Vietnam was among the countries participating in the annual Embassy Festival promoting destinations, their highlights, culture and customs among residents of The Hague, capital of the province of South Holland. Source: Vietnam's embassy in the Netherlands

The Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands recently joined the embassies of more 100 countries at the sixth festival for embassies in The Hague, VNA reported Monday.

After 2 years of having to adapt the festival to comply with the pandemic restrictions, Embassy festival 2022 in The Hague was back in its original format. Diplomatic representatives of countries from all over the world attend the event and compete with each other in showcases, workshops and presentations intended to encourage guests to learn more about cultural and tourist assets.

The event also drew a large number of tourism and foods enterprises as well as professional and amateur artists from different countries.

The Vietnamese booth at the festival. Source: Vietnam's embassy in the Netherlands

At the event, Vietnam introduced to international friends its traditional dishes as well as the country’s tourism, handicrafts and folk games for children.

Dancers from the Vietnam Students Association in the Netherlands also performed traditional dances of Vietnam.

The ASEAN corners, featuring foods and cultures of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, left strong impression on visitors.

Dancers from the Vietnam Students Association in the Netherlands perform traditional dances of Vietnam. Source: Vietnam's embassy in the Netherlands

Addressing the festival, The Hague Deputy Mayor Sakia Bruines said that the event aimed to highlight the similarity and integration of cultures around the globe.

She said that The Hague is an international city for peace and a common house of embassies and international organizations.

According to the organizers, last year, the festival welcomed 50,000 visitors who enjoyed the diverse beauty in culture, tourism, and cuisines of participating countries, contributing to fostering their cultural and economic diplomatic relations.

In 2019 the festival welcomed 60.000 visitors from all ages.

Banh Xeo won the second prize at the culinary competition, part of Bagnara ethnic culture festival held in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. Photo: VNA

Elsewhere, Vietnam’s famous pancake dish, known locally as banh xeo, claimed second prize at the Bagnara Ethnic Cultural Festival which was held in Italy on September 1-4, VOV repored.

This year Vietnam introduced a number of traditional cuisines, such as Vietnamese spring rolls, fried rice, banh xeo, and Nem Lui (a type of grilled ground pork on a stick). In particular, the banh xeo impressed judges and visitors at the event, winning second prize at the event.

The word xèo depicts the sizzling sound when pouring the rice batter into the hot skillet. This “Vietnamese pancake” has a yellow outer layer and is filled with boiled pork strips, shrimp, bean sprouts and spring onion.

Addressing the participants, Le Thi Bich Huong, chairwoman of the Italy-Vietnam Cultural Bridge Association, noted that the annual festival represents a golden chance for Vietnam to promote its culture to Italian and international friends through showcasing traditional cuisines.

She added that part of the Vietnamese pavilion’s proceeds will be given to charitable activities linked with the association.

Banh xeo (pancake) has a yellow outer layer and is filled with boiled pork strips, shrimp, bean sprouts and spring onion. Photo: Eatgo News

This year, the festival attracted the participation of 25 countries across the world, including Vietnam, Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, Romania, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Ecuador, Spain, and Germany.

In total, 15,000 diners took part in the four-day festival.

Vietnamese culture and cuisine have become familiar to Italians and foreigners living in the Emilie Romangne region through such festivals. This represents the fourth time that Vietnam has attended the festival and won prizes.

Previously, Vietnam won the first prize in the culinary competitions in 2016, 2018 and 2021, with nem ran (fried spring rolls), nem lui (grilled pork paste), nem chay (vegetarian spring rolls), respectively.

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