Food festival in Hanoi boosts ASEAN and international relationships

The event involved 96 booths from 10 ASEAN countries as well as 27 others, including countries like Korea, Cuba, the Republic of South Africa, and Egypt.

Alongside the activities related to food, the festival also has other activities such as music performances, fund raising, and a fashion show. By the end of the day, the festival had raised about 13,000 USD. The money was used to give 10 wheelchairs, 10 bikes, and 5 savings accounts as gifts for handicapped and orphaned children via the Association for the Support of Vietnam Handicapped and Orphans.

The festival was held to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of Vietnamese diplomacy as well as the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community in December 2015. ASEAN is a region with diverse and unique cultures, all pitching in to build a unified cultural identity. Unity in diversity is the goal pursued by the government and people of ASEAN countries.