Japan Vietnam Festival cheers up Ho Chi Minh City park

Miikka Mäkitalo from Finland was wandering around District 1, Ho Chi Minh City while waiting for his girlfriend to get her hair done at a local salon on Saturday morning, and suddenly was caught by the bustling atmosphere at the 23/9 Park.

Throngs of people, many in Japanese traditional dress yukata and cosplay costumes, the vibrant music, colorful booths and the fragrance of foods encouraged him to walk in, just to find out he was at the Japan Vietnam Festival, an appealing event for many Vietnamese and Japanese in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Sabine from Germany and her friends were also among the festival-goers on Saturday. 

She was in Ho Chi Minh City a few days ahead of her working trip in the city, and was drawn to the festival while strolling the area nearby her hotel, thanks to the event’s festive atmosphere. 

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Thuy Vy, 24, traveled from Binh Chanh District to the venue early in the morning as she was excited to join the fest.

Vy in her favorite cosplay costume was adored and asked for photos by many event-goers. 

“I’m so happy,” Vy said. “This is my third time participating in this festival, because I love Japan and have always wanted to learn more about the country, its people and culture.”

Hold hands together – From now on

The Japan Vietnam Festival, which is in its ninth year, features a wide range of activities including music performances, culinary booths of Vietnamese and Japanese food, sport areas, exhibitions, selling booths, booths of tourism information, among others.

The two day event is held by both Japanese and Vietnamese sides under the theme of “Cùng nắm chặt tay nhau – Từ giờ về sau” (Hold hands together – From now on).

The opening ceremony on Saturday morning saw the participations of former President Truong Tan Sang, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai, Special advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance and former secretary general of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party Tsutomu Takebe, and other distinguished guests.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent his wishes through a recorded video that the ninth Vietnam-Japan Festival will contribute to promote deeper exchanges between the people of Japan and Vietnam.

In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang expressed his belief that this year’s Japan Vietnam Festival will attract large participation from the people of the two countries.

It also brings vary experiences about the countries, their people, art, cuisine, and traditional cultural beauties, he added.

The festival will continue to serve as a bridge of friendship, which will strengthen the sincere attachment and trust between people of the two countries, as well as promote multifaceted cooperation and exchanges between Vietnam and Japan, contributing to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership, he addressed.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai emphasized Ho Chi Minh City’s wish to fulfill its role and commitment to be a leading locality contributing to Vietnam – Japan relations, and a leading trusted partner of Japanese localities.

Honorable head of the festival’s organizing board Tsutomu Takebe also confirmed that the Japan Vietnam Festival has been held to enhance mutual understanding of the two peoples about each country’s traditional culture, through activities such as introducing products and brands; promoting tourism and technology; and sports, cultural and artistic exchanges.

They contribute to further tightening the friendly relationship and promoting development cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, he concluded.

“We hope that from now on, the Japan Vietnam Festival will become a proud historical and traditional event joinly created by Vietnamese and Japanese people, and will increasingly develop,” he stated. 

The first Vietnam – Japan Festival was organized in Ho Chi Minh City in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The seventh edition had been postponed several times before being able to take place in April 2021 due to COVID-19.

Last year, the event in its eighth edition, was a big celebration as it honored the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan and attracted 485,000 festival-goers. 

The two-day festival also took place at 23/9 Park and gathered around 150 booths boasting the two countries’ tourism, local specialties, cuisine, culture, education, music, sports, and technology.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!