Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Food Street in Nakhon Phanom Province

The event was attended by Nakhon Phanom Governor Pratya Unphetwarakon, Nakhon Phanom Mayor Nivat Cheaviriyabunya, and representatives from the provincial and city authorities. 

On the Vietnamese side, Consul General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen Dinh Hoang Linh, President of the Thai-Vietnamese Association in Nakhon Phanom Nguyen Dinh Vi, and hundreds of Vietnamese expatriates from Nakhon Phanom and other northeastern provinces of Thailand were present.

Mr. Pratya Unphetwarakon, Governor of Nakhon Phanom province

Speaking at the event, Governor Pratya Unphetwarakon expressed his honor to attend the event, emphasizing that the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Culinary Street project would contribute to local economic and social development while enhancing Nakhon Phanom’s appeal as a tourist destination. He highly appreciated the initiative, stating that it aligns with the city's goal of developing a dynamic economy based on smart economic principles.

Vietnamese Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh highlighted the street’s significance as a new cultural landmark that vividly showcases the strong friendship and cultural exchange between Vietnam and Thailand. He underscored the deepening and substantive growth of the Vietnam-Thailand enhanced strategic partnership, which provides a crucial foundation for multifaceted cooperation. In particular, cultural and people-to-people exchanges remain a key highlight in the bilateral relationship.

He also expressed his delight at the active contributions of the large Vietnamese community in northeastern Thailand, not only to the socio-economic development of Thailand but also to the preservation and promotion of Vietnamese cultural heritage. Noting that Nakhon Phanom is a leading locality in fostering Thai-Vietnamese cultural interactions, he attributed this to the province’s visionary and inclusive multicultural policies.

Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh expressed confidence that cultural projects such as the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site, the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Street Gate, and the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Culinary Street, alongside the spirit of bilateral cooperation, would further establish Nakhon Phanom as a symbol of friendship and a key destination for cultural exchange in Thailand and the broader Southeast Asian region.

Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh, Consul General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen

On behalf of the Vietnamese community in Nakhon Phanom, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vi, President of the Thai-Vietnamese Association of the province, emphasized that the establishment of the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Culinary Street would help promote the cultural and culinary values of both nations. 

The street officially opened on March 22, serving as a vibrant gathering place for the local Vietnamese-Thai community and a hub where residents and visitors can enjoy Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, cultural performances, and folk songs.

Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Thìn, President of the Vietnamese Association in Thailand

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thin, President of the Vietnamese Association in Thailand, commended the initiative, considering it a positive step toward strengthening ties between Thai provincial authorities and the Vietnamese-Thai community. He expressed gratitude to the local government for its support in facilitating business and living conditions for Vietnamese expatriates. 

He further noted that the street’s operation would contribute to promoting Vietnamese culture in Thailand and boosting the local economy.

In an interview with Nhân Dân newspaper’s Thailand-based correspondent, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vi stated that initially, the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Culinary Street will operate on Saturdays, with plans to extend to Fridays and Sundays when feasible. 

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vi, President of the Thai-Vietnamese Association in Nakhon Phanom, speaks to a Nhân Dân Newspaper correspondent in Thailand

Vendors will only be open during the daytime since the nearby Nakhon Phanom walking street operates in the evenings. The provincial and city authorities have granted permission for Vietnamese expatriates to conduct business along the street, deploying security personnel to ensure order and providing logistical support such as designated parking and storage areas to facilitate smooth operations.

Nakhon Phanom Governor Pratya Unphetwarakon reaffirmed the local government's commitment to supporting the street’s success, recognizing its potential to attract tourists to both the province and the city of Nakhon Phanom. 

Governor of Nakhon Phanom Province, Pratya Unphetwarakon, speaks to a Nhân Dân Newspaper correspondent in Thailand

He highlighted the growing Vietnamese cultural presence in Nakhon Phanom, marked by landmarks such as the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site, the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Street Gate, and now, the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Culinary Street, which he described as valuable assets for economic, tourism, and cultural cooperation with Vietnamese provinces.

The launch of the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Culinary Street is part of ongoing activities within the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Street Gate area, celebrating Vietnamese cultural and culinary heritage and further solidifying the Vietnamese presence in Nakhon Phanom. 

A large number of Vietnamese expatriates participate in buying and selling on the opening day of the Thai-Vietnamese Cultural Food Street in Nakhon Phanom Province

The street currently hosts around 40 Vietnamese-Thai families selling traditional Vietnamese goods and delicacies, including ‘gio cha’ (Vietnamese pork sausage), ‘banh chung’ (sticky rice cake), boiled blood sausages, stuffed pork leg, bún bò (Vietnamese beef noodle soup), and various Vietnamese folk cakes.

Additionally, the local government has permitted individual vendors to sell Vietnamese and Thai goods and food in the area.

On the same day, a delegation from the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen, led by Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh, visited the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Nakhon Phanom to lay flowers. Mr. Nguyen Van Xuyen, Head of the Memorial Site’s Management Board, briefed the delegation on the site's history and current status.

Vietnamese community in Thailand express their joy at having a new venue to preserve and promote Vietnamese culture

Since its official inauguration in 2016, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Nakhon Phanom has attracted approximately 100,000 visitors annually, serving as a cherished historical and cultural landmark for Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand, Vietnamese tourists, local residents, and international visitors to northeastern Thailand.

Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh emphasized the memorial's importance to the Vietnamese community's cultural and spiritual life, as well as its role in fostering Vietnam-Thailand friendship. 

Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh, Consul General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, and his spouse lay flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial in Nakhon Phanom Province

He reaffirmed the Consulate General's commitment to supporting the Vietnamese community in preserving the site and upholding the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh.

On March 21, Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh led a delegation from the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen for a working session with the Executive Committee of the Thai-Vietnamese Association of Nakhon Phanom. 

Mr. Nguyen Van Xuyen, Head of the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial in Nakhon Phanom Province

After hearing reports on the association’s activities and its proposals, he updated the community on Vietnam’s socio-economic development and shared his vision for Vietnam’s future prosperity under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

He expressed confidence that in this new era of development and prosperity, overseas Vietnamese would continue to make meaningful contributions to strengthening Vietnam-Thailand relations for the benefit of both nations. 

A delegation from the Consulate General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen meets with the Executive Committee of the Thai-Vietnamese Association in Nakhon Phanom

He also praised the community’s efforts in preserving artifacts related to President Ho Chi Minh at the memorial site, acknowledging its historical significance in documenting Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities in Thailand.

Addressing the association’s proposals, Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh discussed the need to rejuvenate its leadership by identifying outstanding young Vietnamese expatriates to ensure continuity. 

Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh presents Vietnamese language textbooks to the Vietnamese expatriate community in Nakhon Phanom Province

He also encouraged the promotion of Vietnamese language education within the community, emphasizing the importance of utilizing the knowledge gained by Vietnamese language teachers who had received training in Vietnam to enhance teaching efforts.

On this occasion, the Consul General presented a selection of Vietnamese language textbooks to the Vietnamese community in Nakhon Phanom.

PV