Despite the summer heat, tens of thousands of visitors attended the opening ceremony, including Japanese officials and prominent political figures such as House of Representatives member Obuchi Yuko, chairperson of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance; House of Representatives member Shimada Tomoaki, State Minister for Foreign Affairs; and former Komeito Party leader Yamaguchi Natsuo.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo also sent a congratulatory video message, highlighting the significance of the festival as a representative cultural event strengthening ties between Vietnam and Japan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu noted the Vietnam Festival at Yoyogi Park has evolved far beyond a regular annual cultural event over the past 18 years.

“It has become a meaningful meeting place for Vietnamese and Japanese people, where we share culture and promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” the ambassador said.

Featuring around 120 booths, the festival offers a wide range of activities, including performances by popular Vietnamese artists and singers as well as introductions to Vietnam’s internationally recognised cuisine. The event has brought fresh cultural experiences to Japanese visitors and international tourists alike.

Former Komeito Party leader Yamaguchi Natsuo, who has attended the festival every year since it began, described the atmosphere as consistently lively and colourful.

“I believe the number of visitors this year will surpass previous years,” he said, adding that Vietnam’s traditional water puppetry performances were particularly impressive.

As predicted by Yamaguchi, performances staged by artists from the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre quickly became one of the festival’s biggest attractions. Through the unique traditional art form, images of Vietnam’s thousand-year-old capital Hanoi left a strong impression on Japanese audiences.

A Japanese visitor attending the event told VOV he first joined the festival last year and has since developed a deep interest in Vietnamese culture.

“I really love Vietnamese water puppetry. The performers are incredibly talented and the puppets feel so lifelike. I also enjoy Vietnamese food and Áo dài (long dress),” he said.

The 18th Vietnam Festival at Yoyogi Park will continue through May 31. According to organisers, last year’s edition attracted around 140,000 visitors, while attendance this year is expected to exceed 180,000 people.

Vietnam's cinema and national image highlighted at Tokyo International Film Festival 2025

VOV.VN - A Vietnamese film delegation led by Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association (VFDA), and former Director of the Vietnam Cinema Department, attended the opening of the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) on October 27 in Tokyo and launched activities to showcase Vietnam’s people, culture, and cinematic potential internationally.