This was confirmed by the Director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports at the press conference held on March 19 on Japan Cultural Exchange Festival in Hanoi in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.
Japan Cultural Exchange Festival in Hanoi is jointly held by Hanoi People’s Committee and Embassy of Japan in cooperation with Advanced International Joint Stock Company (AIC). The festival aims to introduce and promote the image, beauty, and culture of the country and people of Japan to the people of Hanoi and is also a chance for Hanoi and Japan to enhance the exchange of experience and cooperation in education, health, tourism, and economics, thereby enhancing understanding and trust, and deepening the comprehensive relations between the two countries.
This year’s Japan Cultural Exchange Festival will be more interesting with more unique features with the highlight being the display of cherry flowers. Photo by Internet
According to plan, the festival’s events will take place from March 23 to 26. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 23 at Ly Thai To Park, which will be broadcast live on Hanoi Television.
The main activity at the Vietnam – Japan Cultural Exchange Festival is the display of 50 cherry blossoms trees and 10.000 cherry blossom branches at Ly Thai To Park (March 23-26) along with typical flower species of Vietnam and Hanoi.
In addition, in the afternoon of March 23, a Donation Ceremony will take place in Hoa Binh Park for the donation and planting of 200 cherry blossom trees. Japan’s 27th Miss Cherry Blossom will come to Vietnam to attend this event.
The festival will feature booths that showcase Japanese culture and allow attendees to try on kimono and yukata
Mr. To Van Dong, director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, stated that this year’s festival would be held on a larger scale; in addition to the display of cherry blossom flowers, the festival would also include many cultural exchange events between Vietnam and Japan.
Some note-worthy events are the introduction of Japanese culture which take place from 6 p.m. on March 23 to March 25 at Bat Giac House, Ly Thai To Park with 16 cultural booths introducing about the art of tea, go, Chinese chess, art of folding paper, kimono and yukata, etc.; Hanoi’s traditional art performances of Xam singing and Ca Tru singing at Ly Thai To Park; Yosakoi dance show with the participation of more than 1,000 students in the walking space surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake (Dinh Tien Hoang Street); introduction of Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine at Hanoi Children’s Palace with 21 food stalls; seminars on exchange, cooperation, and promotion of investment and tourism between Hanoi and Japan; and exchange events on education, health, etc.
More than 1,000 students will participate in Yosakoi dancing at the walking space surrounding Hoan Liem Lake. Photo by Internet
The Director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports affirmed that Japan Cultural Exchange Festival would not be a commercial, but rather a cultural festival. To avoid the situation at some festivals where cherry blossom flowers were artificial or withered, disappointing the attendees, the Department of Culture and Sports had advised the city on the policy that the display of cherry blossom flowers would only take place in this festival.
“The activities before, during, and after the festival will be strictly monitored and the cherry flowers to be displayed at the festival are real flowers. In addition, there will be no commercial activities at the festival, only the introduction and promotion of food and traditional products will be allowed to take place under strict control. As Hanoi is in the process of building tourist brand for new festivals, the Department will also listen to constructive opinions from other parties to supplement and adjust the policies during the process of preparation to turn the festivals into highlights of the city’s tourism to attract a large number of attendees and tourists” said Mr. To Van Dong.
To Nga