International Culinary Culture Festival 2025: Promoting sharing, cooperation, and solidarity with disaster-affected communities
WVR - According to Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki, the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025 with the theme “Joining Hands to Support Communities Overcoming Typhoons and Floods” embodies solidarity with the Vietnamese people, as the S-shaped country continuously faces prolonged natural disasters.
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| Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki gives an interview to the World and Vietnam Report on the occasion of the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025. (Photo: Thu Trang) |
On the morning of November 23, at the Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound in Hanoi, the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025 officially opened under the patronage of Madame Le Nguyet Anh, spouse of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.
With the theme “Joining Hands to Support Communities Overcoming Typhoons and Floods”, this year's festival is organized on an expanded scale, attracting numerous diplomatic missions, international organizations, businesses, and the expatriate community in Hanoi. Not only a venue to showcase global culinary excellence, the event also carries a profound humanitarian message: Spreading the spirit of sharing and joining hands to support communities in provinces heavily affected by typhoons and floods.
On this occasion, the World and Vietnam Report interviewed Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki about the significance of this international culinary culture festival.
How does the Ambassador evaluate the message of the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025 with the theme “Joining Hands to Share with Communities Overcoming Natural Disasters”?
I believe this is an extremely meaningful initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Vietnam. It is wonderful to see many Embassies, non-governmental organizations, and localities participating, showcasing their signature dishes at this international culinary festival.
This year's festival becomes even more significant and important as we demonstrate solidarity with the Vietnamese people, who have recently endured severe floods, continuous and prolonged storms during the past autumn. In this context, expressing sharing, cooperation, and empathy with those affected by natural disasters is absolutely essential.
Therefore, I hope the event will be a resounding success, providing an opportunity for everyone to enjoy international culinary excellence while contributing to fundraising efforts to support flood-affected communities.
As for myself, I hope many people enjoy Japanese cuisine, especially tempura. Today, we have brought a chef from the Japanese Ambassador's residence, so I believe all guests present today will enjoy the finest tempura.
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| Within the framework of the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025, the organizers have launched charitable gift-giving activities aimed at communities in provinces severely affected by storms and floods. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Besides tempura, what other special dishes is the Embassy introducing today? More importantly, what does the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam hope to achieve through this event, especially in promoting the culinary culture of the Land of the Rising Sun?
At this year's International Culinary Culture Festival, several Japanese businesses present Japanese rice products. Therefore, everyone can enjoy Japanese rice cooked directly at the booth. Additionally, we are serving Wagyu beef, grilled right at the exhibition stand.
Moreover, I believe this is an extremely important opportunity to promote Japanese cuisine. I know Japanese dishes are already very popular in Vietnam, with many Japanese restaurants operating in the S-shaped country.
However, having more people enjoy and appreciate Japanese cuisine through an international culinary event like this is even more meaningful. I believe tempura, Japanese rice, and Wagyu will be standout “candidates” for this year's festival.
According to the Ambassador, what role does the Festival play in promoting mutual understanding and strengthening friendship between Vietnam and other countries?
To me, it is extremely important for Vietnam to continue maintaining events organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government, such as the International Culinary Culture Festival.
Just by looking at the bustling crowd visiting today, it is clear that people truly want to experience international cuisine and share cultural exchange spaces. This is a wonderful testament to the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.
