Vibrant cultural rendezvous in Hanoi

The International Food Festival is an annual event aimed at fostering cultural and culinary exchange. After 11 successful editions, the 2024 International Food Festival themed “Gastronomy of Unity” is not only an opportunity to promote the culinary beauty of various nations, but also a chance to honor Vietnam’s cultural values, helping it enhance cultural diplomacy, strengthen the nation’s image, and expand international cooperation.

The organizers of the 2024 International Food Festival provide information about the event – Photo: Trong Tan

The event is jointly organized by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps, the Directorate of State Protocol, the Department for Information and Press, The World and Vietnam Report Newspaper, and other agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 2024 International Food Festival is expected to feature over 70 booths from 60 countries and territories, with participants from more than 40 embassies, international organizations, cultural centers, provincial Departments of Foreign Affairs, units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and businesses.

According to the organizers, at the 2024 International Food Festival, all participating units will showcase their countries’ most distinctive and enticing dishes. Host country Vietnam will present the diversity of its cuisine, along with various spices, to international friends. Iconic dishes like pho and nem will undoubtedly be featured at this year’s festival. Specialties from Vietnam’s Northern, Central and Southern regions will also be highlighted. All these offerings promise to provide visitors and participants with an opportunity to explore and savor the culinary flavors closely tied to the cultures of participating nations.

At a press conference held on November 21 to provide information about the 2024 International Food Festival, Hoang Thai Ha from the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps, Deputy Head of the festival’s Organizing Board, emphasized that mutual understanding is the foundation of peace; collaboration is the premise for prosperity; and striving for perfection is the driving force of development. This principle has guided all editions of the International Food Festival organized under the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An overview of the press conference launching the 2024 International Food Festival – Photo: Trong Tan

Since 2014, according to Hoang Thai Ha, with 11 editions, the International Food Festival has been a success, making it a prominent platform for cultural and culinary exchange on an international scale, attracting a wide range of participants, including embassies, foreign cultural centers, international friends, provincial Departments of Foreign Affairs, businesses, sponsors, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The event is an opportunity to introduce Vietnam’s land and people to international friends, helping domestic businesses promote their brands, products and services,” Hoang Thai Ha emphasized.

With the participation of many nations, the festival is expected not only to celebrate the diversity of global cuisine, but also to highlight food as a “universal language,” a place where people from different cultures find harmony. Through each dish, we not only share the essence of culinary flavors, but also spread stories of history, traditions, and the valuable virtues of each nation. The festival promises to be a vibrant cultural and culinary tapestry, portraying a Vietnam with over 4,000 years of history continuing to thrive in a new era.

At the press conference, artisan Le Thi Thiet, President of the Nam Dinh Cuisine Culture Association, said that the 2024 International Food Festival not only is a “feast” of diverse cultures, but also tells emotional stories through dishes from many countries and regions. Notably, Vietnamese culinary culture will be a highlight, showcasing the elevation of flavors with a variety of dishes.

“This year’s International Food Festival will offer a chance for domestic and international friends to enjoy a variety of pho dishes, such as pho cuon (rolled pho), pho tron (mixed pho), and pho xao (stir-fried pho). Whether it’s Nam Dinh pho or Hanoi pho, they share cultural similarities in the craft and the people who make them. We aim to convey the essence of Vietnamese pho so that everyone can better understand and appreciate this dish,” shared culinary artisan Le Thi Thiet.

According to Le Thi Thiet, the 2024 International Food Festival will include a showcase of Vietnamese spices, helping foreigners gain a deeper understanding of how these spices are used in cooking while preserving the unique identity of Vietnamese cuisine. Specifically, participating teams will highlight variations of banh mi from the Northern, Central and Southern regions of Vietnam. These variations reflect the diversity and distinctiveness of Vietnamese spices and cuisine, celebrating their refined flavors.