Vietnam Festival 2022

On June 4-5, 2022, the 14th Vietnam Festival in Japan took place at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo.

Delegates cut the ribbon to open the festival. Photo: Duc Thinh - VNA, Japan

 On June 4, the 14th Vietnam Festival in Japan was opened at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo with the participation of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and a number of Japanese officials and politicians, along with  the people of the two countries.

 According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Tokyo, speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam, co-chair of the festival's Executive Board, highlighted the festival's significance in promoting friendship between the two countries, and said that after two years of being held only on a small scale because of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, this year's festival has been organized on a similar scale compared to pre-pandemic period.

 For his part, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda expressed his joy when Vietnam's economy is growing strongly after the pandemic and the number of Vietnamese people in Japan is increasing, and at the same time expressed hope for the promotion of relationship and cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shingo Miyake affirmed that the relationship between Japan and Vietnam is at the best stage in history. He thinks people will feel it at this festival.

In an interview with VNA on this occasion, Ambassador Vu Hong Nam emphasized: "This is the first festival held at Yoyogi Park after two years of the epidemic, so the number of attendees was very large, beyond our expectations. This is the first time in 2 years that we welcome famous Vietnamese singers to perform. This has created a lot of excitement and attracted a lot of Vietnamese and Japanese people to attend."

Meanwhile, Japanese MP Yoichiro Aoyagi, co-chair of the festival's Executive Committee, said: "After 2 years of being held in other locations, the Vietnam Festival in Japan has returned to Yoyogi Park with the presence of many leading artists of Vietnam. Although the epidemic has been partly controlled, it has not been completely halted. Although the peak of the pandemic has passed, we must be absolutely cautious. 

At the festival, in addition to enjoying Vietnamese food and tropical fruits, attendees also have the opportunity to enjoy cultural and artistic performances by leading artists of the two countries. Van Mai Huong, Sunplaza Nakano-kun and Papala Kawai perform. Visitors to the event will also enjoy art performances by Vietnamese and Japanese artists.

The Vietnam Festival in Japan was first held in 2008 at the initiative of the late Senator Matsuda on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This is one of the biggest annual festivals in Tokyo. This event not only helps to promote Vietnamese culture and cuisine to the Japanese people, but also contributes to enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.