On November 23, at the Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound (Hanoi), the "International Food and Culture Festival 2025: Joining hands to support our compatriots to overcome storms and floods" took place under the chairmanship of Ms. Le Nguyet Anh, wife of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.
Attending the event were Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam; Ms. Ha Thi Nga, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; along with leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ; Ambassadors of countries; international organizations in Vietnam; and representatives of many localities and businesses.
Towards our fellow countrymen
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| Ms. Le Nguyet Anh, wife of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, speaks at the 2025 International Food and Culture Festival. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
With the theme "Joining hands to support our compatriots to overcome storms and floods", this year's International Food and Culture Festival was organized on a large scale, attracting more than 120 booths from embassies, consulates, foreign cultural centers, local foreign affairs departments, domestic enterprises and international organizations ; demonstrating friendship, international solidarity and social responsibility in the effort to accompany people in disaster areas.
In her speech, Ms. Le Nguyet Anh, wife of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, emphasized that since 2014, the International Culinary Culture Festival is no longer just a regular exchange activity, but here, each booth, each dish, each cultural story is told through culinary flavors, contributing to creating connecting bridges, where national cultural values meet, where understanding blossoms and where friendship between Vietnam and international friends is nurtured with sincerity and kindness.
This year, the International Food Culture Festival takes place in special circumstances when the Central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam are suffering heavy losses due to natural disasters and floods.
"In the atmosphere of today's event, we turn our thoughts and feelings even more to our compatriots in difficulty," Mrs. Le Nguyet Anh shared.
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| Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam; Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Ha Thi Nga; Mrs. Le Nguyet Anh, wife of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, together with leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassadors and international organizations in Vietnam took souvenir photos, recording the meaningful moments of the event. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
It can be said that this Festival has a greater meaning than a cultural festival. It is a place where humanity is present, a message of goodwill, and an affirmation of the strength of international solidarity in challenging times.
Ms. Le Nguyet Anh said that with the spirit of "Connecting - Sharing - Spreading love", with the support of the leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all participating units, this year's Festival dedicated all contributions to activities to support areas affected by natural disasters.
This demonstrates the core humanistic value that the Festival always aims for: To make culture and cuisine become the bond that connects hearts, so that sharing can go beyond geographical distance.
In addition, the event has grown in scale, and is considered the largest Festival ever. According to Mr. Ngo Phuong Nghi, Director of the Department of Diplomatic Corps Services, learning from previous events, the Department has made careful preparations, assigned tasks carefully and in detail, and coordinated closely with the event organization company, as well as received maximum support from units within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For the first time, the Festival applied technology through the “Digital Interaction Corner”, bringing participants a completely new experience. In addition, a series of creative and connecting activities were also introduced for the first time.
In particular, the program welcomes the return of booths from the Chinese Embassy, the Japanese Embassy, the Korean Embassy and the French Embassy after many years. These are all countries with rich and diverse culinary cultures and are loved by the Vietnamese people. The appearance of these booths adds a new feature to the Festival, attracting a large number of diners to enjoy.
Love of international friends
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| Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Ha Vi highly appreciated the influence and humanistic significance of the Festival, and expressed his deep condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam for the losses caused by natural disasters. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Also within the framework of the 2025 International Culinary Culture Festival, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Ha Vi highly appreciated the program's influence and humanistic significance, and expressed his deep condolences to the Vietnamese Government and people for the losses caused by natural disasters.
In particular, Ambassador Ha Vi said that the Chinese Government decided to support 500,000 USD to help localities overcome the consequences, demonstrating friendship and sharing in difficult times.
Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai affirmed that, not only an annual cultural exchange activity, the International Culinary Culture Festival is a joint effort of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the diplomatic community in Hanoi to contribute to charity activities.
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| Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai affirmed that the Malaysian people always stand side by side with the people and Government of Vietnam. (Photo: Jackie Chan) |
According to him, this year's event is more special as participating units will donate money to support victims affected by natural disasters and floods, especially in the Central region of Vietnam.
"The Malaysian people always stand side by side with the people and Government of Vietnam. We believe that together we will overcome difficulties and become stronger," Ambassador Dato' Tan Yang Thai pointed out.
For his part, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki assessed the International Culinary Culture Festival as an extremely meaningful initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Vietnam.
The diplomat emphasized that this year's event is more meaningful and important than ever because all participating units demonstrate solidarity with people in flood-affected areas who are suffering serious damage due to prolonged natural disasters.
"In this context, it is extremely necessary to show sharing, cooperation and sympathy with people affected by natural disasters," Ambassador Ito Naoki believes.
At the 2025 International Food Culture Festival, the Organizing Committee launched a charity gift-giving activity, aiming at people in provinces that suffered heavy damage due to storms and floods. The gifts, including financial support and essential items, were handed directly to local representatives. This is a practical gesture, demonstrating the spirit of “mutual love”, spreading kindness and community responsibility of those working in foreign affairs, businesses and international friends in Vietnam. The gift-giving ceremony took place solemnly and warmly, with delegates, spouses of leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, diplomatic agencies and international organizations directly participating. The words of encouragement and sharing sent to the people in the flood-affected areas are a message of solidarity and companionship in overcoming difficulties, reminding that in times of difficulty, kindness and humanity are the source of strength to overcome natural disasters. |
On the evening of November 23, the 2025 International Culinary Culture Festival ended with warm echoes, spreading from the unique culinary flavors of cultures to the sharing hearts of people at home and abroad towards the flood-affected people in the Central and Central Highlands regions.
Besides promoting multinational culinary identity, the event also shows the community responsibility of Vietnam and international friends.
The active participation of Embassies, international and local organizations and businesses has shown the power of solidarity in challenging times.
That further proves the message: In any challenge, solidarity and compassion are always the strength that helps people overcome together.
It is from these strong connections today that the friendship between Vietnam and international friends continues to be nurtured, spread and endure.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/khi-soi-day-nhan-ai-vuot-ra-ngoai-khoang-cach-dia-ly-335357.html
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