsa Thursday, and Xoay Studio communities each starting flashmobs that inspired movement amongst the audience. Tarot readings, pizza-making workshops, foot massages and handmade jewelry for sale, as well as backyard games, ensured the weekend was about more than beer.
It was difficult to spot people walking around with empty hands. If it wasn’t a slice of pizza, at least one fist was occupied with a drink, thanks to local breweries and outlets selling cocktails, wine, boba, and soft drinks. Sweet-tooths were particularly catered to with chocolate, gelato, and desserts.
For an event with pizza in the name, the most anticipated moment came during the announcement of the festival’s best pizza. Using an innovative Noshbox app to assemble votes throughout the weekend, and while esteemed judges tested their stomach sizes by sampling widely. When all was said and done, everyone agreed: Mila Mushrooms’ hand-tossed pizza made with dough fermented for 48 hours was the winner across the board.
Mila Mushroom's team winning pizza (left) as sampled by the judges (right).
Guests leaving the festival held by The Global City with the support of Masterise Homes were full, happy and already looking forward to next year’s fest. And in the meantime, they have a list of great pizza spots in the city to visit as proof that pizza in Saigon is alive and well.
