B. Fest 2024: a Belgian cultural and food exchange in Haiphong

Themed ‘Awaken Your Senses’, the three-day event (B. Fest) is expected to attract over 6,000 participants in total.

The Belgian Ambassador, DEEP C leader, and Haiphong leader mark the festival's opening. Photo: DEEP C

The festival welcomes a large audience, including city dwellers and people from neighbouring localities, the foreign community living in Vietnam, businesses, organisations, and individuals who share a love for Belgian culture.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van Den Bossche said, “Over the years, this event has become an important part of Belgian culture in Haiphong. The event has built a solid reputation for a great weekend of Belgian cuisine and hospitality. We have felt warmly welcomed in Haiphong, and so we want to do something to give back to the city and its people.”

With more than 50 years of presence in Vietnam, the Belgian Embassy in Vietnam has played a connecting role, promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium in many fields. Following the success of B. Fest events in recent years, this year once again the Belgian Embassy brings to Haiphong a cultural and culinary exchange festival imbued with Belgian culture.

“I am proud of important role that DEEP C Industrial Zones plays in promoting the partnership between Belgium and Vietnam. In April 2025, we hope that the King and Queen of Belgium will visit Haiphong to witness the dynamism and incredible development of this red flamboyant city,” the ambassador noted.

Le Khac Nam, Vice Chairman of Haiphong People's Committee, highly appreciated the investment and preparation for the event by DEEP C.

“The festival is an exciting and successful collaboration between the city, the Belgian Embassy, and Belgian businesses. The event has truly become an annual cultural event, meaningful not only to the people of Haiphong and Belgians living and working in the city, but also to visitors from near and far," Nam said.

Bruno Jaspaert, general director of DEEP C Industrial Zones, at the opening ceremony. Photo: DEEP C

Bruno Jaspaert, general director of DEEP C said, “Through the festival, DEEP C wants to express gratitude to Haiphong and local people for their contributions and companionship over nearly 30 years to help DEEP C become a leading industrial player in Vietnam."

During the three-day festival there are diverse activities such as fireworks, a music concert, Belgian chefs introducing local distinct specialities including beer brewing, tasting, and food preparation, mini-games about Belgian beers, cuisine, and culture; artistic bartending performances, and a Belgian stilt-walking performance.

For the first time, the festival has also organised a DEEP C relay race.

B. Fest 2024 is also a colourful art space. Photo: DEEP C

Not just a beer and food festival, B. Fest 2024 is also a colourful art space. Visitors can feel like they are lost in a miniature Belgian village, with sophisticated craft stalls, unique art performances, and vibrant music.

Over three nights, there will be explosive performances featuring many talented artists from both Vietnam and abroad.

Singer Trong Hieu along with bands Osoko and Ouido will energise the festival atmosphere with vibrant songs. Additionally, renowned DJs such as Alexandra and Belgian DJ Loveboat (Discobar Galaxie) will heat up the party with modern EDM tracks.

Visitors to the festival will also have the opportunity to learn about the hundreds of years of Belgian beer history, as well as the reasons why Belgian beer is loved and honoured worldwide, recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The event brings to Haiphong residents and visitors nearly 30 Belgian beer styles, many of which have never been introduced in previous editions.

At the same time, the presence of Belgian chefs with more than 10 unique dishes were set to bring unique culinary experiences when combining beers with the right dishes.

The festival attracts a large number of people from the city. Photo: DEEP C

B. Fest has been held annually since 2019, an event authorised by the Belgian Embassy in Vietnam for DEEP C, in coordination with the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.

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