Autumn in Japan just got livelier with the launch of the “Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City Festival in Aichi Nagoya 2025,” taking place on November 8–9 at Edion Hisaya Plaza, in the heart of Nagoya.

The festival is organized by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in collaboration with Ms. Hirose Noriko, the city’s Tourism Ambassador in Aichi Prefecture, with strong support from local authorities and business communities in both regions.

This cultural event aims not only to promote the image of Vietnam and its people, but also to strengthen the friendship between Ho Chi Minh City and Aichi Prefecture - one of Japan’s key industrial hubs.

In the open-air setting of bustling Nagoya, the sights, sounds, and flavors of Vietnam will blend together to offer Japanese visitors and overseas Vietnamese a deeply emotional cultural journey.

Throughout the two-day event, visitors can explore traditional cultural displays, sample iconic Vietnamese cuisine, and enjoy meticulously choreographed performances. From folk songs, flute and zither melodies to vibrant, youthful rhythms from Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam's cultural heartbeat will resonate in the peaceful heart of Nagoya.

The main cultural program, designed to foster lively connection and exchange, will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day, featuring a star-studded lineup of artists from Ho Chi Minh City.

The performers include Meritorious Artist Thu Thuy, singers Vo Ha Tram, Dong Hung, To My, and talented instrumentalists such as Mai Anh (violin), Dinh Nhat Minh (flute), Doan Minh Tai (zither). The show will be hosted by MCs Toru and Giang Thai, with special acts by the ABC dance troupe, including circus and puppet performances.

This festival is more than a cultural and artistic event - it is a community celebration that connects overseas Vietnamese, offering a space to meet, encourage, and support each other far from home. Through music and dance, the images of Vietnam and its people appear heartfelt, familiar, and full of pride.

The “Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City Festival in Aichi Nagoya 2025” is a spiritual gift to international friends and a message about a modern, friendly, and open Vietnam - where culture serves as a bridge between hearts.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, Japan is considered a key and stable market for both Vietnamese and Ho Chi Minh City tourism. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed approximately 711,000 Japanese visitors, up 21% from 2023.

Ho Chi Minh City remains a top destination for Japanese tourists, thanks to its dynamism, diverse culinary scene, and professional hospitality services. In 2024, the city attracted 348,239 Japanese tourists, accounting for 49% of all Japanese arrivals in Vietnam. In the first ten months of 2025 alone, over 300,000 Japanese visitors traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, ranking Japan sixth among the city’s largest tourist markets.

Travel between the two countries is highly convenient, with direct flights linking Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang to major Japanese cities such as Tokyo (Haneda and Narita), Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.

Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, All Nippon Airways (ANA), and Japan Airlines (JAL) operate more than 130 weekly flights between the two nations.

This robust air connectivity significantly enhances tourism, trade, investment, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) activities, while opening more opportunities for bilateral tourism promotion.

Quoc Ngoc