Hanoi (VNA) – Many foreign leaders are showing theirinterest in exploring the local cuisine during their visits to Vietnam,providing good opportunities for the country to promote the image of its cultureand people to the international community through national cuisine.

In his freshly-ended first official visit to Vietnam, AustralianPrime Minister Anthony Albanese enjoyed “bia hoi” (brewed beer) and “banh mi” (Vietnamesesandwich) on his first day in Hanoi.

The Australian leader is one of the many foreign guests, including Barack Obama, Justin Trudeau and Bill Clinton, and Prince William have also been drawn to street eateriesand cafes in Vietnam.

Along with the hospitality of Vietnamese people, the country’scuisine has left a good impression of Vietnam in the eye of foreign friends.

Vietnamese cuisine is so diverse, and culinary diplomacy is considered an important factor in the country’s strategy to promote theimage of the nation, people and culture, according to experts.

Chef Nguyen Thuong Quan, owner of Old Hanoi Restaurant thathosted a series of Vietnamese cuisine days during leaders’ activities abroad,said that cuisine is a graceful and delicate accompaniment of diplomaticactivities during visits.

Artisan Anh Tuyet, who used to serve 21 foreign guests atthe APEC Leaders’ Week in Da Nang in 2017, affirmed that the Vietnamese cuisine is quite able to reach out to the world, adding what Vietnam lacks is astrategy to promote cuisine into a national trademark.

Experts held that Vietnam has a long way to walk to this end,starting with the introduction of a Michelin Guide, a Michelin selection ofVietnamese restaurants.

Gwendal Poullennec, Michelin Guide International Director, said that Michelin Guide had watched Vietnamese cuisine for a long time and wasdelighted to announce its first selection of Vietnamese restaurants in Hanoi andHo Chi Minh City. The Guide’s famous anonymous MICHELIN inspectors wereexcited to explore the treasure of cuisine with delicate cooking methods and uniquetastes, he added.

The presence of Michelin Guide in Vietnam is described as not only animportant milestone in the recognition of Vietnamese leading restaurants andhonouring the Vietnamese cuisine, but also a chance for Vietnam to popularisethe country’s culinary quintessence to foreign friends./.