The event was attended by top leaders from the MekongSub-region and travel agencies from more than 25 countries and territories.
The event aimed to promote Vietnam as an agriculturalcountry and the world’s top rice exporter among foreign visitors, said Chairman of the city People's Committee Phan Van Mai in his openingremarks, describing rice as the root of Vietnamese civilization and culture.
He said it is a greeting from HCM City, a dynamic andexciting destination for international tourists. The 300-year-old city carries a modern lifestyle in a centuries-old culture and architecture, hesaid.
The night also featured a host of culinary activities as well as musicperformances that re-enact Vietnam’s thousands-year history from the legendarybeginning when dragon lord Lac Long Quan and beautiful fairy Au Co – believedto be the ancestors of Vietnamese – met./.