Mr. Takebe Tsutomu has played a key role in the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentary Alliance for many years - Photo: NGOC DUC
The first eight Vietnam - Japan Festivals have left a strong mark on Mr. Takebe Tsutomu, former chairman of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Alliance and currently a special advisor to this alliance, in the role of head of the festival organizing committee on the Japanese side.
In this 9th festival, Mr. Takebe returned to Vietnam as the honorary head of the festival's organizing committee. Tuoi Tre Online had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Takebe about the significance of this special friendship event.
Vietnam - Japan Festival creates human exchange between the two countries
Mr. Takebe recalls the early days of the Vietnam - Japan Festival: "The first Vietnam - Japan Festival was held in November 2013. That was the year marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.
At that time, the original purpose of the festival was to create a cooperative and exchange relationship between two different cultures, Vietnam and Japan. From there, the festival could create new cultural values and elevate the cultural values of the two countries."
Japanese artists perform traditional musical instruments on the main stage of the festival - Photo: NGOC DUC
The head of the festival's organizing committee that year clearly remembered that although it was the first time, the festival attracted 70,000 participants. He also remembered that it rained heavily on the day of the festival.
In the following years, the festival continued to be held regularly and was only interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, immediately after the pandemic, the festival proved its vitality in the hearts of Ho Chi Minh City residents when the 2023 festival attracted up to 485,000 visitors.
"In that context, looking at global tourism statistics, it can be seen that the number of two-way tourists between Vietnam and Japan has increased many times over the years. In the world, there are only two countries like Vietnam and Japan that have achieved that. To me, that is one of the effects that the Vietnam - Japan Festival contributes: creating human exchanges between the two countries," Mr. Takebe affirmed.
Investment opportunities from Vietnam - Japan Festival
Volunteers introduce the tourism potential of Ehime province, Japan at the festival - Photo: NGOC DUC
The special feature of the Vietnam - Japan Festival is that it is not only a cultural exchange, but also an opportunity for businesses of the two countries to meet and open up important cooperation opportunities.
On the evening of March 8, a seminar and trade talks to promote Japanese tourism in Vietnam were held within the framework of the festival.
Here, travel businesses from the two countries discussed bilateral tourism potential, especially when Japan will host the 2025 World Expo in Osaka city.
Similar seminars and talks have also been held during previous festivals, covering a wide range of areas in bilateral cooperation, tourism, culinary culture, Japanese manga business, etc.
Guest delegates visit the Ho Chi Minh City tourism promotion booth at the festival on the morning of March 9 - Photo: NGOC DUC
Mr. Takebe recalled one of the festival's successes: "In 2018, within the framework of a project sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Economy and Trade (METI), a series of large convenience store chains in Japan ( konbini ) were present at the Vietnam - Japan Festival. Perhaps, since that time, many convenience store chains have invested in Vietnam."
The Special Advisor to the Vietnam - Japan Parliamentary Alliance affirmed that through the above event, the festival has proven itself not only to create human and tourism exchanges but also to contribute to promoting consumption and business.
"We see that the Vietnam - Japan Festival plays a very important role, contributing to human exchange, cultural exchange, tourism exchange, knowledge exchange and science and technology exchange," Mr. Takebe concluded.
On the morning of March 9, the 2024 Vietnam - Japan Festival officially opened at 23/9 Park (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City).
The 2024 festival marks the 9th time this event has been held, continuing to become a colorful meeting place about the country, people, economy and traditional cultural beauty of each country.
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