The fifth gastronomy festival opened in Ho Chi Minh City on December 26 to promote Vietnamese and international food to domestic and foreign visitors.

Being jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the municipal Tourism Association and the Youth Advertising Company, the event is part of activities to welcome the lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

As many as 43 businesses from 18 countries, including Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, China, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are displaying their products at 50 booths.

Visitors will have a chance to enjoy a wide range of activities including a street parade with a large number of professional and amateur artists, bartender performances, Vietnam’s biggest rice pancake and vote for delicious dishes from 18 countries.

There will also be special performances by artists from the RoK, Russia, Germany and Vietnam, and a fashion show with ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress), RoK hanbok, Japanese kimono, and traditional costumes of other countries.

In particular, a music gala to welcome New Year on Dec. 31 with firework displays, traditional dancing performances and discount programmes at all stalls will also be held.
The event will last until January 2, 2011./.