Tea time: Vietnamese tea artisan Vien Tran (second left) at an event to introduce Japanese culture to local youth. — VNS Photo Van Dat

HCM CITY (VNS) — Together with Viet Nam Day held in Tokyo, Vietnamese and Japanese cultures were on show at the HCM City Friendship Palace on Sunday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Vietnamese and Japanese tea ceremonies, Japanese cuisine, martial art Katori Shintoryu, Yosakoi dance, calligraphy and Haiku poems were displayed during the Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Day in HCM City.

The cultural event was also attended by Vietnamese tea artisan Vien Tran, who introduced Vietnamese tea culture and offered tea to Vietnamese and Japanese youth.

Besides, 50 out of more than 100 paintings and sketches about Japan by painter Tran Quan Ngoc, who had spent 40 days in the country, were showcased during the one-day festival.

According to Nguyen Cong Tanh, chairman of Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Association, the festival was among several activities held in HCM City to mark the 40th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations.

"The activities help Vietnamese in HCM City understand further about Japan's culture and people, and promote ties between the two nations," he added.

At the event, Hida Harumitsu, general donsul of Japan in HCM City, said that diplomatic relations and mutual understanding between Viet Nam and Japan had developed well in recent years.

"It's a wonderful festival for the Vietnamese people to understand more about Japanese culture," Hida said. — VNS