HÀ NỘI — One of the most exciting German cultural festivals in Việt Nam, the GBA Oktoberfest, is set to return to Hà Nội and HCM City after two years of intermission due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Hà Nội, the event is a smaller version of the world’s biggest annual party, Oktoberfest and will take place at the JW Mariott Hanoi Hotel for four days, from September 29 to October 2. The hotel’s lakeside area will host thousands of revellers.

Organisers at a press conference about the Oktoberfest in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — Photos courtesy of GBA

For the first time, families will have a chance to enjoy an Oktoberfest experience with the ‘Family Day’ on October 2, which has been designed for family gatherings with the addition of fun activities for children as ring toss, bowling, face painting, and handmade crafts.

Speaking at a press conference about the event in Hà Nội on Wednesday, Vice Chairman of the German Business Association Vietnam (GBA) Torben Minko said: “The year 2022 has marked a remarkable milestone as we will be celebrating 30 years of our original GBA Oktoberfest. During the past 30 years, GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam has become an annual event to bring unique German cultural and traditional experiences closer to the Vietnamese people. In addition to that, the festival has created a bridge for promoting the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership.”

GBA Oktoberfest is set to return to Hà Nội and HCM City after two years due to COVID.

To bring the authentic ambience of the festival held yearly in Munich where party-goers enjoy the delights of Germany inside the massive beer halls, known as the Festzelt, the organisers will set up the same to accommodate large groups of up to 1,600 guests every night.

Festival-goers will indulge in the savoury German cuisine and the largest selection of beers than ever before. A total of eight including non-alcoholic options, featuring the premium imported Oktoberfest favourites, plus two other premium domestic beer brands from Đà Nẵng and Huế, will be presented at the festival.

“Our chefs are working hard to treat party-goers with a 70-metre-long buffet table presenting all kinds of traditional and authentic Oktoberfest food such as pretzels, rotkohl (sweet and sour red cabbage), German cucumber salad, German potato salad, flammkuchen and pork schnitzels,” said David Duffy, assistant director of Food & Beverage at JW Marriott Hanoi.

Guests enjoy German food and beer at a press conference about the upcoming Oktoberfest in JW Marriott Hanoi on Wednesday.

Ozapft – a well-known Oktoberfest band, will perform Bavarian music that will bring festival-goers a true taste of Oktoberfest resonating with a great party mood.

In HCM City, the event will take place at Nikko Saigon Hotel for three days, from October 6 to 8.

The event is co-organised by the German Business Association (GBA), the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Việt Nam (AHK Vietnam), together with JW Marriott Hanoi, under the patronage of the German Embassy in Hà Nội and the German Consulate General in HCM City.

For ticket information, please contact JW Marriott Hanoi at +84 904 873 826 (Ms Linh), GBA at +84 903 906 181 (Ms Mai),  AHK Office +84 24 3825 1429 (Ms Nhung). — VNS