This year's festival, with the theme "Gastronomy of Unity — Connecting Cuisine", was organised by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps in collaboration with the Directorate of State Protocol, the Press and Information Department, the World and Vietnam Report, and other units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the Diplomatic Corps area in Hanoi, thousands of attractive dishes, including Nam Dinh pho, Hanoi spring rolls, Hue sticky rice, and Can Tho pancakes, have gathered together with Shaanxi sandwiches (China), Ukrainian grilled lamb, Egyptian onion cakes, Colombian cheese donuts, Russian beef stew, or baobab fruit juice from Angola.
There were 130 booths of 40 embassies, international organisations, agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and nearly 20 domestic localities that participated in the 2024 International Food Festival, sharing the quintessence of cuisine while spreading stories about the good traditional values of ethnic groups around the world.
Large numbers of Hanoians, tourists and the foreign community living in Vietnam came to the 2024 International Food Festival not only to taste delicious and strange foods but also to experience the extremely vibrant and unique festival atmosphere with friends from all over the world.
Attending the event, sharing the joy and honouring the cuisines as well as the participating units were Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lam; and Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam; along with many other domestic and international delegates.
Joining the bustling and joyful crowd, the delegation of spouses and guests visited the booths, cheered on the chefs who made the record-breaking 12m-long pho roll, and judged the lettuce rolling competition in the Southern cuisine area.
Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, spouse of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, affirmed that the 2024 International Food Festival not only honours the richness and diversity of global cuisine but also emphasises cuisine as a common language — where people from different cultures find harmony and connection.
Indeed, there are not many occasions like this Festival where diners can find all the typical dishes of more than 60 countries and territories around the world.
From the cuisine of neighbouring ASEAN countries to European dishes popular in global popular culture; from the typical cold-country cuisine from Russia to the cuisine of the sunny South American region; or from faraway and mysterious countries like African countries also bring the culinary quintessence.
Speaking at the Festival, Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that preparing and enjoying food awakens artistic souls, sharing food together is a way of social interaction, while combining different flavours is a way to connect cultures.
She also emphasised that Vietnam is a great place to hold the International Food Festival, with rich cuisine, clean ingredients, and sophisticated processing techniques.
In addition to international cuisine, Vietnamese dishes, drinks and desserts at the event are also relatively complete, representing the culinary colours of regions. This is also an opportunity to bring Vietnamese cuisine, as well as the image of the country and people of Vietnam in general, closer to the international public; helping domestic businesses promote their brands, products, and service business activities.
According to culinary artist Le Thi Thiet (Nam Dinh), a highlight of this year's Festival is the promotion of bread from three regions. The northern, central and southern regions process their bread differently and use different spices. Vietnamese dishes, although seemingly simple, also contain cultural identity and combine harmonious flavours, conquering very different tastes, and have become world-famous.
Some booths by the Department of Foreign Affairs of provinces and cities display very eye-catching and diverse products, attracting domestic and international visitors to visit continuously.
Cuisine is one of the important factors that create the unique features of a destination as well as an impression in the tourist experience journey. Disseminating Vietnamese culinary values through festivals and celebrations will contribute to promoting and positioning the Vietnamese culinary brand, helping to invite domestic and international tourists to come to explore and enjoy regions of the "S-shaped strip of land".
La Quoc Khanh,
Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association
The International Food Festival also contributes to writing humane stories, honouring kindness and goodness — another common "language" of humanity.
Hoang Thai Ha, Chairman of the Trade Union of the Diplomatic Service Department, Deputy Head of the Organising Committee of the International Food Festival, said that all the money raised from the festivals over the past ten years has been donated to people in difficult circumstances through charity programs across the country.
From sales revenue, contributions from benefactors, sponsorship funds, in recent years, the organising committee has built many kindergartens in Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Vinh Phuc, and Phu Tho; built bridges in Ben Tre and Long An; and helped poor women and people with disabilities in many difficult and remote areas.
This year, continuing that spirit, the 2024 International Food Festival also donated nearly 730 million VND to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to support people affected by storm No. 3 (Yagi).
