Food festival welcomes ASEAN Community formation hinh anh 1Vietnamese youths try out Malaysian dishes. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Foreign Ministry’s Service Department for Diplomatic Corps hosted a food festival themed “the ASEAN community and international friends” in Hanoi on December 5.

The event, the third of its kind so far, featured 96 booths serving culinary delights from the bloc’s ten member nations and different localities across Vietnam.

Displayed handicrafts, a musical concert and a fashion show of ASEAN’s traditional costumes entertained attendees.

All proceeds will be donated to the Association for the Support of Vietnamese Handicapped and Orphans and other charities. The first and second festivals had raised a total of nearly 400 million VND (17,801 USD) for charitable activities.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Nguyet Nga, spouse of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, stated it is an opportunity for regional countries to learn about each other’s gastronomy ahead of the formation of the ASEAN Community.

It also helps further the friendship and cooperation between ASEAN nations and international friends in the three pillars of the community, namely politics-security, economy and socio-culture, she added.-VNA
VNA