Vietnam takes part in cultural exchange

Twenty-nine outstanding young Vietnamese people and other ASEAN and Japanese youths will take part in the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP) from October 27, starting in Tokyo, Japan, to share with each other their countries culture.

The programme, now in its 42nd year, offers 350 ASEAN and Japanese youths the chance to journey together aboard MS Nippon Maru and visit participating countries for 51 days (including 10 days in Japan).

The SSEAYP ship will start its tour on November 5 from Japan and will dock in five countries in Southeast Asia including the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia, returning back to Japan for the final ceremonies.

Activities on board include discussions, cultural introductions, sports and club activities.

The activities in the countries visited include exchanges with local youths, homestays, visits to various facilities and volunteer activities.

In Japan, they will take part in the Japan-ASEAN Youth Leaders summit, where they will discus cultural and social issues in ASEAN members countries.

The programme aims to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youths of Japan and participating countries, to broaden their perspective on the world, and to strengthen their spirit of international cooperation.

The SSEAYP ship will arrive to HCM City at the Cat Lai port from November 17-21.

The young people will take part in homestay and live with local families to better understand the lifestyle, and the culture of Vietnamese people.

In HCM City, ASEAN and Japanese youth will join in a cultural exchange, visit revolutionary vestiges including Ben Duoc Memorial an the Cu Chi tunnels.

The programme started in 1974 based on a statement issued in the same year by Japan and Southeast Asian countries. Vietnam joined in 1996.-VNA