The 2015 Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival is set to take place at Hanoi’s Thang Long royal citadel on April 11-12, bringing fluffy pink scenery to the capital city dwellers.

The event will be organised by the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation as part of activities to celebrate 42 years of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Visitors will be treated to Yosakoi traditional dance, cosplay and martial arts performances, and an introduction to special Japanese dishes.

Apart from the usual “Sakura” decoration, there will be interesting activities such as Sakura planting, exhibition, and an area introducing Sakura and photography.

The Cherry Blossom Festival was opened in Ha Long city of northern Quang Ninh province on April 2, themed “Peace-Prosperity-Cooperation and Development”.

The four-day festival was held by the municipal People’s Committee and the Japan Wanokai International Culture Association to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the people of the two countries.

On the occasion, children in the northeast part of Japan – which bore the brunt of the tsunami and earthquake four years ago – presented cherry trees to children in Quang Ninh.

On the sidelines of the event were art and cultural exchanges; a trade fair showcasing tourism products, food and household utensils at 100 pavilions of the two countries; screening of Japanese cartoons; and business workshops on health, education, the environment and agriculture.

The Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival was first held in Hanoi in 2007, providing an outstanding cultural activity in Vietnam to introduce Japan’s cultural beauty to visitors.

The earliest cherry blossoms come into bloom in late January in southern Okinawa prefecture and reach northern Hokkaido prefecture in early May. The flowers drop off about a week after they appear.-VNA