Vietnam's booth attracts attention at the 2025 International Charity Bazaar in Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Gian hàng Việt Nam thu hút sự quan tâm tại Hội chợ từ thiện quốc tế 2025 tại Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Products at the Vietnamese booth were quickly sold out at the 2025 International Charity Bazaar in Colombo.

This is an annual event, attracting the attention of many diplomatic missions and international organizations, foreign communities in Colombo, as well as local businesses and residents. This year's event brings together more than 100 booths from many countries, bringing a diverse picture of global culture and cuisine.

The Vietnamese booth stood out thanks to its national-identity-rich decor, with the red color of the Vietnamese flag and traditional red-flag-with-yellow-star and ao ba ba costumes. Typical Vietnamese products such as pho, spring rolls, coffee, instant noodles/pho, dried bananas, dried jackfruit, coconut candy, banh it, and handicraft products such as bamboo dragonflies, leather wallets, etc. attracted special attention from visitors.

Many people were eager to enjoy spring rolls and pho, two dishes considered “Vietnamese culinary ambassadors” in Sri Lanka. In particular, the coffee products were quickly sold out, and the late customers expressed regret for not being able to buy them.

Many customers said they learned about Vietnamese products through Vietnamese restaurants in Colombo, acquaintances or the media, or enjoyed them while traveling in Vietnam, and were eager to enjoy them at fairs or buy them as gifts.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror reporter, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam said, “The international charity fair is a meaningful event, helping to connect culture and people-to-people exchange between Vietnam and Sri Lanka and other international friends. Vietnam participates in this event every year, with products that reflect the most typical and unique Vietnamese culture and cuisine. We are very happy to witness the love of Sri Lankan and international friends for Vietnamese cuisine and handicrafts. This shows that the Vietnamese brand, especially cuisine, has become familiar and popular in Sri Lanka.”

According to Ms. Nguyen Mai Trinh, Head of the Vietnamese Community Liaison Committee in Sri Lanka, “The fair is an opportunity for the Vietnamese community to express the Vietnamese spirit. As Vietnamese living abroad, everyone wants to contribute to promoting the image of the country and people of Vietnam to international friends. This year, the community and the Embassy have worked together very carefully to prepare, creating a beautiful, recognizable and proud image. Participating in the fair is not only a fundraising activity but also an activity to connect the community and spread Vietnamese culture in the host country.”

With elaborate preparations, impressive display space and products imbued with traditional flavors, the Vietnamese booth continues to be the highlight of the International Charity Fair in Colombo, affirming the attractiveness of Vietnamese culture and cuisine to international friends, contributing to promoting tourism and trade cooperation as well as connecting the people of the two countries.

According to Sri Lankan figures, in the first 10 months of the year, there were an average of 300 Vietnamese visitors to Sri Lanka and 1,000 Sri Lankan visitors to Vietnam each month. The opening of direct flights in the near future will certainly help increase these significant numbers.

Proceeds from sales will be sent by the Embassy and the community to support flood victims in the country and contribute to some charity activities in Sri Lanka.

Some pictures at the Fair.