The annual Ho Chi Minh City – Development and Integration Festival, organized by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City officially kicked off in the evening December 1, 2016 at the April 30 Park in District 1. The three-day festival is to promote friendship between city residents and expatriates, and also introduces Vietnam’s history and culture, particularly Ho Chi Minh City’s development and achievement, to expatriates

About 25 consulates, business associations and friendship organizations from different countries, including Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Thailand… participate in the festival with the booths offering information on business, culture, tourism and education. Visitors can learn about handicrafts and traditional costumes from Vietnam and other countries, and enjoy folk music, food, games and water puppetry shows.

Mr. Khaled Falah Al-Mutairi, Consul General of the State of Kuwait in Ho Chi Minh City, joined the ribbon cutting ceremony with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and other Consuls General from the Consular Corps in Ho Chi Minh City. After the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the People’s Committee Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong visited the Kuwaiti booth and was briefed about the specific features in the Kuwaiti culture by the Consul General Mr. Mutairi. The Chairman also had a taste of the dates and Arabic coffee.

During the festival, the images of Ho Chi Minh city’s development and achievements in all fields of the economy, education and society as well as diplomatic activities will be shown in an exhibition called “Ho Chi Minh City’s Activities in International Relations – Integration and Development”.