First Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival in Japan: Experience a part of Vietnam's culture, people, and land
WVR - The Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival 2026, held on September 26-27 in Tokyo, Japan, marks the first event in the country to spotlight Vietnamese banh mi as its main theme. It opens up a cultural and culinary exchange space between locals and the Vietnamese community.
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| Banh mi and iced milk coffee are two favorites among many Japanese who have lived in Vietnam. (Source: VNA) |
Speaking at the opening of the Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival 2026 in Tokyo on September 26, Nguyen Sau, Minister Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, emphasized that banh mi and coffee are two familiar and distinctive Vietnamese dishes that are increasingly loved in Japan and around the world.
According to him, visitors to the festival can not only enjoy the food and drinks but also experience a part of Vietnam's culture, people, and land.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Sau noted that this year's festival coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, offering an opportunity for Vietnamese and Japanese families to participate in cultural activities together.
He expressed hope that through experiences such as lantern parades, lion dances, and enjoying mooncakes, Japanese children will gain a better understanding of Vietnamese culture, while Vietnamese children in Japan will have more opportunities to appreciate and preserve the traditions of their homeland.
Nguyen Khanh Ly, a member of the organizing committee, stated that Vietnamese banh mi is softer and fluffier, which many Japanese diners prefer. She shared: “We want to bring Vietnamese cuisine, especially banh mi, into the daily lives of the Japanese people.”
The organizing committee hopes this inaugural festival will become an annual event, creating a welcoming space for Japanese people to explore Vietnamese cuisine and for the Vietnamese community to share the flavors of their homeland.
For Tonoduka Rikako, owner of Ba Ba Banh Mi shop, her love for Vietnamese food began with a taste test. She recounted that she had never tried Vietnamese banh mi before and was pleasantly surprised when she did. Wishing to introduce this dish to more Japanese people, she opened her shop about five years ago.
According to Rikako, her shop's customers are mainly Japanese, along with some from Europe and the United States; Vietnamese customers make up about one-fifth. She maintains the authentic taste of Vietnamese banh mi and is delighted that diners enjoy it.
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| Delegates cut the ribbon to open the Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival in Japan. (Photo: Nguyen Tuyen) |
Banh mi at the shop is priced from 750-850 Yen (5.5 USD). Her story illustrates that the reception of Vietnamese banh mi extends beyond culinary festivals and into everyday business activities.
Among those attending the festival was Ogawa Hitoshi, who lived and worked in Vietnam for about three years. He shared that after returning to Japan, he still misses the atmosphere, people, and cuisine of Vietnam. Banh mi and pho are his favorites, while the drink that left the deepest impression is iced milk coffee.
When in Vietnam, he would almost daily visit cafes for coffee. Now, he often asks friends to send coffee from Vietnam to enjoy each morning.
Ogawa attended the festival to support a Vietnamese friend involved in organizing the event. For him, such festivals are opportunities to meet Vietnamese people, rediscover familiar flavors, and see young Vietnamese striving in Japan.
He also hopes the festival creates an atmosphere that encourages more Japanese participation. According to him, widely introducing the allure of Vietnamese cuisine, culture, and people will further deepen the bond between the two nations' citizens.
