A group of Vietnamese youths have added their own creative touch to the famous foods of Vietnam in a photo album created to introduce local cuisine to regional friends.

Twenty-nine young men and women have been selected as Vietnam’s representatives in the 2017 Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP), an annual exchange program for young leaders in Southeast Asia and Japan.

Titled ‘Tasteful Vietnam,’ the album breathes new life into popular local foods by adding miniature photos of the representatives interacting with the dishes.

“The album attempts not only to appeal to the eye but also promote the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine and spread the message that Vietnam is a youthful country full of surprises,” said Pham Thuy Tien, its co-creator.

The album features a range of Vietnamese dishes, from world-famous courses like ‘pho’ and ‘banh mi’ to popular street foods like ‘banh trang tron’ (rice paper salad) and ‘che troi nuoc’ (sweet dessert soup with sticky rice balls and mung bean fillings).

SSEAYP 2017 is the 44th edition of the exchange program, which is organized annually by the governments of Japan and ten Southeast Asian countries to promote friendship and mutual understanding.

Hundreds of young regional leaders are set to embark on a months-long sea voyage on the Japanese cruise ship Nippon Maru between October 24 and December 12, with stops in Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In Vietnam, 29 youths who have demonstrated their leadership skills and academic excellence have been selected from universities across the country to take part in this year’s program.

Pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup)

Mi Quang (Quang-style noodle soup)

Goi cuon (spring rolls)

Com tam (Vietnamese broken rice)

Che troi nuoc (sweet dessert soup with sticky rice balls and mung bean fillings)

Bun bo Hue (Hue-style beef noodle soup)

Banh trang tron (rice paper salad)

Banh mi (Vietnamese stuffed baguette)

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