CAN THO - The Leaf Festival opened at the Can Tho Promotion Agency (CPA) yesterday morning, November 3, as part of the Vietnam International Agricultural Fair 2022.

The festival is being organized by the Can Tho Promotion Agency (CPA) in collaboration with the Ao Dai Museum and the Can Tho City Youth Union. From the entrance to the stage, the entire festival area was decorated with banana leaves, coconut leaves, bamboo leaves, and other familiar products from the Mekong Delta provinces. Multiple activities are being held under the theme, "trees and leaves", including painting on Ao Dai with leaves, leaf crafts, wrapping betel nuts, making traditional cakes, and fashion competitions. Moreover, visitors can easily find many familiar dishes and drinks, such as spring rolls, sizzling pancakes wrapped in banana leaves, gotu kola mint juice, green tea and lotus leaf tea. Additionally, a wide range of eco-friendly products and production models related to leaf packaging, leaf decoration and raw materials are on display at some stalls. The event is a great chance for visitors to taste delicious food, experience new things and take photos or selfies. Speaking with the Saigon Times, Nguyen Thi Kieu Duyen, director of CPA, said the Leaf Festival aimed to promote green choices and sustainable living as well as stimulate environmental conservation. “The festival showcases many leaf-based products to encourage eco-friendly practices in processing, packaging and decorating, as well as to promote leaf-related architecture, cuisine and artworks. The organizers hope it will be a good opportunity for visitors to see each other and experience creative activities,” Duyen said. Some images of the festival: