A date for Hoi An - Japan cultural exchange

A highlight of Vietnam - Japan friendship

With more than 400 years of trade and cultural ties, Hoi An Ancient Town was once a thriving international trading port where some of the earliest Vietnam - Japan connections were formed.

Today, as a creative heritage urban space within Da Nang, Hoi An continues to preserve and promote these cultural values while fostering new exchanges between the two countries.

The Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange Festival has become a symbol of friendship between Vietnam and Japan. The opening ceremony of the 22nd festival will take place on May 22 at An Hoi Sculpture Garden, bringing together international delegates, artists, Vietnamese and Japanese art troupes, residents and tourists.

Highlights in the event include street performances around the Japanese Covered Bridge, the reenactment of the procession of Princess Ngoc Hoa and merchant Araki Sotaro, Japanese doll exhibitions, calligraphy, and Ikebana demonstrations, cultural performances, cosplay competitions, and various interactive activities throughout the ancient town.

Resonating cultural colours

On this occasion, the 10th anniversary of the free Japanese-language Terakoya class for children in Hoi An Ancient Town (2016 - 2026) will also be celebrated.

According to Truong Thi Ngoc Cam, Deputy Director of the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Centre, the programme represents a beautiful story of knowledge, sharing, and Vietnam-Japan cultural connection.

From humble beginnings, the Terakoya class has inspired generations of students in Hoi An Ancient Town to learn Japanese and build lasting international friendships through cultural exchange.

Throughout the festival, visitors can explore a variety of experiential cultural spaces reflecting the shared refinement and harmony of Vietnamese and Japanese traditions.

Exhibitions such as “Arc of the Japanese Covered Bridge” and “Hizen Ceramics - Patterns That Tell Stories” showcase centuries of cultural exchange and Japanese craftsmanship, while the “Echoes of Old Japan” programme brings preserved cultural traces to life across the ancient town.

At An Hoi Sculpture Garden and the Japanese Cultural Exhibition House on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, visitors can enjoy artistic performances, cosplay activities, interactive cultural experiences and colourful exchange booths.

According to Truong Thi Ngoc Cam, the festival’s 22nd edition continues to affirm its role as a sustainable cultural bridge between Hoi An and Japan while promoting the image of a friendly, creative and culturally rich destination.

The Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange Festival was first launched in 1998 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Vietnam - Japan diplomatic relations. Since 2003, the festival has been organised annually and maintained continuously for more than two decades, becoming a representative cultural diplomacy event that contributes to strengthening friendship, enhancing cooperation, and deepening the connection between Vietnam and Japan.