Halong Cherry Blossom Festival 2015 is held by Halong City People's Committee in collaboration with Wanokai International Cultural Association (Japan), on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam Southern liberation, 60th anniversary of Liberation Mine, and 42 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam - Japan. Participants at the ceremony included Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, member of Central Party as well as Provincial Party Committee Secretary; Mr. Nguyen Van Doc, Vice Secretary of Provincial Party Committee and Provincial President, along with other members. To the side of Japan, participants were Mr. Mitsuo Sakaba, former Japanese ambassador in Vietnam and Mr. Mitsugu Sato, director of the Wanokai International Culture Association (Japan). The event is one of the most interesting festivals in Vietnam appealing a large number of youth in Halong and those from other localities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Mitsuo Sakaba, former Japanese ambassador in Vietnam emphasized, after 4 years in Vietnam, he was very impressed by the tremendous growth of Vietnam. The friendly relation between two countries is increasingly profound; therefore, peoples in two peoples of two countries have chances to exchange. And, Quang Ninh tourism in particular and Vietnam tourism in general is boosted significantly. Currently, the number of Japanese tourists to Vietnam is great, and so does the number of Vietnamese people living in Japan. He hoped the comprehensive exchange would be improved in the near future. The Japanese delegation coming the festival has the participation of 12 students from Northeast where many terrible disasters happened before. And, at that time Quang Ninh people shared and helped Japan. At present, it is the cherry blossom season in Japan. It is wonderful for Japanese people can enjoy cherry blossom with Quang Ninh people. He also believed the relation between Vietnam and Japan will be raised to a new height.
After the ceremony of handing cherry blossom between students of two sides, visitors had a chance to enjoy outstanding art program featuring cultural identities of two countries, performances of Ao Dai - Vietnamese traditional costume, and Kimono - Japanese traditional costume. The performances are the combination of Vietnamese and Japan artists, expressing the general theme of the program, making a deep impression on the majority of local residents and visitors. This is the 3rd consecutive Cherry Blossom Festival in Halong is organized and maintained. It is the operational start of Halong - Quang Ninh Tourism Week this year. It is known that to cater to the festival this year, Halong City imported about 500 Japanese cherry blossom branches and assembled them into two large trees; and carried 16 cherry blossom trees from Sapa and Dalat, and grafted 5 silk cherry trees to display into 11 clusters to meet the admiring needs of tourists.
Besides, in 4 days (from 2 to 5-4), the festival will have many activities to provide visitors with to opportunities learn more about Japanese culture. There are activities of Vietnam-Japan art cultural exchange, artwork exhibition introducing cherry flowers tied with traditional culture, some heritages, tourism products, culture, food, household goods, souvenirs of Japan, cultural exchange and a number of popular folk games of two countries. Young people have a chance to exchange and learn about Japan study abroad and animator technology. Units and businesses in Quang Ninh can learn more via Symposium introducing some of new Japanese technology and achievements in terms of medical, agriculture, and industry. It is expected there are more Japanese festivals in Halong opened to tighten the relation between two countries.