The fifth Japan – Vietnam festival, themed “Joining hands together”, will take place in Ho Chi Minh City in early 2018, expecting to attract nearly 300,000 visitors.

At Japan – Vietnam festival 2016. (Source: VNA)

It was mentioned during a meeting in the city on September 6^th between Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thu and special advisor to the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Tsutomu Takebe.

Thu told her guest that Ho Chi Minh City always attaches importance to developing ties with Japanese localities. Japan is now HCM City’s third largest exporter and placed the fourth out of 92 countries and territories investing in the city.

She spoke highly of Takebe’s role as head of the organising board of the festival, which helps strengthen cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two counties’ people, adding that the city will assign agencies concerned to work closely with the Japanese side to hold the event.

Takebe, in reply, suggested the city allow the festival to be held on January 26^th-28^th, 2018 at the 23/9 Park.

The event will feature music performances, seminars and cultural, sport and trade promotion activities. In 2016, it drew about 220,000 visitors.

Last year’s event attracted 85 Vietnamese and Japanese exhibitors with nearly 140 stalls. Visitors to the festival joined various exciting activities such as karaoke competitions, taking photos with Pikachu, playing Japanese traditional musical instruments and trying Japanese specialties.

The event is originally known as the Japan festival in Vietnam which was held for the first time in 2013. Last year, its name was changed to the Japan-Vietnam festival in order to show unity and mutual understanding of culture and traditions./.

VNF/VNA