On March 12, “Vietnam Festa★Online - Kanagawa is a friend of Vietnam,” - an online exchange among Vietnamese and Japanese youngsters took place in Tokyo.

The event was streamed live on Youtube and it is the first of a series of events leading up to the Vietnamese Festival in Kanagawa.

Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa (second from the left) and Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam (third from the left) in Vietnamese traditional attire Ao dai. Photo: VOV VN

Addressing the program, Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa said that the event aims to reaffirm the close relationship between the Japanese prefecture with Vietnam. After two years of suspension due to COVID-19, Kanagawa is determined to organise the Vietnamese Festival this autumn, he said.

In response, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam hailed the idea of organizing the Vietnam Festa★Online, which contributes to strengthening connections and mutual understanding among youngsters of both countries, thus helping promote ties between Vietnam and Japan.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam spoke at the online event. Photo: VOV VN

The Ambassador said he hopes the youth of Vietnam and Japan will stay united to maintain peace in the world.

The live streaming event first started with an exchange between Vietnamese and Japanese students and guests. Students from both countries discussed their plans to study abroad, the tourism potential of Vietnam and Kanagawa, and the historical relationship between the two countries.

Vietnam Festa★Online consisted of a conference on the Kanagawa-Vietnam friendship, a contest to make “Banh xeo” (crispy Vietnamese pancake), and an art performance.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency following the program, Kuroiwa said that he was strongly impressed by the first Vietnam-Kanagawa Festival seven years ago, with over 400,000 participants. The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, so this series of events represented the continuous development of the relationship between Vietnam and Japan in general and Kanagawa Prefecture in particular.

Kuroiwa expressed deep interest in Vietnamese culture and people, adding that he has been studying Vietnamese for over a year now and has been able to sing Vietnamese songs. He wishes to make the most active contribution to this activity and welcome tourists to come to Kanagawa in the future.

Japanese youngsters participated in the discussion. Photo: VOV VN

"This festival is held online. I think everyone who has participated will definitely want to come to Kanagawa. And of course, we are very pleased to welcome you. Surely the Covid-19 epidemic will subside. down this fall," said Mr. Kuroiwa Yuji.

Kuroiwa sing Vietnamese song at the event. Photo: VOV VN

The organization of the Vietnam Festa★Online affirmed that exchange activities between the two sides continue despite the pandemic, he said, expressing hope that such activities will be further expanded.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Nam said that the program, a joint effort of TVK company, Kanagawa authorities and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, showed that the linkage between Vietnamese and Japanese youngsters is developing despite COVID-19.

The Vietnam Festa★Online is also a small virtual tour that took audiences to Kanagawa's famous tourist sites. If the Covid-19 epidemic is under control, the Vietnam - Kanagawa Festival is expected to be held directly this September.

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