Vietnam Festival in Hokkaido 2026 – Promoting Exchange and Cooperation Vietnam – Hokkaido

          The Vietnam Festival in Hokkaido 2026 took place on September 5–6, 2026, in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido Prefecture. Attendees included former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong; Duong Manh Cuong, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Internal Affairs Commission of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' League and Honorary Chairman of the Organizing Committee; leaders from Hokkaido Prefecture and Asahikawa City; representatives from agencies, localities, organizations, and businesses of both nations; and the Vietnamese community in Hokkaido. Representing the Embassy, ​​Minister-Counselor Nguyen Sau attended and delivered speeches at both the festival's opening ceremony and the Vietnam–Hokkaido Forum 2026.

          In his opening remarks, Minister-Counselor Nguyen Sau emphasized that, amidst the deep and substantive development of the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, exchanges in culture, tourism, and people-to-people relations, as well as local-level cooperation, play an increasingly vital role in bringing the peoples of both countries closer together. The Vietnam Festival in Hokkaido has established itself as a venue for friendly exchange, showcasing the unique aspects of Vietnamese culture, art, cuisine, and people to the Japanese public.

          Hosting the festival in Asahikawa City for the first time held special significance, helping to expand the scope of exchange and connectivity among localities, organizations, and businesses from both sides. The Embassy representative also highly valued the role of the Vietnamese community in Hokkaido, regarding them as a close and enduring bridge between Vietnam and the region. At the 2026 Vietnam–Hokkaido Forum, Minister-Counsellor Nguyen Sau affirmed that Hokkaido possesses significant strengths and potential for cooperation with Vietnam. Both sides need to transition from general exchanges and networking toward specific, practical, and long-term cooperative programs and projects, focusing on areas such as economics, trade, and investment; agriculture and food processing; tourism and cultural exchange; and human resource training and development.

          The Embassy of Vietnam in Japan will continue to serve as a bridge, coordinating with the Hokkaido administration, local governments, organizations, and businesses from both countries to strengthen partnerships and advance concrete cooperation initiatives, thereby contributing to deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Japan.