The General Secretary's wife and diplomats experience multicultural cuisine

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of the General Secretary, along with ambassadors and heads of representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam, had an enjoyable weekend experiencing cuisine from many cultures.

On December 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the 2024 International Food Festival. With the theme "Gastronomy of Unity - Connecting Cuisine", the festival had the participation of 40 embassies and international organizations, 18 localities, and units within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with more than 130 booths. This is the 12th time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the festival. Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam; Ms. Mai Thi Hanh, wife of former President Truong Tan Sang, and many ambassadors and heads of representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam attended the festival. On the first day of winter, although the weather was quite cold, thousands of people still flocked to the festival to experience cuisine from all over the world. The General Secretary's wife, along with delegates and people, visited the booths and experienced diverse dishes with fragrant spices from Southeast Asian countries to dishes with a strong European flavor.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chea Kimtha introduced Cambodian culinary culture to Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly at the booth of the Embassy of India.

As a country with a rich culinary culture, Vietnam is a great place to organize a food festival. Vietnamese dishes with clean ingredients, pure flavors and sophisticated processing techniques are introduced alongside the culinary quintessence of countries and territories. Ms. Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, wife of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, said that since 2014, the success of 11 times of organization has created the brand of the festival, becoming an international cultural - culinary - diplomatic exchange event. "Through each dish, each art performance, we will not only share the quintessence of culinary flavors but also spread stories about history and the good traditional values of peoples around the world," Ms. Vu Bich Ngoc expressed. Ms. Ngoc said that the money contributed by benefactors over the past decade of the festival has been used for charitable activities to help orphans, the disabled, poor women and those in difficult circumstances across the country...

The wife of the General Secretary, the wife of the former President, ambassadors and heads of representative agencies attended the festival.

Ms. Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator, affirmed that this annual event connects people from different cultures to enjoy a common language of cuisine. "Food is essential for every society. It nourishes the body and is also a motivation to work. But the function of food is not limited to simple needs. Preparing and enjoying food awakens artistic souls. Sharing food is a way of social interaction. Combining different flavors is a way to connect cultures," Ms. Tamesis shared her feelings. She was particularly impressed with the performance of the multicultural banh mi, which fully demonstrated the creativity and integration of Vietnamese dishes. The UN Resident Coordinator shares about farmers who are using sustainable agricultural practices, chefs who are creating zero-waste kitchens, and food producers who are prioritizing environmentally friendly packaging.

At the Southern cuisine area, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly and delegates judged the fastest spring roll contest for diplomats.

The International Food Festival is not only a bridge to promote cultural exchange between countries, enriching culinary experiences for people, but also contributing to promoting the cultural and tourism image of Hanoi - the city for peace.