Visitors could enjoy Vietnamese traditional dishes and art performances such as water puppet shows and music shows.

The festival was first held in 2015 and since then become an annual cultural activity in Kanagawa.

This year’s theme was “Let’s find a new Vietnam!” The event offered a variety of programs that visitors can join in, interact with others and get to know new aspects of Vietnam.

Governor of Kanagawa prefecture Kuroiwa Yuji and Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam attended the event in Vietnamese traditional dress.

Nam said the festival contributes to promoting the relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Meanwhile, the Kanagawa Governor described the festival as a bridge to develop the friendship between Vietnam and the Japanese prefecture.

He revealed that Kanagawa will host the second festival of the prefecture in Hanoi in November this year.

Themed “Let’s find a new Vietnam!”, the event is introducing Vietnam’s unique culture and traditional cuisines to Japanese and international friends.

Vietnam Festa in Kanagawa this year featured nearly 70 pavilions, including booths promoting culture and selling Vietnamese food, goods, and fine art products.

Top Vietnamese artist Noo Phuoc Thinh, and the festa’s ambassador, Yuka Ueno, who took part last year, was on hand again to give a boost to the festival.

One of the main features of the fifth festa was the “Japan-Vietnam Noodle Fair,” at which visitors can taste various types of noodles as well as the famous pho noodles.

In addition to performances of song, dance, musical instruments of Vietnam, teams of Yosakoi dancers, which is gaining popularity also in Vietnam, showed their dynamic style, joined by international teams.

September is designated as “Month of Vietnam”, and relevant programs are carried out in various places across Kanagawa, including hotels offering Vietnamese cuisine and ingredients.