5 December, at Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, Hanoi, Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) organized the third Cuisine Festival namely "ASEAN Community and International friends". The festival was attended by Madam Mai Thi Hanh,  the First Lady of President Truong Tan Sang, Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xuan My, Former Member of the Politburo, Honorary Chair of Vietnam Sponsor Association for the disabled and orphans, Mr. Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuyen Quang province, Mr. Duong Chi Dung, Assistant to the Minister of MOFA cum Chief of Office, Mr, Nguyen Quoc Dung, Assistant to the Minister of MOFA  cum Director General of the Personnel Department, MOFA, Ambassadors, representatives of the  departments of foreign affairs of northern provinces and other departments of MOFA.

The Opening program of the Festival "ASEAN Community and International Friends"

More than 90 food stands of 36 foreign embassies to Vietnam, 8 departments of foreign affairs of different provinces, 17 departments of MOFA and other agencies. Taking part in this Festival, Bac Giang Department of Foreign Affairs chose 12 typical products of the province such as Van Village Liquor (Viet Yen district), Son Dong forest honey, Chu dry noodle, dried lychee (Luc Ngan district), orange, pineapple and grapefruit (Luc Nam district) and My Do bean porridge., etc.

Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga (on the right) received the sponsored

fund for Vietnam Sponsor Association for the disabled and orphans

This was a successive event of the First and Second Festivals to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs (28 August 1945) and welcome ASEAN Community which will be n established in the end of 2015. The third Cuisine Festival created a place for the most special foods of Vietnam and other countries to be on display. The highlight of this Festival was that  stands of 10 ASEAN countries were gathered under one common house marking a new point in development process of ASEAN.

Madam MaiThi Hanh, the First Lady of the President visited the Food Stand of Bac Giang DOFA

"This Cuisine Festival has a very special meaning because in next 25 days Vietnam and other member countries of ASEAN will celebrate a big event- the establishment of people- oriented and people-centred ASEAN Community generating a new motivation for development of each member country and the region. The establishment of ASEAN Community is more meaningful in the context  of this year, a momentous year of international integration with new global agreements including the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development towards a global climate agreement after 2020.", said Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga.

The Food Stand of Bac Giang DOFA at the Festival

Introducing forest honey of Son Dong district to international visitor

At the Festival, the Organizing Board also received sponsorship of the organizations and individuals. The sponsorship would be sent to Vietnam Sponsor Association for the disabled and orphans and other charity organizations. 

                                                                                                                                                                  Tran Lan

                                                                                                                                                                  Ngoc Quyen (dịch)