(VNF) - The Mon Asian Food Festival (MAFF) will take place for the first time in Hanoi, from April 20^th to 24^th, and Quang Ninh Province’s Ha Long City, from April 27^th to 29^th, as part of the activities to celebrate the national tourism year 2018.

The information was announced at a press conference in Hanoi on April 12^th.

At the press conference in Hanoi on April 12^th. (Source: NDO)

The event in response to the National Tourism Year 2018 themed “Ha Long-Heritage, Wonder, Friendly Destination” aims to promote the essence and persity of the culinary and cultural characteristics of Asian countries.

The festival, to which entry is free, will open at the Mon City My Dinh apartment complex at No.2 Le Duc Tho Street, in Hanoi. Food presentations and art performances are scheduled to begin at 10 am throughout the duration of the festival.

In Ha Long City, the festival will be held at Square 30/10 on Tran Quoc Nghien Street. In addition to sampling a plethora of Asian dishes and enjoying special art performances, visitors will be able to take a hot air balloon ride for an aerial perspective of the festival, and join MonRun to raise funds for Vietnamese Agent Orange/Dioxin victims.

The show will also treat local food lovers in Ha Long City to hot-air balloon trips and a charity run. (Illustrative photo: linhny2301_)

It will feature more than 100 food stands, including 70 for Vietnamese businesses and 30 from other Asian countries like Myanmar, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. It will also draw the participation of Vietnamese and international food and tourism ambassadors, singers, artists, and leading gastronomic experts.

Ingredients for the dishes will be sourced from the supermarket chain Fivimart to ensure food safety, with the booth staff required to obtain a health certificate three months before taking part in the event.

Nguyen Huy Cuong, a member of the organising board, said that the participants will use coupons instead of cash at the festival./.

VNF