Visitors at the Japan Vietnam Festival in 2023. VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The 9th Japan Vietnam Festival will take place from March 9-10 at September 23 Park in HCM City’s District 1.

Speaking at a press conference held in HCM City on Thursday, Trần Phước Anh, director of the city’s Department of Foreign Affairs, said the annual event is aimed at tightening partnership, enhancing cultural exchanges and promoting trade, investment and tourism between the two countries.

The festival will offer a wide series of activities, including trade, culinary and tourism exchanges, Vietnamese and Japanese product promotion programmes, and a conference on Japan’s tourism.

Ono Masuo, Consul General of Japan in HCM City, said visitors will experience Japanese traditional dances and enjoy musical performances by famous Vietnamese and Japanese artists.

The two-day event will also feature Japanese anime and manga and cosplay as well as cuisine.

A sports area will be set up to introduce visitors to Japan’s cycling culture, he said.

Japan is currently Việt Nam’s leading economic partner, ranking second in labour cooperation, third in investment and tourism cooperation, and fourth in trade cooperation.

As of the end of 2023, Japan was the third largest foreign investor in HCM City, with a total of 1,657 projects worth more than US$5.7 billion.

Around 22,000 Japanese people are living, working and studying in Việt Nam, while more than 500,000 Vietnamese people are living, working and studying in Japan.

As part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties of the two countries, the festival attracted nearly 500,000 visitors last year. —VNS