9 days agoSocial
28LENS
5 SourcesHaryana, India
thebalanced.newsVegetarian Menu at Indian State Banquet for Vietnamese President Sparks Online Reactions
A state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for Vietnamese President To Lam featured an entirely vegetarian menu highlighting dishes from Haryana and Punjab, curated by chef Harpal Singh Sokhi. The menu sparked widespread social media reactions, including memes and jokes about the absence of non-vegetarian food, given Vietnam's renowned meat cuisine. While some viewed the vegetarian spread as a diplomatic choice, others questioned its appropriateness, reflecting diverse public opinions.
Political Bias
5%93%2%
Sentiment
65%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 5 sources
● Left 5%● Center 93%● Right 2%
The articles present a range of perspectives, focusing on cultural and diplomatic aspects without partisan framing. Coverage includes official details about the banquet and public reactions, including humor and critique, without aligning with political agendas. The discussion touches on regional culinary policies but remains centered on the event's social and cultural dimensions.
Sentiment — Neutral (65/100)
The overall tone is mixed, combining neutral reporting of the banquet's menu and details with lighthearted and critical social media responses. While some reactions are humorous or playful, others express mild criticism or surprise, resulting in a balanced sentiment that neither strongly praises nor condemns the event.
How 5 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
| Source | Their headline | Bias | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| indiatoday | Chef Harpal Sokhi opens up on the viral banquet menu for Vietnam President | Center | Positive |
| thetelegraph | Do you hate the Vietnamese President: State banquet menu triggers meme fest | Center | Neutral |
| freepressjournal | PM Modi Welcomes Vietnam President With Ratnagiri Hapus, Makhana, Malbhog Curated Gifts Details Inside | Center | Positive |
| hindustantimes | Mithila makhana, Hajipur Malbhog, Ratnagiri mangoes served to President of Vietnam | Center | Positive |
| news18 | Hisar Bajra Khichdi, Ganne De Ras Di Kheer: President Murmu Hosts A North Indian Feast For Vietnam President To Lam | Center | Positive |
Coverage timeline
news18 broke this story on 7 May, 06:06 am. Other outlets followed.
- 1news187 May, 06:06 amHisar Bajra Khichdi, Ganne De Ras Di Kheer: President Murmu Hosts A North Indian Feast For Vietnam President To Lam
- 2hindustantimes7 May, 06:57 amMithila makhana, Hajipur Malbhog, Ratnagiri mangoes served to President of Vietnam
- 3freepressjournal7 May, 08:43 amPM Modi Welcomes Vietnam President With Ratnagiri Hapus, Makhana, Malbhog Curated Gifts Details Inside
- 4thetelegraph7 May, 01:52 pmDo you hate the Vietnamese President: State banquet menu triggers meme fest
- 5indiatoday8 May, 08:52 amChef Harpal Sokhi opens up on the viral banquet menu for Vietnam President
Lens Score breakdown
28/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap90%
Well-covered story — coverage matches public importance.
Who's involved
Institutions and figures named across source coverage.
Government
Rashtrapati BhavanGovernment of India
Story context
- Category
- Social
- Location
- Haryana, India
- Sources analysed
- 5
- Last analysed
- 8 May 2026
- Key entities
- VietnamDroupadi MurmuVegetarianismIndiaPearl milletNaanKFCPresident of VietnamInternetKhichdi (dish)PhoBuffet
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