Vietnam Heart Festival 2026 in Osaka: Connecting communities, spreading Vietnamese culture
WVR - On October 24 and 25, the Vietnam Heart Festival 2026 took place at Oizumi Ryokuchi Park, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, under the theme “The Era of Rising.”
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The event attracted a large number of Vietnamese living in Japan, as well as Japanese citizens and international friends, creating a space for cultural exchange and community connection.
The festival was organized by the Global Vietnam-Japan Culture Promotion Organization (VJCP), under the patronage of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka, the Osaka Prefecture government, and the Sakai City government, aiming to build a cultural and artistic event branded as a national event of Vietnam abroad.
Despite the impact of Typhoon Champi, which brought occasional rain, activities continued with the participation of numerous locals and tourists.
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| Vietnam Heart Festival 2026 in Osaka. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Chorus of the Vietnamese National Anthem
The opening ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son; Mr. Wada Kenji, representative of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly; Mr. Morita Koichi, Vice Chairman of the Sakai City Council; and Mr. Yoshikawa Toshifumi, representative of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Exchange Parliamentary Alliance of the Sakai City Council, along with representatives from the Osaka Prefecture government, accompanying units, and sponsors.
After the introduction of delegates and the report on the connection journey, the flag-raising ceremony of the two countries was solemnly organized. One of the notable moments was the chorus of the Vietnamese National Anthem by singer Anh Tu and 34 overseas Vietnamese representing 34 provinces and cities of Vietnam after the merger.
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| Chorus of the Vietnamese National Anthem by singer Anh Tu and 34 overseas Vietnamese representing 34 provinces and cities of Vietnam. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Launching the Vietnamese Culture Day campaign
At the festival, the Organizing Committee launched the Vietnamese Culture Day (November 24) campaign among the global Vietnamese community, associated with President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology “Culture lights the way for the nation” and the National Assembly Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16.
Under the direction of Chief Director Huy Lio, VJCP Strategic Advisor, along with delegates and artists, the ceremony of placing hands on the bronze drum symbol was held to encourage overseas Vietnamese to preserve and spread the national cultural identity.
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| Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son speaking at the event. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
With the message “Every overseas Vietnamese is a cultural ambassador”, let’s join the Vietnamese Culture Day on November 24 with practical actions such as wearing Vietnamese attire, eating Vietnamese food, speaking Vietnamese, telling Vietnamese stories, introducing Vietnam, and sharing Vietnamese culture. Every small action contributes to spreading Vietnamese culture more widely, connecting with friends around the world.
Subsequently, the Organizing Committee introduced a promotional video about Phu Tho – the ancestral land, and inaugurated the Vietnam map exhibition “The Era of Rising”.
The 2.5-meter-high wooden map served as a highlight of the exhibition, marking the milestone of provincial administrative unit arrangement in 2025, along with the introduction of 34 provinces and cities of Vietnam, drawing the attention of overseas Vietnamese and international tourists.
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| The Organizing Committee launched the Vietnamese Culture Day (November 24) campaign among the global Vietnamese community. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Vietnam-Japan art exchange
During the two-day festival, the art stage presented various performances combining traditional and modern music from Vietnam and Japan.
Audiences enjoyed artistic performances from Japanese artists such as the Japanese Drum Group TRAinnovation, Mayumi, Vietnam Kun, and dance and art performances by the Sao Mai Dance Troupe and VJCP Art Center.
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| The 2.5-meter-high wooden map served as a highlight of the exhibition. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Genres like hip-hop, rap, and pop were also featured through performances by Anh Tu, Trinh Thang Binh, LyLy, Cao Phu Quy, Swhite, Shinobi Swag, HawkX, and NINE-X Band. The program provided an opportunity for Vietnamese artists to introduce their homeland’s music to the Vietnamese community in Japan and engage with international audiences.
Within the event framework, VJCP announced the decision to admit new members to participate in future Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange and promotion activities.
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| Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son and his wife attending the event. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Vietnam Heart Star Awards Ceremony
In addition to cultural promotion activities, cultural exchanges, and trade and investment promotion activities between Vietnam and Japan.
This year, the Organizing Committee announced and awarded the “Vietnam Heart Star” award for the first time to four overseas Vietnamese individuals living, studying, and working in Japan who have positively inspired the promotion of Vietnamese culture and people, contributing to spreading the image of a kind, responsible, integrated, law-abiding Vietnamese community that contributes to the host society.
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| Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son and delegates visiting the booths. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
On the afternoon of October 25, the closing program titled “Connecting Vietnamese Hearts” took place with the participation of singers Trinh Thang Binh, LyLy, and Anh Tu. The artists performed many audience-favorite songs, including the duet “In Peace” by singer Anh Tu.
Notably, singer Anh Tu performed his newly composed song “Dong Bao” for the first time in front of thousands of audiences and overseas Vietnamese in Japan during the program’s conclusion, bringing very special emotions to the guests and audience following the event.
According to Mr. Do Hai Khoi, Head of the Organizing Committee, for the festival to be successful, in addition to the support of agencies, units, and sponsors, the program also received significant contributions from a team of volunteers who are young Vietnamese living, studying, and working in Japan. They participated in supporting activities throughout the event, contributing to ensuring the program’s operation and creating a cohesive atmosphere for the festival.
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| Volunteers of the Vietnam Heart Festival 2026 in Osaka. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
The Vietnam Heart Festival 2026 is not only an occasion to enjoy artistic programs but also opens up a space for cultural exchange, connecting the Vietnamese community in Japan.
Through music and cultural activities, the event contributes to spreading love for the homeland, preserving national identity, and strengthening the bond among overseas Vietnamese. With the theme “The Era of Rising,” the program aims to spread the spirit of solidarity, the aspiration for development, and the image of a dynamic, integrated Vietnam.
(Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka)
