Viet Nam Day 2026 in Kyushu - Okinawa: A cultural bridge and catalyst for local economic cooperation
WVR - On September 12-13, at Tenjin Central Park (Fukuoka City, Japan), the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka, in collaboration with the provinces of Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, Dak Lak, Dong Thap, and various Vietnamese organizations, associations, and business communities from both countries, successfully organized the event "Viet Nam Day 2026 in Kyushu - Okinawa" with the theme "Discover Viet Nam - Connect Kyushu".
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| The vibrant and colorful event space attracted thousands of visitors at Tenjin Central Park, Fukuoka City, Japan. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
This large-scale economic and cultural diplomacy event, aimed at promoting trade, attracted the participation of local government leaders from the Kyushu - Okinawa region of Japan, friendship organizations, numerous businesses, and thousands of overseas Vietnamese and local residents.
Diverse cultural promotion activities and OCOP products
On the first day of opening, September 12, the event space attracted hundreds of visitors to experience a series of food and OCOP agricultural product stalls from various Vietnamese localities. Residents of Fukuoka and international tourists had the opportunity to enjoy unique traditional dishes while exploring OCOP products and high-quality processed agricultural goods such as dried lychee, dried jackfruit, coffee, crispy rice, and whole coconuts.
In addition to the culinary space, the Organizing Committee implemented many interactive cultural exchange activities. The ao dai experience area helped bring the beauty of traditional Vietnamese attire closer to international friends. By the morning of September 13, the Organizing Committee had gifted 500 ao dai sets to program visitors.
The folk game area attracted enthusiastic participation from local residents through activities such as tug-of-war, jump rope, and bamboo dancing. Additionally, an art program performed by young overseas Vietnamese brought warm homeland melodies, contributing to the connection of the Vietnamese community in the Kyushu region.
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| Visitors explore OCOP products and high-quality agricultural goods at the stalls. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
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| International friends experience traditional ao dai attire. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
Before the opening ceremony, the Consulate General, in collaboration with Trung Nguyen Legend Group, organized a Coffee Meditation program at the Consulate General's headquarters, attended by local leaders, organizations, businesses, and diplomatic corps, thereby introducing Vietnam's sophisticated coffee culture to international friends.
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| The scene of Coffee Meditation guided by Trung Nguyen Legend representatives for senior Japanese officials. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
Promoting substantial economic and trade cooperation
On the morning of September 13, the official opening ceremony of the program took place solemnly with the attendance of the Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka Trinh Thi Mai Phuong, Fukuoka Governor Hattori Seitaro, Saga Prefecture Council Chairman Shinichi Miyahara, Kagoshima Prefecture Council Chairman Shigeru Hidaka, and leaders from other localities in the Kyushu - Okinawa region, the Kyushu - Vietnam Friendship Association, consular representatives from the US, India, Thailand, China, and numerous business delegates from both countries.
Notably, all distinguished guests, including Japanese local leaders and friendship association leaders, along with their spouses, wore Vietnamese ao dai attire.
In her opening speech, Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka Trinh Thi Mai Phuong affirmed that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Japan is at its most favorable stage. The Vietnam Day 2026 event not only promotes the beauty of Vietnam's land, people, traditional culture, and culinary arts to international friends but also serves as a practical bridge to enhance mutual understanding and further promote economic, trade, tourism, and people-to-people cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Fukuoka Prefecture as well as the Kyushu - Okinawa region.
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| Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka Trinh Thi Mai Phuong delivers the opening speech, emphasizing the comprehensive cooperation bridge role between Vietnam and the Kyushu - Okinawa region. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
On behalf of Fukuoka Prefecture, Governor Hattori Seitaro delivered a welcome speech and highly appreciated the initiative to organize the event by the Consulate General of Vietnam.
He emphasized the extremely important position of the Vietnamese community in the socio-economic development of Fukuoka Prefecture and expressed confidence that this event will further deepen traditional friendship, opening up many new, extensive, and effective cooperation opportunities between Fukuoka Prefecture and Vietnamese partners.
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| Fukuoka Governor Hattori Seitaro delivers a congratulatory speech. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
This occasion helps enhance the presence of high-quality Vietnamese brands and products in the Kyushu distribution system and the Japanese market in general.
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| Delegates and distinguished guests take commemorative photos. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
After the opening ceremony, delegates visited the OCOP stalls of various localities, enjoying some featured products such as dried lychee, dried jackfruit, longan, and Thai Nguyen tea...
This occasion helps enhance the presence of high-quality Vietnamese brands and products in the Kyushu region and the Japanese market in general.
Within the program's framework, the Consulate General presented Thank You Letters to sponsors, including Trung Nguyen Legend, for supporting the successful organization of the event.
Besides the above content, the event also featured many special programs such as “Vietnam in My Eyes” with Japanese youth sharing about Vietnam's land and people; “Vietnam in Me” with second and third-generation Vietnamese children sharing about their homeland with innocence and purity.
Within the program's framework, the Organizing Committee also awarded certificates recognizing individuals who contributed to bringing Vietnam's image closer to local people and businesses.
The success of Viet Nam Day 2026 continues to affirm the positive bridging role of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka in strengthening friendship and opening up many practical economic, trade, and cultural exchange opportunities between Vietnam and the Kyushu - Okinawa region.
This is also an occasion for the Vietnamese community in the area to unite towards their homeland, proudly introducing Japanese friends to the beauty of traditional culture, culinary arts, local specialties, and the hospitality of the Vietnamese people.
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| Japanese delegates visit OCOP stalls and engage in friendly exchanges with Vietnamese business representatives. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
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| Consul General Trinh Thi Mai Phuong introduces Japanese guests to OCOP stalls and engages with Vietnamese business representatives. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka) |
(Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka)
