At the opening ceremony of the festival (Photo: VNA)

First held in 2008, the annual Vietnam Festival in Tokyo has become venue for cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Vietnam-Japan relationship is developing steadily in the spirit of an extensive strategic partnership and mutual trust and understanding.

The festival has become an annual activity of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and an indispensable part of the life of the Vietnamese community there. The festival has contributed to enhancing cooperation, friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries.

This year's festival has the theme "Hope", expressing wishes for a new stage of development post COVID-19 of the two governments, localities, businesses, and peoples.

Nguyen Duc Minh, Charge d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, said: "This festival is one of many activities that the Vietnamese Embassy and Japanese partners have organized to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. These are also cultural exchanges between the Vietnamese community in Japan and Japanese friends who love Vietnam."

The festival features more than 20 stalls. Japanese and international friends in Tokyo can enjoy many unique cultural performances by Japanese and Vietnamese artists, sample famous traditional dishes of Vietnam, and experience many activities to learn more about Vietnam, its land and people.

After Tokyo, similar events will be held in other localities throughout Japan including in Yoyogi, Osaka, or Fukuoka.