HCM City hosts French food, culture festival “Balade en France” hinh anh 1The central stage of the French food and cultural festivalBalade en France” which is underway at Hoa Lu Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Hundreds of local people and foreigners came to the French food and cultural festival “Balade en France” at Hoa Lu Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on its opening night on December 1.

The festival is held by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the French Consulate General in HCM City and SOPEXA company as part of a series of events to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam – France diplomatic ties (1973 – 2018).

It is also the largest French cuisine event in Vietnam which has been organised in the southern hub over the past eight years to promote the French food and culture among local people.

The ninth edition of the event features nearly 40 booths selling popular French-made products like cheese, wine, butter, bacon, crepe, chocolate and more, with discounts of up to 50 percent.

Visitors are also enthralled by a festival of French music where artists from both Vietnam and France take the stage with plenty of dynamic performances. They can also enjoy other activities like wine tasting, face painting and henna tattooing while several French restaurants in the city will showcase some of the most favourite French dishes.

Kids can visit the play zone to join many fun games such as darts and colouring.

The two-day event expects to welcome more than 4,000 visitors.

After HCM City, the festival will be organised at Ly Thai To statue in downtown Hanoi on December 14 – 16. –VNA 
VNA