 At the opening ceremony of the 2024 International Food Festival. (Photo: An Dang/VNA) |
Under the theme “Gastronomy of Unity,” the event features the participation of 40 embassies, international organizations, local Foreign Affairs Departments, and domestic enterprises, showcasing over 130 booths. This year’s Festival underscores the power of culinary arts in fostering multicultural connections and addressing global challenges such as sustainable agriculture and transforming agro-food systems.
 Delegates visit exhibition booths at the 2024 International Food Festival. Photo: An Dang/VNA |
In her address, Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, highlighted the unifying power of cuisine. She praised Vietnam's culinary diversity and its role in intercultural exchanges, describing the multicultural bread performance at the opening ceremony as a “spectacular display of culinary artistry.
She said as a country with a rich and diverse culinary culture, Vietnam is an ideal place to host the International Food Festival. Vietnamese dishes, crafted with clean ingredients, pure flavors, and sophisticated techniques, proudly stand alongside the culinary treasures of more than 60 countries and territories. This event truly celebrates culinary excellence, Tamesis said.
The Festival goes beyond cultural exchange, serving as a platform to promote economic and trade collaboration. At the Argentine booth, Ambassador Marcos A. Bednarski showcased specialties such as Malbec wine and Yerba Mate tea. He noted the growing appreciation between Vietnamese and Argentine culinary traditions, which strengthens bilateral economic ties.
“Latin American countries, including Argentina, are increasingly gaining attention in Vietnam, and we warmly welcome this development. Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Argentina diplomatic relations with numerous high-level exchanges, and we intend to build on that momentum. Argentina fully supports launching free trade agreement negotiations between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and we hope to announce progress soon,” Bednarski stated.