There was chicken tikka from Pakistan, carp soup from Hungary, chicken
and lamb kebab from Iran, and tom yum kung from Thailand at the World
Food Festival which opened in Vung Tau on Wednesday night.
Thousands of local and international visitors were thronging the
stalls lined three kilometres along Thuy Van Avenue , the southern
city's main thoroughfare, to sample the bewildering array of flavours.
More than 30 local provinces and an equal number of
countries and territories are showcasing their unique foods at the event
which will go on until Sunday.
They include
high-profile cuisines like French, Chinese, Indian, and Spanish and some
lesser known ones like Palestinian, Myanmarese and Panamanian.
In the event, it did not take long for the food to run out.
Vietnamese dishes ranged from famous ones like pho (noodles with beef
stock), banh xeo (southern pancake with pork, prawns, and vegetables),
and bun bo Hue (large noodles with beef served with Hue-style stock) to
unusual ones like reu nuong (baked algae), artichoke soup, xoi hat dieu
ong tre (sticky rice with cashew baked in bamboo tubes), lon lung nhoi
mang hap (steamed mountain pig stuffed with bamboo shoots) besides
ethnic Khmer and Cham foods.
Later in the evening, the opening ceremony was marked by colourful costumes and lively dancing and music.
"Culinary art is an integral part of any culture," Hoang Tuan Anh, the minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said.
"Vietnamese cuisine has unique cultural characteristics that should be made known to international guests."
Tran Minh Sanh, chairman of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province People's
Committee and head of the organisation board, said Taste the World is
dedicated to Hanoi 's 1,000th anniversary in October.
Noted musical and cultural researcher Dr Tran Van Khe will lecture on
Vietnamese cuisine, while world-renowned American chef Martin Yan will
make a presentation on cuisines of the world.
Other
highlights include an Eat Fast – Drink Much Contest, a parade of models
in traditional Vietnamese costumes on rickshaws, wine tasting and
showcase of bartending skills.
Folk arts and games
like cock fights, ethnic dances and songs, gongs from the Central
Highlands , quan ho (duet love) songs, and other Vietnamese cultural
events will complement those from various countries.
A carnival evening on July 24 will see representatives of participating
countries and provinces dressed in their traditional costumes take part
in a parade along the avenue.
The opening ceremony
was attended by provincial leaders, ambassadors and consuls general of
several countries, and international dignitaries
Around 900,000 local and foreign visitors are expected to attend.
Tickets cost 50,000 VND and can be exchanged for food./.