On the evening of December 1, the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2023 took place at Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ta Quang Dong, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha, representatives of various government agencies, and delegates from the embassies of participating countries, among others.
The festival, directed by the Hanoi People’s Committee and organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, in collaboration with the Hanoi Friendship Organizations Union, and relevant units, will run from December 1 to December 3 at Thong Nhat Park (Tran Nhan Tong Street, Le Dai Hanh Ward, Hai Ba Trung District).
Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman Vu Thu Ha affirmed Hanoi’s status as a city with a millennium-long cultural history, characterized by a commitment to peace, innovation, and hospitality. The city boasts an extensive and profound cultural heritage, blending the essence of Thang Long culture with those of other regions such as Doai, Dong, Kinh Bac, and Son Nam Thuong. This amalgamation has given rise to the distinctive cultural identity of Thang Long – Hanoi. Following the successes of 2018 and 2019, the Hanoi Cultural Food Festival 2023, themed “Hanoi International Culinary Culture Exchange,” sees the participation of embassies from India, Iran, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, and more.
“Towards 2045, Hanoi envisions its cultural industry as a pivotal and comprehensive economic sector, propelling the development of other industries and contributing to the overall prosperity of the city. This strategic direction is pivotal for constructing a high-quality living environment and fostering comprehensive, sustainable development in economics, culture, and society. These favorable conditions, opportunities, and strengths create a breakthrough in cultural development,” stated Vice Chairwoman Vu Thu Ha.
From the beginning of 2023 to date, Hanoi has organized over 2,000 cultural events, attracting approximately 24 million tourists. This positive contribution has significantly boosted the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of the capital, providing a solid foundation and essential impetus for the development of the “Creative City” – promoting and elevating Hanoi’s image as a “Safe, Friendly, and Attractive” destination.
“The Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2023 serves as a platform for cultural exchange, offering an opportunity to experience the diverse, exquisite, and skillfully presented traditional culinary values from various regions and countries. It aims to promote, honor, preserve, and uphold the cultural and culinary traditions of different localities, strengthening the bonds of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the people of Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular with international friends,” added Vice Chairwoman Vu Thu Ha.
Delegates initiated the ceremonial button-press to inaugurate the event.
Attendees of the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2023 are not only treated to an array of culinary delights but also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in various traditional folk games and partake in cultural and artistic performances presented by both Vietnamese and international artists. A distinctive feature of the festival is the chance to engage in dialogue and gain insights into the expertise of renowned artisans and chefs who have infused their creativity into ingredients, transforming them into unique culinary artworks that resonate with the rich national identity.
Delegates explored and captured memorable moments at the book exhibition organized by Hanoi Library.
As part of the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2023, there will be a range of international exchange activities, including photography exhibitions showcasing the cultural, touristic, and culinary highlights of both domestic and international destinations such as Denmark, Venezuela, India, Iran, Panama, South Korea, the Philippines, Laos, and Cambodia. Additionally, a mobile book exhibition will introduce literary works promoting cultural arts, tourism, and exemplary cuisine from both domestic and international perspectives. The program features traditional art performances like Hoi An’s “Bai Choi” singing, ethnic music and dance, circus art performances, a competition for the intangible cultural heritage display titled “Guardians of Ethnic Colors,” “Ca Tru” singing, “Cheo” singing, “Xam” singing, military drum singing, “Do” singing, “Bong Tan Trieu” dance, and a performance of the “Gongs” art of the Muong people. Various recreational and entertainment activities, such as toy figurine molding workshops, dragonfly crafting, calligraphy, Dong Ho painting, and a selection of traditional folk games, minigames, and handicraft village experiences, will be organized. Panel discussions and training sessions on human resource development for the cultural industry’s contribution to culinary development are also on the agenda.
A large number of citizens visited the booths immediately after the opening ceremony.
Furthermore, the cultural space area introduces patrons to exquisite dishes and iconic products representing traditional craft villages of Hanoi, including specialties like Me Tri young sticky rice, Phu Thuong sweetened rice with sweet soup, So village rice noodles, Bao Phuong traditional mooncakes, Uoc Le pork sausage, Thach Xa nutty ginger sticky rice bars, Ngau village wine, Quang Phu Cau rice porridge, Hoa Nam rolled rice pancakes, Tam Hiep soybean paste with pickled eggplant, Hong Van Nam bananas, and Ha Mo Se rice porridge. Some dishes are showcased along with demonstrations of their preparation, including Uoc Le pork sausage, rolled Pho, Thanh Tri traditional rolled rice pancakes, and West Lake shrimp cakes. In the area dedicated to the promotion of regional specialties, products from regions such as Ha Giang (“Gu” square sticky rice cakes, kitchen air-dried beef, and mint honey); Son La (coffee, milk); Bac Ninh (chrysanthemum wine, wedding cakes, steamed rice cakes); Ha Nam (peanut candy, Dai Hoang bananas, and Nhan Hau braised fish); Ninh Binh (goat meat); Quang Binh (ginseng jam and ginseng tea, ginseng-steamed chicken) will be available.
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