Bangkok’s ICONSIAM, in a groundbreaking cultural collaboration with Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart Group, has brought China’s most iconic lantern festival to Thailand for the very first time. The “Spirit of Mountains and Seas · Yuyuan Lantern Festival and 2025 China–Thailand Culture Month” is lighting up the Chao Phraya River until 15 August 2025, offering visitors a magical, light-filled experience that blends ancient Chinese folklore with modern artistic innovation.

Running daily from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM at River Park, G Floor, ICONSIAM, the event is open to the public free of charge, welcoming all to enjoy a visual and cultural spectacle unlike any other.

This historic debut in Thailand marks a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy, celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. More than just a festival, this event underscores the growing bond between the two nations, using art and culture as a universal language to foster friendship and unity.

With a legacy of over a century, the Yuyuan Lantern Festival is one of China’s most cherished intangible cultural heritages. This year’s theme, “Spirit of Mountains and Seas”, draws inspiration from the ancient Chinese text Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), creating a fantastical realm called “Chao Phraya Island.” This imaginary floating island is brought to life through immersive lantern installations that combine light, shadow, and interactive technologies, portraying mythical creatures and landscapes that enchant visitors of all ages.

Guests can expect more than just mesmerising visuals. The festival also features:

• Traditional performances
  

• Local products market
  

• Themed cultural weeks
  

• An art exhibition
  

These activities aim to deepen cross-cultural exchange in art, food, and commerce, strengthening the bridge of collaboration between Thailand and China.

ICONSIAM, already a global destination on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, further cements its position as a hub for international arts and cultural exchange with this iconic event.

“This festival isn’t just about lanterns; it’s about lighting up connections,” remarked organisers from ICONSIAM. “It symbolises the warmth and depth of Thai–Chinese relations, and welcomes all communities to partake in this extraordinary celebration of friendship.”

Visitors are encouraged to explore the luminous wonders of Yuyuan Lantern Festival 2025, soaking in a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience right in the heart of Bangkok.

Hanoi’s Mammom restaurant has launched a heartfelt culinary journey with a newly introduced menu that celebrates home-cooked Vietnamese classics from across the country’s North, Central, and South regions. Located on the picturesque Phan Dinh Phung Street, Mammom offers diners a comforting slice of nostalgia that honours the essence of “Mom’s cooking.”

A part of the acclaimed Viet Deli restaurant group, Mammom is open daily for lunch and dinner, and has quickly become a favourite among food lovers since opening last year. The restaurant’s name, Mammom is inspired by a child’s first words and sets the tone for its warm, homey ambiance and emotionally rooted cuisine.

Curated by Chef Truong Minh Triet, the expansive menu is a tribute to Vietnamese culinary heritage and showcases an array of carefully crafted dishes. Diners can explore a rich selection that includes:

• Mon rau (vegetables)
  

• Mon man (fish paste dishes)
  

• Mon cuon (rolls)
  

• Nom goi (Vietnamese salads)
  

• Lau (hotpots)
  

• Ga, vit, heo, bo, ca, cua, tom, muc (chicken, duck, pork, beef, fish, crab, prawns, squid)
  

• Mon phu, canh, com (side dishes, broths, rice)
  

• Mon thuan thuc vat (vegetarian dishes)
  

• Trang mieng (desserts)
  

Signature highlights include:

• Bo nuong la lot – Grilled beef in piper lolot leaves
  

• Banh goi Ha Noi – Pillow-shaped dumplings from Hanoi
  

• Goi ngo sen tom thit – Lotus stem salad with shrimp and pork
  

• Vit tap vung – Roasted duck with galangal and sesame
  

• Ca loc kho tieu – Stewed snakehead fish in black pepper
  

• Cua rang me – Tamarind-glazed crab
  

“This menu is a culinary embrace,” said Nguyen Quoc Hoa, Viet Deli’s country general manager.

“Each dish is designed to evoke the warmth of a Vietnamese home. For lovers of Vietnamese cuisine, it’s a taste of tradition, crafted with fresh, sustainable ingredients and a perfect harmony of flavour and texture.”

The restaurant’s elegant interior is equally inviting, featuring parquet flooring, hand-carved wooden furniture, fluted booths, and original Vietnamese artworks, offering a welcoming setting for both locals and tourists. Notably, Mammom has been named a finalist in the 2025 Asia Hospitality Awards in the category of Asia’s Finest Local Restaurant (Vietnam).

Affordability meets authenticity, with prices ranging from 35,000 VND (USD 1.35) for appetisers like dua cai be (pickled mustard greens) to 895,000 VND (USD 34.50) for the indulgent lau cua Ca Mau (Ca Mau crab hotpot).

Mammom’s addition further strengthens Viet Deli’s portfolio, which includes HOME Hanoi, HOME Hoi An, HOME Saigon, and Ngon Gallery among others—restaurants that have consistently elevated the experience of Vietnamese cuisine for locals and global travellers alike.

Whether you're a native reminiscing about your mother’s kitchen or a visitor eager to explore the soul of Vietnam through food, Mammom's new menu promises a delicious, heartwarming experience that’s steeped in authenticity.

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