Taste of the World Festival 2009 to open in December

VietNamNet Bridge – The fourth annual 'Taste of the World Festival 2009' will be organized at September 23 Park in HCMC's District 1 from December 3 to 6 with the participation of 24 countries.

"Taste of the World Festival 2009 is more special than the three previous festivals because it is organized at a public place (September 23 Park) to introduce delicious foods of many countries to a large number of HCMC citizens and foreigners.

This is considered a break-through idea of the organizing committee. At this festival, we focus on propagandizing environment protection, hygiene and environment friendly items to hold take-away foods. Besides, the organizing committee will build more restrooms and install many hand-washing basins to bring comfort and convenience to visitors," said La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism at a press conference to introduce the festival on Tuesday.

"The cost for this year's festival has increased four times compared to last year, to about VND10 billion, and the organizing committee is on progress to campaign for more funds. It is estimated that 80,000 people will join this four-day festival and about 30 million people will know about it," said Phan Dang Dung, head of PR and Events at Youth Advertising Joint Stock Company.

'Taste of the World Festival 2009' will open with a parade through Le Lai, Nguyen Thi Nghia and Pham Ngu Lao streets on the night of December 3. A rock show promoting beverages will be on stage on the night of December 4.

Visitors will have a chance to contemplate the talents of many leading chefs in a contest called 'Vietnam's talent chef 2009' since each chef has to create his/her own dish from a bag of food materials provided by the organizing committee on December 5. On the night of December 5, there will be international folk music performances. The closing ceremony will take place on the afternoon of December 6.

This year's festival is organized by the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the HCMC Tourism Association and Youth Advertising Joint Stock Company to create a chance to exchange culture, promote international cooperation and build a culture-tourism event to honor Vietnam's and other country's food cultures.

To be different from the three previous festivals, there will be no tickets, but each booth will sell products directly to visitors.

VietNamNet/SGT