The Vietnam Festival “Hello Saitama” will take place in the Japanese prefecture of Saitama from September 1-3, re-enacting the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival and bring it to the Japanese people and the Vietnamese community living there., VNA reported.

The festival will be sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as it is one of the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties this year, heard a press conference held at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on August 2.

At the press conference. Photo: VNA

The festival, the first of its kind held in Saitama, will showcase star lanterns, lion dance performances, and the flavors of mooncakes. More than 60 booths will be set up to introduce the unique Vietnamese cuisine, including popular dishes that have become an integral part of Japanese culinary culture, such as pho, banh mi, noodles, spring rolls, banh xeo (crispy rice pancake), and coffee.

There will be games such as shuttlecock kicking and traditional ethnic art performances, including the first-time appearance of "chau van" singing at the event.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu assessed that the Vietnam Festival "Hello Saitama" has special meaning when the two countries are having many exchange activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and recreate Vietnam in Saitama's heart.

Through this, Japanese people will experience the unique culture of Vietnam through food, music, and traditional arts to better understand the beauty of the country, and the friendliness of Vietnamese people, which contributes to the development of better relations between the two countries.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu speaks at the press conference. Photo: VNA

Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Saitama prefecture Pham Dinh Thuong said the success of the festival will pave the way for it to become an annual event for the Vietnamese community in Saitama in the coming years.

The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of Japanese and Vietnamese people in Japan.

Saitama is a province bordering the capital Tokyo, in the central part of Japan, and is also one of the localities where a large number of Vietnamese people gather with over 40,000 people.

In ancient Vietnam, mid-August (lunar calendar, usually falls in September) was considered to be a respite after a long, grueling harvest. After months of toiling under the blazing summer sun, parents would then turn their attention to their children and celebrate the end of the harvest with them, making up for lost time. Under the light of the full moon, a symbol of prosperity, parents would present their children with gifts, sweets, and other signs of affection.

This tradition has several names; Mid-Autumn Festival, Tet Trung thu, or the Children's Festival. Despite the various hardships and changes throughout Vietnam's lengthy history, the holiday was consistently celebrated by generations of Vietnamese families and continues to enchant children today.

Many who grow up in Vietnam recall the magical parades led by dancing lions and dragons, lighting colorful, carp-shaped lanterns, and playing moonlit games late into the night.

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in Japan will give kids a chance to commemorate the end of their summer vacation and get ready for a hectic new school year in addition to celebrating the full moon.

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