The Ho Chi Minh City Consular Club is a special organization whose members are the wives and husbands of consuls general, deputy consuls general and diplomatic officers in Ho Chi Minh City.
From the kitchen to the luxury gala
In mid-September 2023, a number of Consular Club members were present at a location inside Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Different from the formality usually seen in diplomatic events, Ms. Milena Padula, wife of the Italian Consul General - President of the Club, appeared in simple clothes that day and arrived by technology car service booked via phone application.
Members of the Ho Chi Minh City Consular Club cook for children at a shelter (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City) in an event organized by VietHarvest.
Accompanying her was Parla Salomaa, wife of the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City. Ms. Parla is the oldest member of the Club with nearly 10 years of "seniority". In addition to Ms. Milena and Ms. Parla, the other two members attending the event were Ms. Julia James, wife of the Consul General of New Zealand and Ms. Allyson Pannier, wife of the Deputy Consul General of Australia.
Under the guidance of the famous chef Tru Lang, the ladies cooked delicious meals and then they delivered the fragrant food boxes to the children of the Anh Sang Warm Home in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City. This was not only an act of volunteering, but also an opportunity for members to observe and evaluate the work of VietHarvest, a social enterprise that rescues surplus food to help people in difficult circumstances.
A few months ago, VietHarvest established an office in Ho Chi Minh City and became one of three organizations to receive funding from a fundraising night hosted by the Consular Club on September 30, 2023. The other two names are the Children and Development Organization, with a project to support vulnerable girls and women, and the Girls' Club Paving the Way to the Future, which aims to empower ethnic minority girls. In total, the club raised $177,000 (about VND 4.2 billion) through live auctions and ticket sales to attend the gala.
Traditional fair
After the great success of the fundraising night, the club plans to return to its traditional event, the Bazaar, in 2024. The longest-serving member, Ms. Parla, acknowledged: "The Bazaar is our brand." For her, there is nothing better than the sight of a bazaar with unique booths, carrying the cultural characteristics and unique features of each country.
Ms. Milena Padula, President of the Consular Club of Ho Chi Minh City, learns to wrap banh tet
More than 10 years ago, the Club's Charity Fair was an annual event that many people looked forward to. "Back then, trading activities were not as popular as they are now. Many of us had to wait until the fair to buy typical products of each country, such as Canadian maple syrup," she recalls.
With the economic development and the increasingly open door of Vietnam, it is now easy to buy foreign goods. Faced with this "competition", organizers are forced to think of ways to improve the fair model to become more attractive. Ms. Parla said that the 2018 fair marked a change, with the participation of different cultural performances and traditional dishes of different countries. The 2019 fair was considered the most successful with about 40 participating countries and at least 1,500 attendees.
While the fundraiser is a fancy event, the fair is a fun, family-friendly event, Parla said. "We'll have to vote on what we'll do this year, though," she said.
Excited to welcome 2024
Regarding this year’s Tet plan, Milena said that the members will have a reunion event, celebrate the New Year together and learn more about Vietnamese Tet traditions. Last year, they learned how to wrap banh tet with the guidance of a Vietnamese friend. This year, possibly right after Tet, the members plan to visit one of the charities the club has supported.
"I was not in Vietnam for the last two Tet holidays. So this year I want to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, and one of the things I want to do is visit Nguyen Hue flower street and take lots of photos," Milena also talked about her and her husband's plans.
2024 also marks a big moment for the club, its 30th anniversary. "It would be great if we chose to hold the Fair in 2024. We would need a larger venue. It would be a day for people to shop comfortably, choosing products from different countries around the world. A multicultural festival," she said.
For his part, Mr. Michael Munro, husband of a diplomat at the Canadian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, said he would attend events to honor and celebrate the important year of the Club. Mr. Michael Munro said he felt extremely proud to be part of a group that "all worked to dedicate and give back to this wonderful country". "I am a guest in this country, and in my life, I have never been welcomed with such warm hospitality and kindness. I hope that through my small contribution, I will show my deep gratitude and respect for your wonderful country", Mr. Munro said.
Established in 1994, the Ho Chi Minh City Consular Club will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2024. The number of members of the club changes over time, depending on the tenure of the diplomats. Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Consular Club has a total of 21 members.
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