Vegetarian festival to open in town

Vietnam Buddhist Institute's Thien Nguyen Group in HCMC in collaboration with advertising company Senba and Binh An Trade & Service Co-Operative will host a vegetarian festival on the occasion of the Buddhist holiday of Vu Lan, traditionally considered an important event in praise of motherly love, at Children's House of HCMC, 36 Le Quy Don street in HCMC's District 3 from Thursday to Saturday.
The event will attract 50 units with 60 counters including vegetarian restaurants, vegetarian food shops, vegetable processing firms, vegetarian supermarkets, Oshawa products and products related to Buddhist culture. The three-day festival will be supported by 100 student volunteers.
"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.