Visitors from Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding areas flocked to the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival, held in the city on September 15, for a better understanding of the Japanese people and culture, especially the flourishing friendship between the two countries.

Chairman of the HCM City Vietnam–Japan Friendship Association Nguyen Cong Tanh described the event as one of the city’s activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year.

The festival included various traditional cultural performances of the two nations, introducing their unique cuisines and Japan’s Haiku poetry, tea ceremony, and Yosakoi dance.

In addition, on display at the event were 50 oil paintings by Chairman of the HCM City Esperanto Association (HEA) Tran Quan Ngoc which depict Japan and its people.

On the occasion, the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society of Hiroshima handed 300,000 yen (around 3,000 USD) to the Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients of the city and local schools.

Vietnam and Japan have seen closer ties in the fields of politics, business and culture over the past time, fostering exchanges and mutual understanding between the two peoples, said Japanese Consul General in HCM City Hida Harumitsu at the festival.-VNA