HÀ NỘI — Nearly 680 children and their families gathered at AEON Mall Celadon over the weekend for a large-scale first-birthday celebration organised by Nestlé Vietnam’s Nutren Junior brand and baby retail chain Con Cưng.

The event, titled 'Ngày hội thôi nôi' (First Birthday Festival), was recognised by VietKings as the largest first-birthday gathering in Việt Nam by the number of participating children.

In Vietnamese culture, a child’s first birthday marks an important milestone after the first 12 months of life and is often celebrated by families as the beginning of a new stage of development.

The festival featured a range of family-oriented activities, including photo booths, footprint keepsakes and interactive play areas for children. Parents also attended nutrition and childcare information sessions focusing on child development after the age of one.

The event reflected changing parenting trends among young families, with greater emphasis placed on long-term physical and cognitive development rather than traditional ceremonial aspects alone.

Representatives from Nestlé Vietnam said the programme aimed to create a community space for parents while raising awareness about nutrition during early childhood.

According to Zubin Trikha, the company hopes to support parents during the important development stage after a child’s first year through nutrition products and educational activities.

Meanwhile, Trần Anh Phương said partnerships between retailers and nutrition brands could help families access products and information suited to different stages of child development.

Founded in 2011, Con Cưng currently operates more than 1,000 stores nationwide, specialising in products for mothers, babies and young children. — VNS