The Cherry-blossom or Nippon Genki Festival 2011, organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, will take place at the Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Center on April 16-17.
Starting in 2007, the annual cherry-blossom festival attracts many people who love cherry flowers and Japanese culture. This year’s festival is the 4th of its kind and aims to bring Japanese culture closer to Vietnamese and lead up to the 40th anniversary of relationship between the two countries (1973-2013).
The two-day festival will have various activities with the expected contents as follows:
- Display of fresh cherry blossoms
- Performances on stage (focus on dancing)
- Yosakoi dancing
- Traditional Game and Shops Area
- Japanese Cuisine Area
- Cosplay, Kendo sword-fighting and other traditional art performances
- Motor performance of Honda Vietnam Company.
Besides contemplating cherry blossoms and taking part in quintessential Japanese cultural activities, visitors can also joint the “For beloved Japan†campaign. Visitors will fold 1,000 paper cranes as prayers for victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. There will also be a fund raising event for the victims at the festival. Visitors can donate at charity boxes or contact directly with the organizing board. In addition, visitors can contribute by buying souvenir products at the festival.
Towards a green and clean environment, visitors will be guided to sort garbage and follow sanitation rules by Vietnamese and Japanese volunteer groups during the festival.
More information:
- The Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Center
Add: 148 Giang Vo St., Hanoi
- Free for entrance.
Compiled by Phuong Anh (TITC)