There was chicken tikka from Pakistan, carp soup from Hungary, chickenand lamb kebab from Iran, and tom yum kung from Thailand at the WorldFood Festival which opened in Vung Tau on Wednesday night.
Thousands of local and international visitors were thronging thestalls lined three kilometres along Thuy Van Avenue , the southerncity's main thoroughfare, to sample the bewildering array of flavours.
More than 30 local provinces and an equal number ofcountries and territories are showcasing their unique foods at the eventwhich will go on until Sunday.
They includehigh-profile cuisines like French, Chinese, Indian, and Spanish and somelesser 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 beefstock), banh xeo (southern pancake with pork, prawns, and vegetables),and bun bo Hue (large noodles with beef served with Hue-style stock) tounusual ones like reu nuong (baked algae), artichoke soup, xoi hat dieuong tre (sticky rice with cashew baked in bamboo tubes), lon lung nhoimang hap (steamed mountain pig stuffed with bamboo shoots) besidesethnic 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'sCommittee and head of the organisation board, said Taste the World isdedicated to Hanoi 's 1,000th anniversary in October.
Noted musical and cultural researcher Dr Tran Van Khe will lecture onVietnamese cuisine, while world-renowned American chef Martin Yan willmake a presentation on cuisines of the world.
Otherhighlights include an Eat Fast – Drink Much Contest, a parade of modelsin traditional Vietnamese costumes on rickshaws, wine tasting andshowcase of bartending skills.
Folk arts and gameslike cock fights, ethnic dances and songs, gongs from the CentralHighlands , quan ho (duet love) songs, and other Vietnamese culturalevents will complement those from various countries.
A carnival evening on July 24 will see representatives of participatingcountries and provinces dressed in their traditional costumes take partin a parade along the avenue.
The opening ceremonywas attended by provincial leaders, ambassadors and consuls general ofseveral 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./.
Thousands of local and international visitors were thronging thestalls lined three kilometres along Thuy Van Avenue , the southerncity's main thoroughfare, to sample the bewildering array of flavours.
More than 30 local provinces and an equal number ofcountries and territories are showcasing their unique foods at the eventwhich will go on until Sunday.
They includehigh-profile cuisines like French, Chinese, Indian, and Spanish and somelesser 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 beefstock), banh xeo (southern pancake with pork, prawns, and vegetables),and bun bo Hue (large noodles with beef served with Hue-style stock) tounusual ones like reu nuong (baked algae), artichoke soup, xoi hat dieuong tre (sticky rice with cashew baked in bamboo tubes), lon lung nhoimang hap (steamed mountain pig stuffed with bamboo shoots) besidesethnic 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'sCommittee and head of the organisation board, said Taste the World isdedicated to Hanoi 's 1,000th anniversary in October.
Noted musical and cultural researcher Dr Tran Van Khe will lecture onVietnamese cuisine, while world-renowned American chef Martin Yan willmake a presentation on cuisines of the world.
Otherhighlights include an Eat Fast – Drink Much Contest, a parade of modelsin traditional Vietnamese costumes on rickshaws, wine tasting andshowcase of bartending skills.
Folk arts and gameslike cock fights, ethnic dances and songs, gongs from the CentralHighlands , quan ho (duet love) songs, and other Vietnamese culturalevents will complement those from various countries.
A carnival evening on July 24 will see representatives of participatingcountries and provinces dressed in their traditional costumes take partin a parade along the avenue.
The opening ceremonywas attended by provincial leaders, ambassadors and consuls general ofseveral 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./.
