Vietnamese Cuisine Connects Cultures at Cooking Class Hosted by Embassy of Vietnam in South Africa
18 November 2025
The Embassy of Vietnam in South Africa, in collaboration with the International Diplomatic Spouses Association (IDSA), hosted a special Vietnamese Cooking Class on 7 November 2025 at the Residence of the Ambassador of Vietnam in Pretoria.
The event brought together members of the diplomatic community, spouses of ambassadors, and friends of Vietnam for a morning filled with culinary discovery, cultural exchange, and friendship.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Hoang Sy Cuong of Vietnam expressed great pleasure in welcoming guests to the Residence, noting that Vietnamese cuisine is a harmonious blend of regional influences while preserving its own distinctive identity. He shared that this was the first time such an event had been held at the Residence since his arrival in South Africa and he was delighted to welcome members of IDSA and pleased to see so many familiar faces. The Ambassador emphasized that behind every Vietnamese dish lies a story of the country’s land, people, and way of life.
Mrs. Phuong Vu, spouse of the Ambassador, warmly welcomed all participants and emphasized the symbolism of rice in Vietnamese culture — a reflection of Vietnam’s ancient “rice civilization.” She introduced three representative dishes for the day: Phở Gà (chicken noodle soup), Nem Chay (vegetarian spring rolls wrapped in rice paper), and Bánh Trôi – Bánh Chay (sweet rice dumplings), each carrying its own cultural meaning of harmony, happiness, and togetherness. Mrs. Vu also shared with humor that while the Embassy did not have professional chefs, “our Embassy ladies are true super chefs — they’ve cooked for all our events and have the best recipes to share today.”
Participants were divided into small groups to take part in a friendly “Master Chef” competition, where teamwork, creativity, and culinary skills were celebrated. The winning group happily received small Vietnamese souvenirs — a moment that brought big laughter and joy to everyone. All participants also received Vietnamese keepsakes and took home prepared spring rolls as a delicious reminder of the day’s experience.
The class not only showcased the art of Vietnamese cooking but also highlighted the values of connection, cooperation, and joy — key ingredients in both Vietnamese cuisine and diplomacy.
This event formed part of the Embassy’s ongoing efforts to promote Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and foster friendship between Vietnam, South Africa, and the broader diplomatic community.
Article and photos: Embassy of Vietnam in South Africa