Ho Chi Minh City – April 3, 2025
On April 3, 2025, The Cocoa Project had the great honor of being selected as the venue for the visit of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium to the students of Bakery School Vietnam. The school is funded and operated by the Bakery School Foundation, an initiative of the Puratos Group, dedicated to training professional bakers in bread, pastry, and chocolate craftsmanship.
In collaboration with Puratos Grand-Place Vietnam, The Cocoa Project transformed its usual chocolate experience space into a miniature version of Bakery School Vietnam, which is originally based in Binh Duong Province.
As part of the Belgian royal official state visit to Vietnam, Bakery School Vietnam was privileged to welcome Their Majesties. The visit highlighted the school’s commitment to education, empowerment, and social equity. It also reaffirmed the Belgian monarchy’s dedication to community development, particularly in supporting underprivileged youth, and recognized the positive contributions of Belgian businesses to meaningful social initiatives in Vietnam.
This visit marked King Philippe’s first time in Vietnam as the reigning monarch, following three previous visits as Crown Prince in 1993, 2003, and 2012. Queen Mathilde also visited Vietnam in 2023. Their presence at Bakery School Vietnam underscored their support for Puratos Group’s community-driven efforts, the contributions of Belgian enterprises in Vietnam, and the strong ties between Belgium and Vietnam.
The Cocoa Project is renowned for its architectural blend of 1950s heritage, modern Saigon life, and the artistry of chocolate craftsmanship. For this special occasion, 39 Bakery School Vietnam students, along with their teachers, were provided with professional kitchen facilities to freely create an array of pastries, desserts, and traditional specialties from Vietnam’s three regions—North, Central, and South—as a warm gesture of hospitality to Their Majesties.
During their visit, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde not only tasted the students’ creations but also engaged in discussions about their learning experiences and future aspirations.
The atmosphere at The Cocoa Project became even more vibrant with a special Welcoming Ceremony, featuring a performance of Hello Vietnam by four students from Bakery School’s K24 class. This was followed by student testimonies about their personal journeys, learning experiences, and ambitions. A key highlight of the event was the graduation ceremony, where 19 students from the K23 class received their certificates upon completing the full two-year program at Bakery School Vietnam.
The Cocoa Project is a high-quality Vietnamese chocolate company, deeply committed to appreciating the country’s rich agricultural heritage and sustainable values. We take pride in offering distinctive, high-quality Vietnamese chocolate products for all chocolate lovers.
