Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange 2026 opens in Da Nang

The opening ceremony was attended by the Da Nang leaders, the Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam, the Consul General of Japan in Da Nang, representatives from the Japanese cities of Matsusaka, Nagasaki, Sakai and Niihama, as well as various Japanese agencies and organizations in Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi said the festival represents not only a cultural exchange event but also a continuation of more than 400 years of historical and cultural connections between the Vietnamese and Japanese peoples.

This year’s festival carries additional significance as it follows shortly after the official visit to Vietnam by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who highlighted Hoi An Ancient Town and “Chua Cau” (Japanese Covered Bridge) as enduring symbols of the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

Da Nang, and Hoi An in particular, have long served as gateways for vibrant economic and cultural exchanges with Japan. Today, Japan remains one of the city’s leading investors and a key strategic partner.

The festival is not merely a cultural event, but a bridge for sharing traditional values and shaping a shared future.

Speaking at event, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki recalled the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Vietnam from May 1- 3, 2026.

In her foreign policy address at Vietnam National University, Ha Noi, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi emphasized the close ties between the two countries, highlighting the history of exchanges between Japan and Hoi An dating back around 400 years.

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“As Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi noted in her speech, Hoi An is a special place that can be considered the starting point of the friendship between Japan and Vietnam. This festival carries profound significance in preserving the history and enduring friendship between the two countries in the present day”.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki

According to Ambassador Ito Naoki, Japan has continuously supported the preservation of Hoi An Ancient Town since the 1990s. Among the most notable projects is the restoration of the “Chua Cau”, regarded as a symbol of Vietnam-Japan friendship.

Since 2022, experts from Showa Women's University, The University of Tokyo, the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Japan International Cooperation Agency have supported the restoration work, with the project officially inaugurated in August 2024.

Taking place from May 22 to 24, the festival’s highlights include a wide range of cultural and artistic activities held across Hoi An Ancient Town, from lively street art performances around the “Chua Cau” to the reenactment of the “Princess Ngoc Hoa and merchant Araki Sotaro procession”, a symbolic historical event reflecting the long-standing trade and cultural ties between Vietnam and Japan.

The festival also features exhibitions of traditional Japanese dolls, calligraphy demonstrations and Ikebana flower arrangement performances showcasing East Asian aesthetics, alongside traditional and contemporary cultural exchanges at An Hoi Sculpture Garden.

Other activities include photo exhibitions highlighting Hoi An-Japan cultural exchanges, heritage tours themed “Japanese Footprints” through historical sites in the ancient town, Vietnamese-Japanese cultural experience spaces, the “Hizen Ceramics - Patterns That Tell Stories” exhibition, as well as booths introducing Japanese cuisine, tourism, cultural products and specialty goods.