On September 21, 2024, Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, the Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, presided over the opening of the "Taste of Thai at Tysons" event organized by the Thai Restaurant Association of America (TRAA) to promote Thai food and culture at Tysons Corner Plaza, Virginia, with support from the Royal Thai Embassy.

At the event, the Embassy showcased the Thai Arts and Crafts Exhibition featuring arts and handcrafts from Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (SACIT), Mae Fah Luang Foundation as well as Thai artists living in the U.S. Selected participants included: (1) Khit pillows, OTOP products from Yasothon Province by the Isaan Association and Wat Thai DC; (2) Floral embroidered fabric
by Ninu Handmade (www.ninuhandmade.com); (3) Wood carving by Wood You Mind (IG: wood.youmind). Additionally, the Embassy organized workshops for attendees to enjoy DIY activities, where they learned to create various arts and crafts, including wood carving by the participating Thai artist, “Tung Sai Moo” Hanging Thai flag, Thai pattern line art coloring, and ribbon folding into flower and fruit shapes, inspired by Thai traditional merit-making coins. Moreover, there is a corner showcasing acrylic paintings and photographs by Thai diplomats, which are also part of the art exhibition.

To promote Thai food innovation, the Embassy collaborated with the Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in inviting five future food entrepreneurs from Thailand: (1) Meat Avatar, producing Thai-style plant-based meats such as crispy pork, crab curry, green curry, pad kra pao, and plant-based fish sauce; (2) Ms. Organics Co., Ltd., offering organic beverages for health, including sparkling kombucha and herbal products; (3) Gustech Global Co., Ltd., exporting agricultural and processed food products, featuring fresh-cut durian with a shelf life of over 20 days; (4) Foodle Noodle Co., Ltd., producing organic noodles from Thai organic agricultural products, including Pad Thai noodles and other organic noodle varieties; (5) Advanced GreenFarm Co., Ltd., cultivating the local superfood, water lily, and producing fresh, frozen, or dried powder food products, including water lily powder and freeze-dried ice cream.

Simultaneously the Office of Commercial Affairs, Washington, D.C., promoted the “Thai Select” logo from the Ministry of Commerce. The event also received support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, New York Office, in promoting Thailand’s beautiful tourist attractions.

The event was a great success, with over 10,000 attendees, marking another initiative to enhance Thailand's image through collaboration between the Thai community and the Thai government. Prior to the event, the Embassy promoted "Taste of Thai at Tysons" through online channels, including the Embassy's website and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as local influencers. Furthermore, the Embassy participated in promoting the event on the FOX 5 Morning television program, reaching approximately 200,000 online engagements.