Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange 2026 slated from May 22 - 24

The Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange 2026 will take place from May 22 - 24. It aims to spread the cultural values ​​of the ancient town of Hoi An and Japan, and honour the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The event also provides an opportunity for Da Nang to boost investment, trade, tourism promotion as well as expand people-to-people exchanges, especially targeting the younger generations.

Organized at the municipal-level, the program will be chaired by the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Consulate General of Japan in the city and other relevant agencies.

Main activities will be held in Hoi An Ward, with key venues including the An Hoi Sculpture Garden, the ancient town and the Hoai River Square.

The highlight of the event will be the opening ceremony on the evening of May 22 at the An Hoi Sculpture Garden, featuring an art program blending traditional and modern elements of both Vietnam and Japan.

In addition, cultural exchange nights and art performances over the following two days promise to offer diverse and immersive experiences for residents and visitors.

Within the framework of the event, an array of unique activities will be organized, including street art performances, a reenactment of the wedding procession of Princess Ngoc Hoa and merchant Araki Sotaro, a cosplay competition, and Vietnamese-Japanese cultural experiences such as tea ceremony, origami, calligraphy demonstrations, and traditional costumes.

Also, these will be food stalls, tourism products and traditional crafts, and many community-based experiential activities.

The program will also feature thematic activities such as tours themed “Japanese Footprints of the Past”, Hizen ceramics experiences, and photo exhibitions highlighting exchanges across different historical periods. This will help visitors gain deeper insight into the longstanding trade and cultural ties between Hoi An and Japan.

To ensure the event is held safely and effectively, the city has required relevant units to closely coordinate in organizational work, especially in maintaining public security, traffic safety, fire prevention and control, environmental sanitation and food safety.

At the same time, great efforts will be made to enhance multi-platform communications, apply digital technologies and mobilize the participation of businesses and the community to increase the event’s outreach.

The 22^nd edition of the Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange is expected to continue serving as a hallmark cultural and tourism event of Da Nang, thereby contributing to tourism stimulus, creating new experiential products and reinforcing the city’s position in international exchange.