Spring festival in Japan’s Fukuoka highlights Vietnam’s cultural identity
An array of traditional cultural activities during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday will be featured at the fifth Homeland Spring to be held at Tenjinchuo Park, Japan's Fukuoka prefecture on January 20-21, Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai has said.
Tokyo (VNA) – An array of traditional cultural activities duringthe Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday will be featured at the fifth Homeland Springto be held at Tenjinchuo Park, Japan's Fukuoka prefecture on January 20-21, VietnameseConsul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai has said.
At a press conference on November13, Mai said the annual event has drawn the attention of Vietnamese expatsand local residents in Kuyshu-Okinawa, while serving as a vivid illustrationof the Party and State’s care for the Vietnamese community in foreigncountries, including those in Japan.
Human chess, nem con(throwing a sacred ball through a ring) and nhay sap (dance between bamboopoles) will be organised, she said, adding that an art programme will be arranged withstellar performances by Vietnamese artists, models and actors as well as representatives from the Vietnamese community here.
Highlights of the festival will be the record 1,500 people in ao dai (long dress) forming a map of S-shaped Vietnam, and Fukuoka 2024 Ao Dai Weekwith 180 items created by six renowned Vietnamese designers, she stressed.
There will be 70 booths introducing Vietnamese and Japanese dishes,high-quality products and handicrafts from both countries, she added.
Chairman of the Association of the Vietnamese in Fukuoka Nguyen Duy Anh toldthe Vietnam News Agency that the festival is expected to support the Vietnamese community in Japan, promoting national culture, and popularising the image of Vietnam among Japanese, thus helping enhance thefriendship between the two countries' people.
Last year, the "Spring Homeland 2023" programme was extremely successful, not only attracting the attention of the Vietnamese community, but also from the local Japanese community.
There are more than 20,000Vietnamese learning and working in Fukuoka./.
Vietnam always considers Japan as a long-term and leading important partner, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu while meeting a visiting delegation of the Japan-Vietnam parliamentary friendship alliance of Kobe city, Japan’s Hyogo prefecture, in Hanoi on November 7.
A delegation of Hanoi led by Standing Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen visited Fukuoka prefecture, and attended activities marking 15 years of the two localities’ friendship within the framework of its working trip to Japan from November 10-12.
Nearly 300 athletes from Vietnamese localities and clubs and Japan competed at a Judo tournament celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties, and the 2023 Open Judo Championship Ba Ria-Vung Tau in the southern province from November 9-11.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
At the press conference (Photo: VNA) 
