The ‘Vietnam Pho Festival’ is a highly anticipated event co-organized by the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and the Saigontourist Group. This year’s festival, directed by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ho Chi Minh City administration, was announced at a press conference held at the Majestic Hotel in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City on Monday.
The hybrid press briefing brought together local and international guests, representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea, and the Seoul-based Khoe 2 Restaurant, showcasing the event’s broad appeal.
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| The press conference at the Majestic Hotel, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, sets the stage for an exciting ‘Vietnam Pho Festival 2024’ on July 29, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
The two-day festival, taking place at Yeouido Park in Seoul, will feature 70 stalls, with 40 of them dedicated to Vietnam’s iconic Pho and other mouth-watering delicacies. It promises to be a culinary adventure for all attendees, offering a unique opportunity to delve into the world of Vietnamese cuisine and engage in cultural exchanges with South Korea.
Beyond the delicious food, the festival will also facilitate business-to-business matching activities, creating a platform for Vietnamese companies in the food and foodstuff industry to forge partnerships with South Korean counterparts.
Dao Quyen Truong, Deputy Head of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO, emphasized the Vietnamese government’s commitment to culinary diplomacy, also known as gastrodiplomacy. He highlighted the efforts of Tuoi Tre and Saigontourist in promoting the country’s culinary culture internationally and fostering stronger economic ties between Vietnamese businesses and global partners.
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| Dao Quyen Truong, Deputy Head of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO, shares insights at the press conference, underscoring the importance of culinary diplomacy. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
Nguyen Dinh Dung, Counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea, praised the upcoming festival as a significant cultural event, celebrating Vietnamese culture in South Korea. With approximately 300,000 Vietnamese citizens living in South Korea and a growing number of South Koreans intrigued by Vietnam, the festival is set to be a huge success.
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| Nguyen Tien Dat, Sales and Marketing Director at Saigontourist Group, provides details about their participation in the festival, including the involvement of their premium hotels. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
Nguyen Tien Dat, from the Saigontourist Group, revealed that the group and its member companies, including four prestigious hotels, will be actively participating in the festival. Their chefs will showcase their skills by offering 20 varieties of Pho, along with other Vietnamese specialties, to delight international food enthusiasts.
Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of the Saigontourist Group, shared that their South Korean partners in the travel and airline industries have expressed enthusiasm for the festival, recognizing its potential to strengthen cultural and tourism exchanges between the two nations.
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| Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of Saigontourist Group, highlights the group’s commitment to making the festival a success and its potential impact on cultural and tourism exchanges. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
The ‘Day of Pho’ (December 12) was established by Tuoi Tre in 2017 and has since become an annual tradition. In 2023, the event went international, hosted by Tuoi Tre in Japan under the name ‘Vietnam Pho Festival.’ Last year’s festival in Japan attracted over 85,000 visitors and garnered attention from major news agencies and social media influencers.
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| Le The Chu, Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, addresses the press conference, sharing the impact of the previous ‘Vietnam Pho Festival’ in Japan and the event’s growing popularity. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, expresses support for the festival and its potential economic impact. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Vu Ho, Ambassador of Vietnam to South Korea, joins the press conference virtually, showing his support for the upcoming ‘Vietnam Pho Festival 2024’. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Tran Xuan Toan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, underscores the festival’s goals of promoting Vietnamese culinary culture and strengthening economic ties between Vietnam and South Korea. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Vo Hung Thuat, Head of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s Media Service Center, shares some exciting highlights of the upcoming festival, including its focus on cultural exchange and business partnerships. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| The press conference sets the stage for an exciting festival, with delegates from various organizations coming together to make it a success. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Vietnam’s top swimmer Anh Vien and YouTuber Nga Sumo show their support for the festival, underscoring its appeal across different segments of society. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| A South Korean woman savors a bowl of Pho in Ho Chi Minh City, a testament to the dish’s growing popularity. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| A diner enjoys a bowl of Pho at a Vietnamese restaurant in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Yen |
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