The cherry – Yen Tu yellow apricot blossom festival, themed “Cooperation and Development”, was opened in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 11.

Jointly organised by the People’s Committees of Ha Long city, Uong Bi city and Dong Trieu town, the four-day event displays 50 Japanese cherry trees and 5,000 cherry blossom branches, and 60 yellow apricot trees taken from Yen Tu Pagoda in the province.

The opening ceremony featured a Vietnam-Japan cultural and art exchange and a show of Japanese traditional costumes.

During the festival, a number of exhibitions are showcasing signature products, specialties, souvenirs, and household appliances of local and Japanese companies at more than 170 stalls. 

The same day, a conference promoting Vietnam-Japan business cooperation offered a chance for the two countries’ organisations and enterprises to enhance tourism, trade and investment links.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vu Van Dien said Quang Ninh sees Japanese firms as strategic and long-term investors, adding that through the conference, the province wants to welcome Japanese firms to study business opportunities in the locality, especially in tourism.|

The festival was first organised in Quang Ninh in 2013 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan.

Last year, 53,000 Japanese visited Quang Ninh, accounting for about 3 percent of the total foreign arrivals to the province.

VNA