International Culinary Culture Festival 2025: Where the compassion knows no boundaries
WVR - Amidst the severe losses caused by natural disasters and floods in Vietnam's Central and Central Highlands regions, the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025 embodies the spirit of “mutual support”, spreading compassion and community responsibility among diplomats, businesses, and international friends in Vietnam.
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On November 23, at the Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound in Hanoi, the “International Culinary Culture Festival: 2025: Joining Hands to Support People Overcome Floods” was held under the chairmanship of Mrs. Le Nguyet Anh, Spouse of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.
Attendees included Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, Spouse of General Secretary To Lam; Mrs. Ha Thi Nga, Member of the Central Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; along with leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassadors; international organizations in Vietnam; and representatives from various localities and businesses.
Focusing on Our Fellow Citizens
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| Madame. Le Nguyet Anh, Spouse of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, speaking at the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
With the theme “Joining Hands to Support People Overcome Floods”, this year’s International Culinary Culture Festival was organized on a larger scale, attracting over 120 booths from Embassies, Consulates, Foreign Cultural Centers, local Departments of External Relations, domestic businesses, and international organizations; demonstrating friendship, international solidarity, and social responsibility in efforts to support disaster-affected people.
In her speech, Madame Le Nguyet Anh, Spouse of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, emphasized that since 2014, the International Culinary Culture Festival has evolved beyond a mere cultural exchange. Each booth, dish, and cultural story is told through culinary flavours, creating bridges where cultural values meet, understanding blossoms, and friendships between Vietnam and international friends are nurtured with sincerity and compassion.
This year, the International Culinary Culture Festival takes place under special circumstances as the Central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam suffer severe losses due to natural disasters and floods.
“In the atmosphere of today’s event, we are even more focused on our thoughts and feelings towards those facing difficulties,” shared Madame Le Nguyet Anh.
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| Spouse of General Secretary To Lam, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly; Member of the Central Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Ha Thi Nga; Spouse of Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, Mrs. Le Nguyet Anh, along with leaders, former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassadors, and international organizations in Vietnam take a commemorative photo, capturing meaningful moments of the event. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
It can be said that this festival carries a significance beyond a cultural event. It embodies humanity, a message of goodwill, affirming the power of international solidarity in challenging times.
Mrs. Le Nguyet Anh stated that with the spirit of “Connecting - Sharing - Spreading Love”, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all participating units, this year’s festival dedicates all contributions to supporting disaster-affected areas.
This reflects the core humanitarian values the festival always aims for: To make culture and cuisine the bond that connects hearts, allowing sharing to transcend geographical distances.
Additionally, the event has grown in scale, being considered the largest festival to date. According to Mr. Ngo Phuong Nghi, Director of the Diplomatic Service Bureau, learning from previous festivals, the Bureau has made thorough preparations, assigned tasks meticulously, and coordinated closely with the event organizing company, receiving maximum support from units within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For the first time, the festival integrates technology through the “Digital Interaction Corner”, offering participants a completely new experience. Additionally, a series of creative and connecting activities are introduced for the first time.
Notably, the program welcomes the return of booths from the Chinese Embassy, Japanese Embassy, Korean Embassy, and French Embassy after many years. These countries are known for their rich and diverse culinary cultures, beloved by the Vietnamese people. Their presence adds a new dimension to the festival, attracting a large number of visitors.
The Sentiments of International Friends
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| The Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, He Wei, highly appreciates the festival’s widespread impact and humanitarian significance, while expressing 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, the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei, highly appreciates the program’s widespread impact and humanitarian significance, while expressing deep condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam for the losses caused by natural disasters.
Notably, Ambassador He Wei announced that the Chinese Government has decided to provide $500,000 in aid to help localities overcome the aftermath, demonstrating friendship and support during difficult times.
The Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai affirmed that the International Culinary Culture Festival is not just an annual cultural exchange but a joint effort by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic community in Hanoi to contribute to charitable activities.
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| The Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai affirmed that the Malaysian people always stand with the people and Government of Vietnam. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
According to him, this year’s event is particularly special as participating units will allocate the funds raised to support victims affected by natural disasters and floods, especially in Central Vietnam.
“The Malaysian people always stand with the people and Government of Vietnam. We believe that together we will overcome difficulties and become stronger,” Ambassador Dato' Tan Yang Thai emphasized.
For his part, the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki praised the International Culinary Culture Festival as a highly meaningful initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Government.
The Japanese Ambassador emphasized that this year’s event is more meaningful and important than ever, as all participating units demonstrate solidarity with flood-affected people suffering severe damage from prolonged natural disasters.
“In this context, expressing solidarity, cooperation, and empathy with those affected by natural disasters is crucial,” Ambassador Ito Naoki affirmed.
At the 2025 International Culinary Culture Festival, the organizers conducted a charity gift-giving activity, focusing on people in provinces heavily affected by storms and floods. The gifts, including financial support and essential items, were handed directly to representatives of the localities. This is a practical gesture, embodying the spirit of “mutual support”, spreading compassion and community responsibility among diplomats, businesses, and international friends in Vietnam. The gift-giving activity was conducted solemnly and warmly, with the participation of delegates, spouses of Foreign Ministry leaders, representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and international diplomatic missions and organizations. Words of encouragement and sharing were sent to the flood-affected people, conveying a message of solidarity, companionship in overcoming difficulties, reminding that in adversity, compassion and humanity are the strength to overcome natural disasters. |
On the evening of November 23, the International Culinary Culture Festival 2025 concluded with warm echoes, spreading from the unique culinary flavours of diverse cultures to the shared compassion of domestic and international participants for the flood-affected people in Central and Central Highlands regions.
In addition to promoting multinational culinary identities, the event also showcased the community responsibility of Vietnam and international friends.
The active participation of Embassies, international organizations, localities, and businesses demonstrated the strength of solidarity in challenging times.
This further reinforces the message: In any challenge, the spirit of solidarity and compassion is the strength that helps people overcome together.
From today’s strong connections, the friendship between Vietnam and international friends continues to be nurtured, spread, and endure.
