Important bridge promoting cooperation between Da Nang and Japanese localities

On the evening of July 4, at East Sea Park, the People's Committee of Da Nang City held the opening ceremony of the 10th Vietnam-Japan Festival in Da Nang City in 2025.

This is an annual cultural and diplomatic event held to enhance exchange, understanding and strengthen the friendly relationship between the people of Vietnam and Japan.

Starting in 2014 with the name Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival, the event has been held 10 times so far, becoming an important bridge to promote cooperation between Da Nang city and Japanese localities and partners.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang City People's Committee and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, said that 2025 marks the 10-year journey of this iconic event.

Notably, this year's festival takes place in the context of the new Da Nang city being established on the basis of merging the old Da Nang city and the old Quang Nam province from July 1.

This merger opens up new development opportunities; at the same time, it contributes to enhancing the stature and scale of the festival in the coming years.

The festival takes place from July 4-6 with many rich activities, including: Traditional and modern art performances, cultural exhibition space, tourism, cuisine, typical products of the two countries, sports exchange programs, seminars, and talks connecting cooperation between businesses and organizations of the two sides.

In particular, the conference "Meeting Japan in Da Nang: Promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan" is an important highlight of the series of events.

Da Nang residents experience Japanese games at the Festival. (Photo: Tran Le Lam/VNA)

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam Ito Naoki emphasized the importance of this year's festival and expressed his belief that the event will continue to contribute to strengthening and expanding the friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Da Nang city and Vietnam in general.

The Ambassador said that this year, the number of Japanese businesses, organizations and localities participating in the festival is higher than every year, showing interest and expectation of cooperation with Da Nang in many fields.

Within the framework of the festival, many meaningful activities were organized such as: Vietnam-Japan art exchange program with the participation of more than 100 artists from both countries; sports exchange activities; children's painting exhibition and cooperation achievements between Da Nang and Japanese localities; more than 100 booths displaying cultural characteristics, products and services of the two countries.

The festival is also an opportunity to promote the image of Da Nang in the new development stage, attract investment, tourism and people-to-people exchange. In 2024, the festival attracted more than 50,000 visitors, leaving a deep impression on the people and tourists.

Ambassador Ito Naoki also informed about the resumption of direct flights between Osaka and Da Nang by Vietnam Airlines; considering this a positive signal to promote people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

There are currently nearly 300 Japanese investment projects in Da Nang with a total capital of over 1.2 billion USD. The establishment of the Da Nang Free Trade Zone is expected to further promote bilateral economic cooperation in the coming time.

The 10th Vietnam-Japan Festival in Da Nang city will last until July 6./.