On 28 February 2019, H.E. Mr. Nathapol Khantahiran, Ambassador of Thailand to the State of Qatar, inaugurated the ASEAN Food Festival 2019 at Vine Restaurant, St. Regis Doha, together with ASEAN Ambassadors in Qatar. The ASEAN Food Festival 2019 is organized by the St. Regis Doha in collaboration with 7 ASEAN Embassies in Doha, namely Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. The festival is held to celebrate ASEAN’s rich and flavorful cuisine as well as to promote ASEAN cultures and tourism among the general public in Qatar. At the opening ceremony, H.E. Nguyen Dinh Thao, Ambassador of Vietnam to the State of Qatar, as the 2019 Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Doha, delivered an opening remarks on behalf of all ASEAN Ambassadors, together with Mr. Raghu Menon, General Manager of the St. Regis Doha. The opening ceremony was attended by more than 300 distinguished guests which included members of diplomatic corps in Qatar and senior representatives from the public and private sector.

The ASEAN Food Festival 2019 features several signature dishes of ASEAN countries which are uniquely reflective of the rich cultures and diversities in ASEAN. Cultural performances and Thai fruit carving demonstration were shown throughout the festival. The festival will be held from 28 February - 8 March 2019 at Vine Restaurant, St. Regis Doha.