The Vibrant Vietnam Festival: Sapporo’s 2024 Cultural Extravaganza

The Vietnam Festival in Sapporo, a vibrant two-day celebration, showcased the beauty of Quang Ninh province and Vietnam as a whole. Organized by the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the festival featured exhibition booths and artistic performances that highlighted the region’s natural wonders, rich culture, and investment potential.

The event held a deeper significance as Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son graced the opening ceremony. He emphasized the special meaning of this year’s festival, marking the first extensive cultural exchange between Hokkaido and Vietnam since the elevation of their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World in 2023. This milestone also coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Now in its third iteration, the Vietnam Festival in Sapporo has become a highly anticipated cultural event for the approximately 12,000-strong Vietnamese community in Hokkaido. The festival offers a rich and diverse program, making it a beloved gathering for those living, studying, and working in the region.

During the ceremony, Son expressed his gratitude to Hokkaido Governor Suzuki Naomichi for his unwavering support for the festival and the enduring friendship between Hokkaido and Vietnam. He also acknowledged the contributions of Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance and honorable head of the festival organizing board, for fostering stronger ties between Hokkaido prefecture and Quang Ninh province.

Mitsuhashi Tsuyoshi, Deputy Governor of Hokkaido, reaffirmed the province’s desire to strengthen ties with Vietnamese localities. He emphasized Hokkaido’s interest in welcoming more Vietnamese high-quality workers and technical interns, as well as enhancing cooperation in human resources training.

The Deputy Governor also commended the significant contributions of the Vietnamese community—the largest foreign community in Hokkaido—to the province’s socio-economic development. He expressed his hope for more Vietnamese individuals to work in Hokkaido and assured continued support for the community.

On the same day, FM Son participated in a seminar exploring cooperation prospects between Vietnamese and Japanese universities in the new era. Representatives from various educational institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam – Japan University, Ha Long University, and several Japanese universities, shared insights and discussed future collaboration.

The seminar served as a platform for the participants to introduce their universities, present cooperation programs, and propose measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in human resources development. Son highlighted the early initiation of cooperation in human resources training, particularly high-quality talent, between Vietnam and Japan. He also underscored its importance as one of the three key pillars in the new generation of official development assistance (ODA) cooperation between the two nations.

With over 43,000 Vietnamese students currently pursuing their studies in Japan, Son emphasized the significant role they play in the socio-economic development of both countries. He also noted how these students serve as ambassadors of goodwill and mutual understanding between the two nations.