Taking place over three days from December 26 to 28, the 21st Hoi An – Japan Cultural Exchange, Da Nang 2025 left many strong impressions on local residents and visitors.
The activities held throughout the festival created a vibrant atmosphere, highlighting the cultural convergence between Viet Nam and Japan, thereby contributing to promoting the image of Da Nang – Hoi An as a destination rich in cultural and historical identity.
A major highlight of the event was the Futon Daiko procession – the largest traditional procession of Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture (Japan) – which officially appeared in Hoi An for the first time. The procession moved through streets around the Japanese Covered Bridge, accompanied by the lively beats of Taiko drums and powerful chants, attracting the attention of large numbers of residents and visitors.
Visitor Sowner Ulutan (Turkey) shared that during this visit to Hoi An, he had the opportunity to directly experience distinctive folk cultural activities of both Viet Nam and Japan, while clearly sensing the unique cultural fusion within the ancient town setting.
The event also reenacted the procession of Princess Ngoc Hoa (daughter of Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen) and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro, recalling the Viet Nam–Japan friendship dating back to the early 17th century. According to historical records, in 1619 Princess Ngoc Hoa married Araki Sotaro; in 1620 she followed her husband to Japan, where she made significant contributions to cultural exchange between the two nations.
Le Van Anh (Ho Chi Minh City), who visited Hoi An with his family during Christmas and the New Year holiday, said he was delighted by the festive atmosphere and cultural exchange activities. “I especially enjoyed the reenactment of the procession of Princess Ngoc Hoa and the Japanese merchant, which helped me better understand the historical ties between Hoi An and Japanese localities,” he shared.
The festival atmosphere became even more lively with street art exchanges, Taiko drum performances, calligraphy demonstrations, Japanese tea ceremonies, and a Cosplay competition, creating a vibrant and colorful cultural panorama.
As a volunteer participating with the Japanese delegation at this event, Renshi Ichikawa (Kanagawa Prefecture) said he was very impressed by the atmosphere of the Hoi An Ancient Town and the hospitality of local residents. He also shared that he would introduce the local culture and people to his friends and community back in Japan.
Alongside the main activities, many cultural experience programs were organized throughout the festival, such as Viet Nam–Japan bonsai exchanges, visits to the exhibition “Traces of Japan”, cultural exchange photo displays, hands-on experiences with “Hizen Ceramics – Patterns That Tell Stories”, along with tourism promotion booths, food stalls, souvenirs, and Japanese comics.
The event continued to affirm its role in fostering friendship and promoting the image of Hoi An as an attractive cultural and tourism destination.
The 21st Hoi An – Japan Cultural Exchange, Da Nang 2025 concluded with many memorable highlights of Hoi An, opening a new chapter filled with expectations of friendship for future exchange programs.
SOURCE: DA NANG CITY PORTAL
https://danang.gov.vn/vi/web/dng/w/an-tuong-giao-luu-van-hoa-hoi-an-nhat-ban-lan-thu-21-da-nang-nam-2025
