The Việt Nam Festival has kicked off at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, Japan, featuring more than 110 booths and attracts about 200,000 visitors.

Addressing the opening ceremony on Saturday, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huỳnh Vĩnh Ái described the festival as evidence of cultural exchange between the two countries. This year’s event manifests the thriving bilateral friendship and cooperation, 43 years after Việt Nam and Japan established diplomatic ties, he said.

The two-day festival entertains visitors with traditional Vietnamese dishes and art performances. The country’s tourist destinations are also being introduced on this occasion.

This year a special booth displaying documents proving Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea is attracting a large crowd of Vietnamese and Japanese visitors.

The first Việt Nam Festival was held in 2008 to mark the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties between the two countries. 

The Việt Nam Festival in photos: