The event was held in Iztapalapa for the first time. The district maintains long-standing ties with Vietnam and is home to the only primary school in Latin America bearing the name Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

At the opening ceremony, Iztapalapa Mayor Aleida Alavez Ruiz said the selection of the district as the venue reflected ASEAN’s confidence in the locality and demonstrated its increasingly active role in international cultural exchanges.

She affirmed that local authorities and residents were ready to expand cooperation and strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties with ASEAN, a region of rich identity and an important partner of Mexico.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Van Hai, in his capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Mexico, described ASEAN Bazaar as a key annual cultural diplomacy activity, contributing to greater mutual understanding and reinforcing solidarity and friendship among nations.

With a population of nearly 700 million and a central role in multilateral cooperation frameworks, ASEAN has become an increasingly important partner for Mexico and Latin America across trade, investment, cultural exchanges and inter-regional cooperation, he said.

Praising Vietnam’s role, Ambassador Nguyen Van Hai noted that Vietnam has been actively forging ASEAN–Mexico relations, particularly within the framework of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance.

He said Vietnam continues to promote initiatives aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and creating practical cooperation opportunities for enterprises, authorities and localities from both sides.

He reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance in support of multilateralism, respect for independence and self-reliance, and equitable cooperation among nations.

Speaking at the event, Ana Karina Rojo Pimentel, chair of the Mexico–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, welcomed the presence of ASEAN in Iztapalapa and underscored the shared values between the two sides, including respect for cultural identity, community-centered development, support for multilateral cooperation and people-centered growth.

These common foundations, she said, would help Mexico and ASEAN further expand substantive cooperation under the CPTPP, bolster parliamentary exchanges and advance ties between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance. She also expressed her special affection for Vietnam, describing the country as a place whose hospitality, discipline and strong sense of community left her with lasting impressions.

Throughout the festival, the embassies of Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand highlighted the diversity of Southeast Asia, featuring traditional attire, handicrafts and signature dishes such as Vietnamese spring rolls, Thailand’s pad Thai and Indonesia’s rendang, alongside popular coconut- and mango-based ASEAN desserts.

Notably, a performance by pupils from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Primary School drew warm attention, offering a heartfelt greeting from Iztapalapa to ASEAN.

ASEAN Bazaar 2025 once again demonstrated the power of cultural exchanges in deepening relations between ASEAN and Mexico. With its  proactive and responsible engagement, Vietnam continues to make important contributions to ASEAN’s joint efforts to step up cooperation with Latin America, enhance mutual understanding and consolidate the traditional friendship between the two regions.

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