LookAtVietnam – Vietnam Buddhist Institute’s Thien Nguyen Group in HCMC in collaboration with advertising company Senba and Binh An Trade & Service Co-Operative

A couple take vegetarian cooking at Viet Chay Restaurant in Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, HCM City.

“Vegetarian food is not only used by Buddhists but is a popular genre of culinary culture, helping diners keep fit, stay healthy, protect the environment and save materials,” said Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan, a member of Thien Nguyen Group. Loan added that the event was a chance for everyone to express their love and gratitude to parents and to understand more about new styles of vegetarian food at seminars at the event.

The seminars are ’Taking vegetarian foods for a peaceful world’ at 3 p.m. on Thursday Jed by Monk Thich Nhat Tu, professor of the Vietnam Buddhist Institute in HCMC, ’Vegetarian food is useful for health,’ on Friday with Nguyen Thi Kim Hung, doctor from the HCMC Nutrition Center and ’Taking vegetarian foods to protect the environment’ with Nguyen Tho Nhan, professor from the Vietnam National Atomic Energy Institute.

“Guests can also enjoy music with performances by Thu Huyen, Cam Van, Toc Tien, Quach Thanh Danh, Kim Cuong and Thanh Tam. We do not want to host somber vegetarian meals but a jubilant festival,” said Loan.

Vegetarian cooking instructions will be given each day of the festival from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 1,000 free vegetarian meals will be given to the poor.

Admission is free, including pamphlets on the advantages of vegetarian food, a vegetarian cookbook, addresses of vegetarian restaurants and flowers and calligraphy.

The festival expects to draw 20,000 people.

VietNamNet/SGT