The 2019 International Food Festival will be held on Sunday the Vạn Phúc Diplomatic Compound. — Photo vietnamnet.vn

HÀ NỘI — A festival featuring food from all over the world will be held in Hà Nội on Sunday.

The International Food Festival is an annual cultural and charity fundraising event hosted by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps, featuring around 120 pavilions representing embassies, foreign relations departments, non-governmental organisations and foreign cultural centres in Việt Nam.

The event is sponsored by Ambassador Nguyễn Nguyệt Nga, spouse of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh.

According to the organisers, the 2019 International Food Festival aimed to enhance cultural exchanges and mutual understanding among countries.

It would also introduce Việt Nam to international friends via embassies and foreign cultural centres, and help local enterprises and provinces to promote their brands and products.

The festival also has a humanitarian purpose with the donations and contributions from participating organisations and individuals and proceeds to be donated to charitable activities implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Last year the festival raised nearly VNĐ2.6 billion (US$112,000), which was donated to handicapped people, orphans and the poor.

In recent years, the organisers have donated funds for the construction of Bình Thuật Kindergarten in the northern province of Yên Bái, a new bridge in the southern province of Long An and 10 scholarships for students in the southern province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, to name but a few.

The highlight of the event will be a ceremony to present gifts to children at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, the Việt Nam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, disadvantaged women from Sin Suối Hồ Commune in the northern province of Lai Châu, and 10 wheelchairs for children suffering from cerebral palsy.

Visitors can also enjoy musical performances, participate in a cooking contest and purchase traditional handicrafts from many countries.

Vạn Phúc Diplomatic Compound is located at 298 Kim Mã Street. Entrance VNĐ10,000 ($0.4). — VNS