The event was attended by Sri Lanka's Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Senevi and Permanent Deputy Minister of Trade, Foreign Trade and Food Security Vimalenthirarajah, as well as diplomatic missions, businesses, media representatives, and a large number of Sri Lankan guests and local residents.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam highlighted the richness of regional cuisine and the diversity of beverages made from Vietnamese coffee. She expressed her hope that the event would help Sri Lankan and international friends gain a better understanding of the country and people of Viet Nam, contributing to people-to-people exchanges, tourism, and economic cooperation between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka, as the two countries have recently launched direct air routes.
Highly appreciating the Embassy's initiative to organise the “Sips of Viet Nam” and “Soul of Viet Nam” event, Sri Lanka's Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Senevi said that the increasingly visible presence of Vietnamese culture and cuisine in Sri Lanka is a vivid testament to the growing connections between the two countries since they upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Partnership.
Meanwhile, Permanent Deputy Minister of Trade, Foreign Trade and Food Security Vimalenthirarajah emphasised opportunities for cooperation in trade and business connectivity. He said that introducing Vietnamese coffee and culinary products to Sri Lankan consumers is not only culturally significant but also creates further opportunities to promote products, build brands and boost trade between the two countries, towards the goal of achieving bilateral trade turnover of 1 billion USD.
The Vietnamese coffee experience was organised with the participation of businesses and professional baristas from Aramour, a well-known Vietnamese coffee brand. Guests had the opportunity to taste and learn about distinctive Vietnamese coffee varieties while interacting directly with the baristas. At the culinary promotion programme, Vietnamese chefs from Marriott Danang Non Nuoc Beach Villas, in coordination with the chefs from Sheraton Colombo, introduced traditional and distinctive Vietnamese dishes. Guests were able to experience the preparation of the dishes first-hand and interact with the chefs.
In particular, the programme also featured performances of traditional Vietnamese musical instruments and Vietnamese calligraphy, creating an impressive space for cultural exchange at the event.
Vietnamese cuisine is becoming increasingly familiar and popular in Sri Lanka. While there were only around four Vietnamese restaurants in Colombo in 2024, the number had risen to around 10 by 2026. This rapid increase shows the growing interest of Sri Lankan people in Vietnamese cuisine, while also reflecting the investment potential in the restaurant, services, and tourism sectors in Sri Lanka for Vietnamese businesses.
As air connectivity between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka is strengthened, culinary and cultural promotion activities are becoming increasingly significant in promoting two-way tourism, people-to-people exchanges and trade connectivity.
The programme was not merely a culinary event but also an activity combining cultural diplomacy, culinary diplomacy, trade promotion and tourism promotion, contributing to introducing a dynamic Viet Nam rich in cultural identity and increasingly integrating deeply into the region and the world.
