Festival goers had the chance to enjoy a traditional Japanese dance at the opening ceremony. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Khu

HCMC — The Việt Nam – Japan Festival Day was held on Sunday in Hồ Chí Minh City to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between Việt Nam and Japan.

The festival gave visitors a glimpse of the countries’ cultures by featuring unique activities like a Japanese tea ceremony and Vietnamese tea culture, the Vietnamese áo dài, and traditional yukata and kendo (Japanese martial arts).

The festival is also an opportunity for Vietnamese and Japanese businesses to seek investment and co-operation.

The event was held by HCMC’s Union of Friendship Organisation and HCMC’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

“The Việt Nam – Japan relationship is at its best since the two countries established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1973. The two countries have contined to hold high level exchanges, enhanced economic co-operation, and culture and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to a better understanding and beautiful friendship between the two countries, Nguyễn Công Tánh, chairman of HCMC’s Việt Nam – Japan Friendship Association, said at the opening ceremony.

The Việt Nam – Japan Festival Day was among a series of events to celebrate their 45th anniversary to further develop the beautiful friendship and enhance mutual understanding among people of HCMC and Japan. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Khu

Kawaue Junichi, General Consul of Japan in HCM City, said that high level visits between the two countries along with events celebrating the 45th anniversary proved the strong development in many areas of the strategic partnership between Japan and Việt Nam.

Kawaue Junichi added that HCM City was the biggest city in Viet Nam and the key region to expand co-operation in Japan – Việt Nam relations, contributing to better mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries. The activities of HUFO, HCMC’s Việt Nam – Japan Friendship Association and other organisations had important meanings to the friendship of the two countries.

The Việt Nam – Japan Music Festival 2018 was organised and broadcast on national television on Saturday night, featuring exciting music performances by Vietnamese and Japanese artists.

"I’ve kept my promise of 30 years to ring the bell of Peace and Prosperity through the power of culture. I believe that in the future, Japan and Việt Nam will work closely together in all fields. I always feel that I am half Japanese, half Vietnamese. The Japan-Vietnam Music Festival 2018 featured leading Japanese singers with the desire to ring the deepest voices of friendship between Vietnam and Japan,” said Việt Nam-Japan and Japan-Việt Nam Special Friendship Ambassador Sugi Ryotaro, who is also a is a Japanese singer, painter and actor.

The Way of Tea was introduced at the Việt Nam - Japan Festival Day, held on Sunday in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Khu

The ambassador wowed the audience with his performance of Đoản Khúc Thu Hà Nội (Ditty for Hà Nội’s Autumn) in Japanese, a song by Vietnamese composer Trịnh Công Sơn.

The music show also brought Vietnamese audience back to their childhood with the famous song Doreamon No Uta, the opening theme song for the Doraemon anime. The exciting performance had both Vietnamese and Japanese lyrics.

Donning the traditional Japanese kimono, artist Godai Natsuko charmed the audience with the song Hoa Mộc Tê (Kinmokusei Flower), a flower that is popular during autumn in Japan, a meaningful season for the friendship between the two countries. — VNS