Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai, Co-Head of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam-Japan Festival 2024, delivered the opening speech of the Festival. (Source: VNA)

On March 9, the 9th Vietnam - Japan Festival 2024 with the theme "Holding hands together - From now on" was solemnly opened in Ho Chi Minh City, opening a series of rich cultural, sports, trade and tourism events, imbued with the national cultural identities of Vietnam and Japan, contributing to further strengthening the good friendship between the people of the two countries.

Attending the opening ceremony were former Politburo member and former President Truong Tan Sang; Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang; Mr. Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, Honorary Head of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam-Japan Festival 2024; Ms. Hashimoto Seiko, Senator, Co-Head of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam-Japan Festival 2024; Mr. Yamada Takio, Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam...

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said that with the theme "Holding hands together - From now on", the Vietnam - Japan Festival 2024 demonstrates the common aspiration of the leaders and people of the two countries to further strengthen friendship and cooperation, join hands to build a better future for the two nations, and actively contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang expressed his belief that the 9th Vietnam - Japan Festival will be a great success, attracting the participation of many people from both countries; bringing colorful experiences about the country, people, exquisite culinary arts as well as the traditional cultural beauty of each country.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Mr. Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Alliance and Honorary Head of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam-Japan Festival 2024, visited booths at the Festival. (Source: VNA)

From there, the Festival continues to be a bridge of friendship to strengthen the sincere attachment and mutual trust between the people of the two countries, promote multi-faceted cooperation and exchange between Vietnam and Japan, and contribute to deepening the content of the relationship "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World" not only in the fields of economic cooperation, trade, tourism, labor... but also expanding to new fields such as environment, digital transformation, green transformation, high technology...

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that Ho Chi Minh City supports and coordinates the organization of the Festival over the years, demonstrating its desire to fulfill its role and commitment as a leading locality contributing to the Vietnam - Japan relationship, a leading trusted partner of Japanese localities that have had, are having and will have friendly and cooperative relations with the City in various fields.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City wishes to realize the goal of not only becoming a smart city but also a truly livable place, a place that maximizes the spirit of integration, in which each citizen and all people of the City are proud of their cultural identity and love the diversity and uniqueness of friendly cultures, respect different cultural values, prioritize promoting understanding and enhancing integration.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio sent a congratulatory speech to the 9th Vietnam - Japan Festival, expressing his belief that the Festival will be a great success, contributing to fostering the good friendship between the people of the two countries.

Mr. Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, Honorary Head of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam - Japan Festival 2024, said that the Vietnam - Japan Festival is held annually with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries about the traditional culture of each country through activities introducing products and brands of businesses, promoting tourism, technology, sports exchanges, culture and arts, contributing to further tightening the friendly relationship and promoting development cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.

Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnam - Japan Festival 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City. (Source: VNA)

Mr. Takebe Tsutomu added that the Vietnam - Japan Festival held last year attracted 485,000 participants and expressed his hope that the Vietnam - Japan Festival will now become a proud event of history and tradition that the people of the two countries "hand in hand" created together and will continue to develop well.

Also at the opening ceremony, Ms. Hashimoto Seiko, Senator, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam - Japan Festival 2024 emphasized that the Vietnam - Japan Festival 2024 is the result of good cooperation between the Governments and people of Japan and Vietnam; at the same time, she expressed her hope that this year's festival will be a great success to lay the foundation for organizing the festival next year (10 years) on a larger scale, contributing to developing the relationship between the two countries in a substantive and effective manner, worthy of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world.

The 9th Vietnam - Japan Festival in Ho Chi Minh City will take place on March 9 and 10, including a series of events on trade, cuisine and tourism exchange; promotion of Vietnamese - Japanese products; cultural and artistic exchange programs between Vietnam and Japan; seminars and trade talks to promote Japanese tourism in Vietnam...

The festival also features activities introducing traditional Vietnamese and Japanese cultures such as ao dai school performance, Vietnamese-Japanese folk music concert, Yosakoi dance performance; Yosakoi and Awa Adori dance performances; J-POP performances from famous Japanese music groups; performances by Vietnamese artists; cosplay experiences, snow experiences; Japanese bicycle culture experiences; Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine enjoyment; Japanese origami art performances.