Japan Vietnam Festival tightens bilateral friendship, cooperation
The 9th Japan Vietnam Festival, themed “Hold hands together - From now on”, was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 9-10, starting a series of cultural, sport, trade and tourism activities between the two countries.
HCM City (VNA) - The 9th Japan Vietnam Festival, themed“Hold hands together - From now on”, was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 9-10,starting a series of cultural, sport, trade and tourism activities between thetwo countries.
The festival is the largest annual cultural exchange eventwith the participation of businesses from Vietnam and Japan, said SuganoYuichi, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) in Vietnam, a sponsor of the festival.
This year’s theme means that after 50 years of buildingclose diplomatic ties, both countries will continue to work together to developfurther, he said.
The event also hosted the largest number of booths ever, withover 150 booths showcasing and selling food, consumer goods, tourism products,local specialties, educational programmes, and healthcare products.
There were also booths featuring Vietnamese and Japanesepoetry, Japanese tea ceremonies, traditional Japanese folk games, and sports,as well as Gashapon vending machine-dispensed toys for children.
Festival-goers could also engage in music and dance showsperformed by Japanese artists, such as BallistikBoyz and PsychicFever, andVietnamese singers, such as My My and Tang Duy Tan.
Cosplay activities, the re-creation of the Bon Odori and AwaOdori dance festivals, traditional Vietnamese Ao dai (long dress) shows, andother thrilling performances were also part of the event.
“That Japanese culture and products are greatly endorsed byVietnamese people, and vice versa, proves that this cooperation is gettingstronger than ever,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida whileaddressing the opening ceremony via video.
Hosting around 500,000 visitors last year, the event isexpected to continue being a great way to connect people from both countries,he said.
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said that followinglast year's success, the festival continues to be a bridge strengthening thefriendship and mutual trust between the two countries, boosting tradepromotion, as well as promoting multifaceted cooperation and exchange./.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien and Japanese Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Serizawa Kiyoshi co-chaired the 10th Vietnam-Japan defence policy dialogue in Hanoi on February 27.
The 9th Vietnam-Japan Festival will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from March 9-10, aiming to tighten the friendship between the two countries, said the city’s Director of External Affairs Department Tran Phuoc Anh.
Ho Chi Minh City commits to continuing exerting efforts for the promotion of the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said at a ceremony held by the Japanese Consulate General in the city on February 29 to celebrate Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s 64th birthday (February 23).
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Accessible via //a80.hanoi.gov.vn and a mobile app, the platform serves as the official information hub for parades, cultural events, exhibitions, and public services. It offers real-time updates on schedules, traffic, security, healthcare, and live broadcasts, as well as behind-the-scenes stories and community-shared moments from across the country.
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Coach Masahiko Okiyama asked his Vietnamese side to step up a gear after the break, and it took only three minutes to double their lead thanks to an individual effort from Y Za Luong, who finished crisply into the bottom corner.
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Cuisine booths attract visitors (Photo: VNA) 
