Cooking up a storm: The first Hoi An International Food Festival at An Hoi Sculpture Garden in Hoi An runs from March 14-20 with the participation of 12 international chefs from 12 countries. — VNS Photos Cong Thanh

HỘI AN – The ancient town is hosting the first Hội An International Food Festival from March 14 to 20.

Twelve international chefs from 12 countries -- Greece, Mauritius, Turkey and Sweden, besides the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Germany and Italy, as well as Russia, India, Sri Lanka and France, in addition to Việt Nam – are attending the festival.

The city’s culture and sports centre said the food festival week would transform the city into a truly international culinary destination.

The chefs have brought their countries’ cuisines to some of Hội An’s best restaurants. The restaurants themselves have themes specific to a country, with the decor, food, music and costumes reflecting the participating country.

According to organisers, the chefs are recreating their traditional dishes, and showcasing the finest locally sourced Vietnamese ingredients.

The festival, which is the first rendezvous of chefs from Asia, Europe and Africa, gives people an opportunity to try food from across the world, while enjoying a festive atmosphere.

The event was launched with a cocktail evening before the first official day of the festival, and will close with an international street party and an awards ceremony that will take place at Hội An’s historic Japanese Bridge on March 20.

The International Food Festival is the first-of-its-kind in Việt Nam that celebrates global food and the finest locally sourced ingredients.

Each participating restaurant occupies one pavilion and each guest chef is creating one hot and one cold dish.

The Hội An People’s Committee will present awards to chefs and the participating restaurants at the closing ceremony at the Japanese Bridge.

The UNESCO-recognised heritage site hosted 2.1 million tourists last year, of which one million were foreigners. — VNS