Integrating local fine food traceability mapping in Vietnam’s fine dining sector

Ensuring food traceability in the dining sector has become an urgent priority due to rising consumer demand for authenticity, sustainability, and transparency in food sourcing. However, fragmented traceability regulations and limited adoption of digital tracking technologies hinder the development of standardized provenance systems. While blockchain and IoT-enabled traceability have proven effective in ingredient verification, outbreak tracing, and environmental compliance, their use in Vietnam’s dining and fine dining sector remains largely unexplored. This study investigates how top chefs and restaurateurs integrate traceability mapping into food concepts, reputation-building, and sustainability planning, addressing deficiencies in current traceability policies that prioritize exports over local high-end culinary markets. This study employs Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as a methodological framework to examize the interactions between human and non-human actors in food traceability networks. This study utilizes qualitative case analysis of two fine dining establishments among 12 supporting culinary concepts that have effectively employed traceability mapping to enhance consumer trust, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with chefs, restaurateurs, and supply chain stakeholders, as well as observations of traceability integration at farm, distribution, and restaurant levels. The research emphasizes that prominent fine dining chefs are pivotal in promoting traceability adoption, since their sourcing choices influence consumer views, supply chain accountability, and industry sustainability benchmarks. The initial case study demonstrates how a seasonal tasting menu employs hyper-local, traceable foods to create a deep connection between terroir and flavor, while reinforcing consumer confidence through ingredient provenance. The second case study illustrates how "The Essence of Flavors in Harmony" incorporates geographical indicators (GI), VietGAP certification, and digital tracking tools, including IoT sensors and QR codes, to ensure a transparent farm-to-table experience. Notwithstanding this advancement, the study finds that cost barriers, infrastructure limitations, and resistance from small-scale producers remain major challenges to widespread traceability adoption in Vietnam’s dining sector. This study enhances the scant research on traceability adoption in premium culinary markets, expanding the focus from mere food safety compliance to encompass gastronomic storytelling, sustainability, and cultural authenticity. It emphasizes the necessity for a systematic, technology-based traceability framework specifically designed for Vietnam’s high-end dining sector, connecting traceability policies with local culinary markets. The study advocates for standardized digital traceability frameworks that conform to global best practices, while permitting flexibility for local sourcing, seasonal foods, and chef-driven innovations. Future research must investigate scalable traceability methods that serve both fine dining institutions and small-scale food producers, thereby enhancing Vietnam's worldwide market position as a pioneer in sustainable and transparent cuisine.