The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan jointly held the Vietnam Culture – Tourism Festival 2010 in Japan on June 23.

The festival featured a concert of Vietnam ’s traditional music and dances, a fashion show of “ao dai” (long dress) collection and an exhibition displaying tourism products and services of Vietnamese travel agents.

Within the programme, the ministry organised a tourism promotion workshop, drawing the participation of the Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and Japanese tourist companies.

General Secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association Motoyoshi Ryokichi told a Tokyo-based Vietnam News Agency correspondent that he was very impressed at the festival, saying that it not only helps promote the cultural exchange and tourism cooperation between the two countries, but also fosters the bilateraly political, economic, trade and investment relations.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh reviewed significant landmarks in the bilateral relations over the past 37 years and underlined the foundation of the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership in April 2009.

The Ambassador said besides political and economic relations, Vietnam and Japan have unceasingly promoted cultural and tourism exchanges. With political and social stability, he said, Vietnam is a safe destination for international travellers.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh thanked the government and people of Japan for their valuable support to Vietnam , espcially in restoration and preservation of historical relics and spots of tourist attraction in Vietnam .

Minister Anh said Japan has always been among the leading investors in Vietnam and the number of Japanese visitors accounts for a large proportion of the total foreign arrivals to the country.

He expressed his hope that the strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in culture and tourism, will be further developed in the future.

Japanese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chinami Nishimura said 2010 is an important year for both countries as Vietnam will celebrate the 1,000 th birth anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and Japan will also marks the 1,300 th founding anniversary of former capital Kyoto .

Japan ’s government has lent a hand in preparations of the grand festival for Hanoi by providing support for restoration of the ancient Thang Long imperial citedal, she added./.