Vietnam – Hokkaido Festival 2026 to debut in Asahikawa
WVR - On September 5, in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido Prefecture (Japan), the Vietnam – Hokkaido Festival 2026 was held for the first time, opening up a new space for cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Hokkaido.
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Attending the opening ceremony, from the Vietnamese side, were former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong; Minister Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan Nguyen Sau; and Head of the Internal Affairs Committee of Quang Ninh City Party Committee Duong Manh Cuong.
From the Japanese side, there were Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Takebe Tsutomu; Deputy Governor of Hokkaido Prefecture Mitsuhashi Tsuyoshi; and Mayor of Asahikawa City Imazu Hirosuke.
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| Delegates visit the Vietnamese culture and tourism promotion booth. (Source: Van Hoa) |
Expanding Vietnam-Japan Exchange Space
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong noted that the Vietnam Festival in Asahikawa takes place at a time when cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Japan are witnessing vibrant activities.
According to the Deputy Minister, tourism exchanges between the two countries are maintaining a positive trend. In the past year, nearly 815,000 Japanese visitors came to Vietnam, while approximately 678,000 Vietnamese visitors chose Japan as their destination.
The Vietnamese community in Japan currently numbers nearly 700,000; in Hokkaido alone, about 14,000 people are living, studying, and working, making it the largest foreign community in the prefecture.
The Vietnam Festival in Hokkaido was first organized in 2019. Over the past five years, the event has been maintained through cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Quang Ninh City, and Hokkaido Prefecture, becoming an annual cultural exchange activity between the two sides.
Bringing the Festival to Asahikawa for the first time is seen as an expansion of the event's location, creating more opportunities for local residents to access Vietnamese culture, cuisine, and tourism, as well as learn about the Vietnamese community living in Hokkaido.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mayor of Asahikawa Imazu Hirosuke expressed his delight that the city is hosting the Vietnam Festival for the first time. He noted that Vietnam-Japan relations are developing well and emphasized that cultural exchange activities are an important channel to enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
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| The art program embodies the spirit of Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange. (Source: Van Hoa) |
The Mayor of Asahikawa also mentioned the possibility of exploring a direct flight route to Hokkaido via Asahikawa Airport, as well as promoting cooperation in healthcare and education sectors.
From Cultural Exchange to Cooperation Opportunities
In his welcome speech, Mr. Takebe Tsutomu recalled the organization of the Festival since 2019 and noted that bringing the event to Asahikawa demonstrates the local interest in relations with Vietnam.
According to him, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries not only facilitate cultural understanding but also have the potential to open up economic and trade cooperation opportunities in the future.
Mr. Takebe Tsutomu also proposed the idea of products that could be manufactured in Vietnam but meet Japanese quality standards, thereby leveraging the strengths of both sides in the production and business chain.
Alongside art performances, this year's Festival features various activities promoting Vietnamese culture, tourism, and products. Delegates and local residents have the opportunity to visit booths, enjoy cuisine, and learn about Vietnam's destinations.
For Asahikawa, this is one of the cities with a strong tourism sector in Hokkaido, known for its natural landscapes, four-season climate, and local products. The city is also renowned for its furniture manufacturing, interior design, and distinctive culinary culture.
Thus, organizing the Vietnam Festival here not only expands the promotion of Vietnamese culture to a new area of Hokkaido but also creates additional opportunities for the two localities to explore potential cooperation fields.
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| The vibrant atmosphere at the Festival. (Source: Van Hoa) |
This year's program continues to combine cultural activities with tourism promotion, thereby contributing to strengthening people-to-people exchanges and fostering connections between localities, businesses, and communities of the two countries.
During the visit and work in Asahikawa, cultural and tourism exchange and cooperation activities between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Japanese localities were also expanded.
This is one of the activities that contribute to implementing orientations on cultural and tourism development and enhancing international exchanges in the new phase.
