Around 3,000 international reporters have arrived in Hanoi for the event.

A large number of reporters have enjoyed their free meals at the Cultural Friendship Palace’s international media centre in Hanoi.

Besides international dishes, many kinds of Vietnamese food have also been provided such as Pho Thin noodle, Bun Thang noodle soup featuring shredded of chicken, pork, fried egg, mushrooms, and dried turnip and Bun Cha noodle with grilled meat. 

Ba Am Bun Thang brand attracted quite many foreign reporters. Doan Van Lai, a third generation descendant of Ba Am Bun Thang Restaurant at 37 Cua Nam, Hanoi, said Ba Am appeared in the city more than 100 years ago. The dish is made from 12 ingredients, including chicken, egg, shrimp and pork. 

Lai said that he felt very proud of when his family’s food was introduced to international guests on the occasion of the summit.

Banh Khuc Co Lan, cakes made of glutinous rice mixed with everlasting gnaphalium leaves, have also been served at the international media centre. Nguyen Thi Lan, the owner of this brand, made the cakes herself for reporters. 

Lan’s stall serves from 6:30 am to 11 pm. On the first day when the centre was opened, around 500 Banh Khuc Co Lan cakes were ordered.

More than 1,000 bowls of Thin noodles were served on Tuesday. At the peak time, reporters had to queue to enjoy Thin noodles 

A famous Bun Cha stall at the media centre 

Bui Huong Thuy, a representative from the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said Hanoi authorities had selected nine famous dishes to serve reporters, including Phu Thuong sticky rice, Uoc Le pork sausages, Giang egg coffee, Bun Cha, Bun Thang noodle and Thin noodle. 

Most of the journalists seemed to like the food. 

Apart from dishes for main meals, the media centre’s menus also include fast food.