The 2006 cuisine and craft street/village festival opened in Hanoi’s Thong Nhat (Unification) Park on March 30 with the aim of introducing Hanoi’s famous dishes and traditional crafts. Deputy director of the Hanoi Tourism Department Tran Huu Binh said through the festival the city’s tourism sector hopes to attract a large number of tourists and create a playground for local people and tourists during the springtime. This is a good chance for the city to exchange and introduce tourism products to other localities in the country and to some other countries in the region.

The organising board invited guests from China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces and some other Asian countries as well as representatives from embassies in Hanoi.

Mrs and Mr Nguyen Hoi who are living in Thanh Nhan Living Quarter in Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi said: ”We’ve come here to seek tours which suit our age. Surprisingly, we again find the traditional values of Hanoi in the old day.”

The festival has attracted a lot of local and international visitors since the opening day. Ms Johanna from Switzerland said: “I can really enjoy Vietnamese delicious dishes and buy favourite products in a wonderful atmosphere. My mother and aunt are very happy to participate in the fair. I will tell my friends to visit Vietnam soon”.

On display are different products from craft villages in Ha Tay, Bac Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Hai Duong provinces, from central and southern provinces and even from overseas participants.

Visitors to the festival will have a chance to see Hanoi artisans arrange flowers besides beautiful girls.