Vibrant Vietnamese Culture Lights Up Niigata, Drawing Over 10,000 Visitors

The Vietnam Festival in Niigata 2026 brought a vibrant celebration of Vietnamese culture to Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, on October 11–12, recording more than 10,000 visits. Building on the success of the first festival in 2025, which recorded 7,000 visits, this year's event once again offered a colorful showcase of Vietnamese traditions, arts and cuisine.

The opening ceremony was attended by Niigata Vice Governor Takahisa Nakagaito, alongside representatives of local authorities, friendship organizations, businesses and the Vietnamese and Japanese communities. Speaking on behalf of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan, Mr. Vu Cuong, Counsellor for Agriculture and Environment, commended Niigata Prefecture's efforts to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam, particularly its partnerships with Thanh Hoa and Vinh Long provinces in education, agriculture, trade, investment and human resources development. He underscored the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges in deepening mutual understanding and friendship, and reaffirmed the Embassy's commitment to promoting practical cooperation with Niigata.

Festivalgoers enjoyed a lively program featuring lion dances, bamboo dance performances, traditional dan bau (Vietnamese monochord) music and ao dai fashion shows. Hands-on activities, including conical hat painting and Vietnamese folk games, offered visitors a chance to experience Vietnamese culture firsthand. Stalls featuring Vietnamese food, handicrafts and other products added to the festive atmosphere.

Niigata is home to more than 5,000 Vietnamese residents, making the Vietnamese community the largest foreign-national community in the prefecture. The festival offered Vietnamese residents an opportunity to celebrate and preserve their cultural heritage while fostering closer ties with local communities, helping to deepen friendship and people-to-people exchanges under the Viet Nam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership./.