Việt Nam – Japan Festival 2022, featuring many cultural exchange activities between Việt Nam and Japan, opens in the central city of Đà Nẵng this weekend. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

ĐÀ NẴNG — A wide range of cultural exchange activities between Việt Nam and Japan will be held at Việt Nam – Japan Festival 2022 in the central city of Đà Nẵng this weekend.

According to Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Đà Nẵng City, Ngô Thị Kim Yến, the festival is a comprehensive cultural exchanging event with Japan taking place in Đà Nẵng City held annually since 2014.

The festival is expected to enhance the mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the two nations towards celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (September 21, 2023).

The event will also deepen the friendship between Việt Nam and Japanese localities and partners in the near future.

Held for the 6th year, the festival has attracted more than 130,000 attendees.

Highlighted activities in the festival include a children's painting exhibition with the theme The World Through the Eyes of Vietnamese - Japanese Children, a Japanese doll art exhibition, and a friendly football match between Đà Nẵng children and Kawasaki Frontale football.

Up to 70 booths from both Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises will introduce culture, education, tourism, and food to visitors.

Artists will demonstrate the excellence of Japanese calligraphy, showcase classical and modern dances of both nations, and put on martial art performances during the four-day festival.

Japanese artists, including famous calligrapher Sakamoto Koichi, dancer Tadaaki Nagoya, singers Mika Okudoi, Meik, dancers, and renowned Tikoker Hoshi Phan, will all participate.

Consul General of Japan in Đà Nẵng, Yakabe Yoshinori, hopes the festival will let locals and tourists experience Japanese culture.

The number of Japanese tourists to Đà Nẵng has increased in recent years.

In 2018, the coastal city welcomed 120,000 Japanese tourists, and in 2019, the figure rose to about 180,000.

The number of Japanese visitors to Đà Nẵng decreased in the past two years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is gradually on the rise after Việt Nam opened the door to tourism and resumed flights between the two countries.

The festival will conclude on Sunday. VNS