The Japan-Vietnam Festival 2017 is scheduled to take place in January next year, instead of November like in previous years, opening up opportunities for locals and expats to get a glimpse of Japanese culture and ties between the two countries.

Nguyen Thi Thu (R), vice chairwoman of the HCMC People's Committee, shakes hands with Tsutomu Takabe, a special advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, at a meeting on September 6

Nguyen Thi Thu, vice chairwoman of the HCMC People’s Committee, on on September 6 had a meeting with Tsutomu Takebe, a special advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance and head of the organizing board, to discuss the forthcoming festival in the city.

The festival will be held at a special time in 2018 when the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Takebe added.

On behalf of the municipal government, Thu said the city government will create favorable conditions for the successful organization of the festival, which greatly contributes to boosting cultural exchange, tourism and education cooperation between the city and Japan.

The festival is expected to be held from January 26 to 28 at the September 23 Park in HCMC’s District 1.

Takabe said the upcoming festival is expected to welcome the participation of around 300,000 visitors, higher than the 2016 figure of 220,000.

SGT