International Culinary Culture Festival 2025: Where flavours become 'ambassadors' of compassion
WVR - Cultural stories told through cuisine help build bridges - where national values meet, understanding blossoms, and international friendships are nurtured with sincerity and compassion.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lâm; Ha Thiị Nga, Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Madame Le Nguyet Anh, spouse of Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, along with leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Vietnam pose for a commemorative photo at the Festival. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Last weekend, the Vạn Phúc Diplomatic Compound was more bustling than usual, adorned with flags from various nations, vibrant traditional costumes, and the aroma wafting from over a hundred food stalls, creating a lively picture of the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025.
Under the theme “Joining Hands to Support Communities Overcoming Typhoons and Floods”, this year's event carries a profound message: Connecting Cultures - Uniting Communities - Supporting Flood-Affected Areas.
A journey of taste
| At the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025, the organizers distributed gift packages to support communities in provinces severely affected by storms and floods. Five gift packages, each including financial support worth 150 million VND and a clean water project, were handed directly to representatives of four preschools in Hue, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Tuyen Quang, along with a commune in Cao Bằng province. |
Held over two days, November 22-23, the event was organized by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps, with over 120 booths, gathering 50 embassies, 20 local foreign affairs agencies, eight units from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with many international organizations and businesses. It is also part of the activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam's diplomatic sector.
From early morning, crowds flocked to the venue. Diplomatic delegations, culinary artisans, and tourists eagerly explored world cuisines in an open and harmonious space.
Cuisine is a universal language of humanity. Madame Le Nguyet Anh, spouse of Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, shared: “Each flavour not only evokes a homeland but also tells stories of history, customs, art, and the soul of each nation.” The International Culinary Culture Festival 2025 is not just about flavours but also a journey of memories, emotions, and mutual understanding.
Visitors could “travel around the world” through taste in just a few hours: From the Russian booth with traditional salads and grilled meats to the Korean and Iranian stalls with dishes rich in local flavours, from traditional Asian cuisine to European, American, and African tastes. Each booth was not only a culinary display but also a storytelling space – about people, lands, cultures, and the bonds and love for Vietnam.
Guests also experienced culinary and cultural journeys from the highlands to the seaside of Vietnam, with other unique experiences like hand-roasting tea or immersing in the vibrant atmosphere of the “Flavours of Vietnam” performance.
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| The event organizers distribute gift packages to support communities in provinces severely affected by typhoons and floods. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Creative highlights
Considered the largest International Culinary Culture Festival to date, this year's event impressed with its scale and the distinctive marks of each booth.
For international visitors, like a group of Japanese friends shared, the three-region culinary space was like a flavourful journey through Vietnam's localities: The North with Hanoi's pho (rice noodle soup), Nam Định's pho made by Van Cu village artisans and royal chefs, the Central with Quang noodles, Nha Trang's nem lui (grilled meat roll), and the South with banh xeo (crep) and banh mi (bread). Each dish from different regions served as "culinary ambassadors" captivating international friends. Vietnamese booths were decorated with images of lotus flowers, a symbol of purity, simplicity, and Vietnamese spirit.
Notably, at the Festival, diners also experienced unique culinary performances from many chefs, such as “Borderless Culinary Diary” or participated in the “Journey of Taste Across Continents” through a series of booths from countries across the globe.
A bridge of sharing
With the spirit of “Connecting - Sharing - Spreading Love”, this year's event took place amid many Vietnamese localities suffering severe consequences from natural disasters and storms. Hence, the event carries a meaning beyond a mere cultural festival. “It is a humanitarian action, a goodwill message, an affirmation of the strength of international solidarity in challenging times,” affirmed Madame Le Nguyet Anh.
Mr. Ngo Phuong Nghi, Director General of the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that this year's Festival occurred as many localities were enduring significant losses from natural disasters, focusing on the main theme of joining hands to support communities overcoming storms and floods. The event helps connect cultures, spread friendship, and unite the diplomatic community and the public.
At the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025, many Ambassadors highly appreciated the event's widespread impact and humanitarian significance, while also expressing their support and commitment to accompanying the Vietnamese people. Chinese Ambassador He Wei announced a $500,000 aid package from Chinese Government to help people overcome the aftermath of typhoons and floods, while the Malaysian Ambassador expressed solidarity with Vietnam. Ukrainian Ambassador Gaman Oleksandr praised the profound message conveyed through the Festival, where each participating unit had the opportunity to contribute, demonstrating solidarity and responsibility towards the community, especially those in need.
All contributions from this year's Festival are dedicated to supporting disaster-affected areas. This is also the core humanitarian value of the Festival: To make culture and cuisine the bond that connects hearts, with each act of sharing transcending geographical and border distances.
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| The three-region culinary space gathers the essence of Vietnamese cuisine from different regions. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The echo of compassion
During the two-day event, the Festival attracted over 20,000 visitors. This number not only reflects the allure of cuisine but also demonstrates the widespread impact of a community and international event.
For the diplomatic sector, this is also a testament to the spirit of “service diplomacy” – where culture and cuisine not only promote the country's image but are also tied to social responsibility, humanitarian values, and international cooperation. Vietnam once again affirms its role as a common home of world cultures, a meeting point of friendship, cooperation, and sharing.
As the event concluded, the lingering echo was not just the taste of the dishes but the warmth spreading from charitable hearts. In this journey of flavors, each dish is a story, an "ambassador" connecting hearts towards flood-affected communities.
Not only does it offer a rich emotional journey of taste, but the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025 also strongly affirms: When the world shares and acts together, all distances can be bridged.
