Over its 11 editions, the International Food Festival in Hanoi has become an annual cultural venue for food lovers, not only helping to honour quintessential flavours but also contributing to promoting cultural diplomacy, thus creating a bridge connecting different cuisine cultures.
This year's festival is co-organised by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps, the Press and Information Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Diplomatic Corps Services in coordination with the Department of State Protocol, the World & Vietnam Report, and relevant agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Through each dish, we will not only share the essence of culinary flavours but also spread stories about the history, traditions, and noble values of each nation.
Hoang Thai Ha, deputy head of the festival’s organising committee
According to Hoang Thai Ha — Head of the Trade Union of the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps and deputy head of the festival’s organising committee — since it was first held in 2014, the International Food Festival has become a major international cultural, culinary and diplomatic event that has connected with international friends in Vietnam.
The festival has received increasing appreciation and participation from embassies, foreign cultural centres, local departments of foreign affairs, and many businesses.
This year’s festival will celebrate the richness and diversity of global cuisine and convey a message that food is a universal language in which people from different cultures find harmony.
“Through each dish, we will not only share the essence of culinary flavours but also spread stories about the history, traditions, and noble values of each nation,” Ha added.
Instead of being limited to a one-day event like previous years, the 2024 International Food Festival has been expanded both in duration and space of activities.
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The International Food Festival 2024 will celebrate the richness and diversity of global cuisine (Photo: tuoitrethudo.vn) |
Taking place over two days, this year’s event will not only showcase distinctive Vietnamese dishes but also offer a unique culinary experience journey with more than 70 international food stalls from about 60 countries and territories worldwide.
Festivalgoers can also participate in elaborate food demonstrations, a beer festival, games, and numerous experiences such as Culinary Passport, Food on a Plate, and Cuisine of the Five Continents.
Culinary artist Le Thi Thiet, a member of the organising committee, revealed that this year's festival will not only introduce distinctive Vietnamese and international dishes but also introduce Vietnamese indigenous spices and how they are used in the making of Vietnamese dishes so that visitors, especially international diners, can better understand the identity of Vietnamese culinary culture.
This year’s event will not only showcase distinctive Vietnamese dishes but also offer a unique culinary experience journey with more than 70 international food stalls from about 60 countries and territories worldwide.
“We will bring different versions of ‘banh mi’ from across Vietnam to the festival. Although they are all ‘banh mi’, each region has its own way of preparing the fillings and spices,” Thiet said.
Through ‘banh mi’, we want visitors to feel the diverse culinary colours from across the regions of our country,” said artisan Le Thi Thiet.
With many innovations compared to the previous editions, the 2024 International Food Festival is expected to welcome about 50,000 visitors.
La Quoc Khanh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Cuisine Culture Association, affirmed that cuisine is among the important factors that create the attractiveness of destinations as well as the impression of tourists.
Spreading the values of Vietnamese cuisine through festivals will contribute to promoting and positioning the Vietnamese culinary brand, thus helping to lure more domestic and international visitors to the country, he stated.
