The programme was designed to highlight Hanoi as a City for Peace and a Creative City, while promoting cultural exchanges and strengthening connections among cities across ASEAN.
International delegates have the opportunity to experience Hanoi’s culinary heritage through dishes and traditional specialties closely associated with local life, including nem cuốn (fresh spring rolls), phở cuốn (rolled pho), bánh tôm (shrimp cakes), chả cốm (young green rice patties) and chè sen long nhãn (lotus seed and longan sweet soup).
A highlight of the programme is the lotus tea and egg coffee space, featuring two well-known elements of Thang Long-Hanoi’s culinary culture. While lotus tea reflects the refinement of Hanoi’s tea culture, combining the fragrance of lotus flowers with the craftsmanship of tea makers, egg coffee represents a distinctive innovation created in Hanoi in 1946 and has become a favourite drink among domestic and international visitors.
Alongside culinary activities, the programme features performances of traditional art forms, helping honour Vietnam’s long-standing cultural values. Through the performances and cultural experiences, delegates have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural identity of Thang Long-Hanoi, a land with a millennium-long history and rich cultural traditions.
The culinary and cultural space is not only part of activities welcoming the ASEAN City Leaders Conference, but also an opportunity for Hanoi to introduce its cultural values, hospitality and image as a modern and dynamic capital that continues to preserve and promote its traditional heritage.
Organised by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the event opened at 4:30 p.m. on June 7 and continues through June 8 at Hanoi Book Street in Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi.
The programme is part of the ASEAN City Leaders Conference 2026, scheduled to take place in Hanoi from June 8-10, with the aim of promoting the capital’s image, enhancing cultural exchanges and boosting cooperation among cities in the region.
Under the theme "Driving the future through smart, sustainable and connected cities," the conference is expected to bring together around 350 domestic and international delegates and feature discussions on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and green urban development.
Tuan Anh
