Quang ninh: The Azerbaijan Culinary Festival, highlighting the country’s cultural and gastronomic heritage, was successfully held at Ha Long University in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. The event was organized through a collaboration between the Azerbaijani Embassy in Vietnam and the university.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the festival aimed to promote Azerbaijani culture and cuisine and was attended by ambassadors from Kazakhstan and Trkiye to Vietnam, Pakistani culinary entrepreneurs, and leaders of provincial departments and partner organizations of Ha Long University.

Nguyen Duc Tiep, Rector of Ha Long University, welcomed the guests, describing Azerbaijan as a nation rich in history and culture, where cuisine acts as a bridge conveying the spirit and lifestyle of its people. Ambassador Shovgi Mehdizade expressed gratitude to Ha Long University and Quang Ninh Province for hosting the event. He noted that collaboration with the university has strengthened ties between diplomatic missions and expressed hope for further cooperation in academic, tourism, and economic fields. He also invited the university administration to participate in the upcoming Vietnam Days in Baku in 2026.

The festival featured a Barbecue Competition with five student teams from Ha Long University. Their dishes were evaluated by an expert panel from the World Barbecue Association, the Quang Ninh Chefs Association, and executive chefs from leading local hotels. The competition showcased creativity and technical skill in reinterpreting Azerbaijani culinary traditions.

Winners of the competition were awarded diplomas, and the university received gifts including pictures commemorating the visits of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to Vietnam in 1983 and President Ho Chi Minh to Azerbaijan in 1959, as well as an Azerbaijani carpet.