HỘI AN — Japanese popular singer Ueno Yuuka, who was appointed the Goodwill Ambassador for the 16th annual Hội An-Japan Cultural Exchange, will join environmental protection activities in Cẩm Thanh commune as part of the annual event on August 17-19.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Sculpture Park at 8pm today.

The city said this year will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Việt Nam and Japan, which facilitated the long-established relationship of Hội An and Quảng Nam Province with cities and locals in Japan.

Local trademark: Lanterns light up Hội An every night. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Ueno Yuuka and other Japanese artists, including folk dance troupes  Kagura, Yasakoi and Obon, will perform at the Japanese Bridge – the most visited site in the UNESCO-recognised world heritage city.

Judokas from Japan will perform and offer free practice for visitors on stage at Châu Thượng Văn street, while a boat-race and a coracle swimming demonstration in the Hoài River will see the participation of local residents, Japanese and tourists.

Vietnamese and Japanese experts will join dialogues on Japanese culture and literature, and “smart city” development in Hội An City tomorrow.

Simple: Chicken rice is the traditional cuisine of Hội An. — VNS Photo Công Thành

The city also promotes the non-smoking day campaign to call for local and tourists to give up smoking for a healthy destination.

The major event of the day will see the reenactment of the 17th-century wedding parade held for Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro in the old quarter.  The parade also celebrates the start of the relationship between the Japanese community and Hội An 400 years ago when Japanese traders docked at the busy trading port.

The homes built by many of these traders have been preserved by local residents.

Japanese expats: A Japanese woman wearing a kimono in Hội An. A community of Japanese is living and doing business in the city. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Vietnamese and Japanese businesses will attend a conference on investment opportunities in Việt Nam and Quảng Nam Province at the Mường Thanh-Hội An Hotel today.

Workshops on friendship exchange between Việt Nam and Japan, and education experience sharing will take place in Hội An on August 19.

Japanese and local craftsmen will demonstrate the most traditional silk weaving at 23 Nguyễn Thái Học street and at the Silk Village at 28 Nguyễn Tất Thành Street.

The Japanese-Vietnamese culture space on Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street will display an introduction to Sakai city and display of Japanese green tea making, ceramics and kimonos.

Tra: Japanese green tea set up. — VNS Photo Công Thành

A photo exhibition of Hội An’s landscape and people will display photos by the French photographer Rehahn and Japanese and Vietnamese photographers at the Sculpture Park on the Hoài River.

The park also will show craft products from Quảng Nam, Điện Biên, Hà Nội, Đồng Tháp and Japan, along with pavilions of local and Japanese cuisine.

A Kawaii Tokyo space will include an Ukiyoe painting exhibition, Kendama – a traditional Japanese skill toy, kimonos to try on, Japanese and Vietnamese folk game performances, lantern-making and releasing paper flowers from day to night.

The annual event is seen as a key event for central Việt Nam’s tourism hub. With the participation 120,000 visitors, it offers a great chance to promote the image of Hội An and Japan. — VNS