HCMC – The 10th Vietnam-Japan Festival kicked off in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on March 8, marking a decade of cultural and economic exchange between the two nations and drawing large crowds.
Organizers expect to attract around 450,000 visitors this year, surpassing last year’s record of 420,000 attendees.
The two-day event, carrying the theme “Holding Hands Together – Towards the Future,” features trade activities, food exhibitions and travel promotions.
The festival has evolved significantly since its inception in 2013, when it was held to commemorate 40 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan, Nguyen Van Duoc, chairman of the People’s Committee of HCMC, was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as saying.
Duoc emphasized that the festival has become a robust cultural bridge connecting people of both countries.
This year’s edition highlights 10 years of the festival in HCMC and reflects the continued momentum of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between Vietnam and Japan. According to local authorities, the city expects to attract more international investment in urban infrastructure, aiming for 355 kilometers of urban rail to be completed over the next decade.
Takebe Tsutomu, special advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance and honorary chair of the festival’s organizing committee, said that the annual festival promotes extensive collaboration, from business and academia to cultural and social fields.
In commemoration of the festival’s 10th edition, the inaugural “HCMC Festival in Japan” is set to take place in Tokyo on November 1 and 2 this year, offering musical performances, LED Mapping shows, tea ceremonies, and exhibits dedicated to Vietnamese and Japanese history, commerce, and culture.
Below are some moments captured at this year’s festival.
“This performance also symbolizes our wish for both cultures to flourish even more. In creating this piece, we added cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji—recognized worldwide as icons of Japan’s cultural heritage. Japan is known for its distinct four seasons, each marked by historical events, stories, and traditions that evolve over time. We hope you will experience the country’s unique seasonal beauty and that this Vietnam-Japan Festival will serve as a bridge bringing our two nations closer,” a performer said.
