The Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel has officially introduced its ASEAN Weekend Theme Nights at the Bahar restaurant, offering a vibrant culinary exploration of Southeast Asia throughout the month of July.

The event, which debuted on July 9, celebrates the diverse food traditions of the ASEAN nations: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Brunei.

The opening ceremony featured a gathering of diplomatic figures and local influencers to mark the start of this cultural exchange.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh, highlighted the significance of using food as a bridge between nations. During his remarks, he noted, "I think the cuisine of this country and each ASEAN country is the quickest road to understanding each other. I hope for future ASEAN and Bangladeshi cooperation to be very close.”

The initiative was born from a desire to bring popular regional flavors to local diners through a formal partnership with various diplomatic missions. Speaking to Aviation Express, Renaissance Gulshan General Manager Al Amin explained that the hotel sought to create an authentic experience by working directly with the embassies. "The people of our country love ASEAN food. We, Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel, wanted to do something in collaboration with all the ASEAN embassies here. So, we reached out to them, and then we organised this.”

To ensure the menu met high standards of authenticity, the hotel's local culinary team underwent extensive preparation to master the regional specialties. Speaking to Aviation Express, Renaissance Chef Tawhid, drawing on his international experience, identified several standout dishes that define the buffet’s "greatest hits." "From the starter, I'll say chicken karaage and chicken satay. Then we have a beautiful nasi goreng on the buffet. We also have Malaysian beef rendang with lemongrass and galangal flavor and coconut finish, and for dessert, we have mango sticky rice, prepared live,” he recommends.

The ASEAN Weekend Theme Nights are available every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until August 1, 2026. The buffet is priced at BDT 3,950 net per person, with a 25% discount available for selected bank cardholders and loyalty program members, including GP Star and Banglalink Orange Club. For reservations, guests can contact the hotel at +880 170 411 2646.