HCM CITY (VNS) — "Feeling Japan" is the theme of a festival that opened in HCM City yesterday, giving thousands of visitors, mostly young folks, a taste of Japanese culture.

The annual festival attracted the crowd for the demonstration of origami paper art, Shibuya and Harajuku fashion, performances of karate martial art and tea ceremony and a selection of delectable dishes.

Visitors also enjoyed ninja shows by masters from Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, the biggest theme park reproducing villages, culture and lifestyle of the brilliant Edo period back to about 300 years.

Information about scholarship offers and screenings of Japanese films were also made available.

Co-hosted by the Japanese Consulate General in HCM City, the Youth Culture House and the Japan Tourism Agency, the event marks the sound friendship between the two nations over the past 40 years, said Chairman of Viet Nam Tourism Association Nguyen Huu Tho.

Both sides pledged to join hands to increase Japanese arrivals in Viet Nam to 1 million, and the number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan to 200,000 in the coming years, he added. — VNS