French Gastronomy Festival & Francophone 2025 to open in Hanoi this month

The Hanoi Times — For the first time, the French Gastronomy Festival & Francophone 2025 will be held simultaneously from March 28 to 30 at Thong Nhat Park, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi.

The annual event promises visitors the opportunity to explore the culture, cuisine, and heritage of France and Francophone countries through a variety of activities.

At a press conference on March 4, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet made an official announcement of the "French Gastronomy Festival & Francophone 2025" (Balade En France et en Francophonie 2025), pointing out the importance of this year's special edition.

The festival, which opens on March 28, with public access from 10AM to 10PM on March 29, and from 10AM to 8PM on March 30, is designed with young people and families in mind and features three main activities: the 3rd Francophone Run around Bay Mau Lake, an exploration of French and Francophone culinary products, and an exhibition on studying abroad in French-speaking countries under the theme "I Study and I Act" that aims at students interested in pursuing higher education in French.

Ambassador Brochet stressed that this festival is part of the strengthening of relations between France and French-speaking countries and Vietnam.

"By bringing together institutional, economic, and cultural entities, this event will foster meaningful dialogue and exchanges that will strengthen both bilateral and multilateral relations. It provides a unique space to celebrate the Francophone heritage and to foster cooperation in various fields," he said.

He also thanked the Hanoi People's Committee for its support in organizing the festival over its five seasons and for helping to make Hanoi a thriving "Francophone space."

According to Pierre Du Ville, President of Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations and Organizations in Hanoi (GADIF), the combination of two events - the discovery of French products and the educational race and exhibition - creates a perfect synergy to engage Hanoi's youth.

"It is a celebration of the Francophone community that fosters friendship, sportsmanship, and a spirit of unity among the nations of the Francophone world," he said.

A key feature of the festival will be the exhibition area, with more than 40 booths offering French agricultural products through the "Taste France" experience. Visitors will be able to enjoy culinary demonstrations and tastings of iconic French products such as cheese, bread, wine, chocolates and more.

The festival will also serve as a platform for connectivity and partnership among suppliers of French and Vietnamese agricultural products.

"This could open up new opportunities for Vietnam and France to work more closely in the agricultural sector, bringing quality products to consumers in both countries," Brochet added.

In addition to culinary highlights, the festival will showcase French excellence in other sectors, such as automobiles, tourism, and education. Interactive games focusing on France and Franco-Vietnamese cooperation are expected to enhance the visitor experience.

Thirteen universities in Hanoi offering French language programs will also be part of this year's festival. Additionally, a job fair will be held on March 30 to enable French-speaking students and professionals in Vietnam to network with French employers and explore career prospects.

A series of musical performances will bring the vibrant Francophone community to life, with performances by Thanh Tu & Etienne, Sophie de Quay, Ha Myo, Bui Cong Nam & Kay Tran, and lively student performances from bilingual classes in Hanoi.

The festival is free to the public and is expected to draw a large crowd following the success of previous editions, which attracted 400,000 visitors last year.