Vietnam had the chance to raise its profile at an ASEAN bazaar held at Mexico’s Peralta theatre on November 9.
The 2013 event brought together representatives from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. It aimed to deepen understanding of cultural identities and increase friendship and cooperation among the five countries, as well as with the host nation.
At the opening ceremony, Thai ambassador to Mexico Chirachai Punkrasin reviewed major milestones in the development process of ASEAN since its establishment and emphasised key challenges faced by the organisation.
The Vietnamese stand attracted many visitors due to its unique display of tourist information guides, handicrafts and traditional costumes such as the Ao Dai and conical hats.
A third-year student from Mexicana University, Graciela Fernández, expressed delight at tasting traditional Vietnamese dishes, helping her learn more about Vietnam’s sophisticated culinary art.
She expressed her desire to visit the capital city, Hanoi, the UNESCO-recognized World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, and the Mekong River Delta to explore Vietnam’s natural beauty and landscape and experience the fascinating culture and hospitality of the local people.
Art and craft groups from various nationalities performed music, martial arts and a fashion show, as well as exhibiting traditional foods, handicrafts and garments at the bazaar.