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The Japan-Vietnam Festival (JVF) is an annual cultural exchange event between Vietnam and Japan, first held in Ho Chi Minh City in 2013. After more than a decade, the festival has become one of the city's largest international exchange activities, attracting a large number of people, the Japanese community living in Vietnam, and many tourists each year.
Beyond showcasing culture, cuisine, and tourism, the festival also serves as a bridge to promote economic and trade cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Many businesses, cultural organizations, and tourism units from Vietnam and Japan see this as an opportunity to promote their products and services, as well as introduce the unique characteristics of each country to the public.
As an annual event, the Vietnam-Japan Festival offers a space for cultural exchange with a variety of products and activities for locals and tourists to explore and experience.
In 2026, the 11th Vietnam-Japan Festival took place over two days, March 7th and 8th, at Zone B of 23/9 Park (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). This year's event was the largest ever, featuring over 300 booths from businesses and organizations from Vietnam and Japan. According to the organizers, the festival attracted approximately 450,000 to 500,000 visitors in just the two days.
The festival space is divided into several different areas, including an art performance stage, a food court, a tourism and trade promotion area, and an exhibition area showcasing the traditional culture of both countries. Activities range from art performances and cultural exchanges to culinary experiences and product presentations, creating a vibrant picture of the intermingling of the two cultures.
The food court - the liveliest area in the festival.
The atmosphere was vibrant on opening day.
On the opening day, March 7th, the festival area became crowded as many locals and tourists flocked to 23/9 Park to visit and experience the festivities. The most popular attraction was the central stage area, where artistic performances and exchanges between artists from both countries took place.
The vibrant musical performances, dances, and cultural displays quickly drew hundreds of spectators to the front of the stage. Many stood in large groups to watch the show. The music, lights, and cheers of the audience created the lively atmosphere characteristic of a festival. Modern performances interspersed with displays of traditional culture highlighted the spirit of cultural exchange between the two countries.
The lively performances attracted large crowds who gathered to watch and cheer.
The food court is bustling with activity and offers a wide variety of tempting dishes.
Next to the stage, the food court is where visitors can explore signature dishes from both Vietnam and Japan. Dozens of stalls line the streets, emitting enticing aromas of street food.
The food court was bustling with customers.
Here, visitors can easily find familiar Japanese dishes such as takoyaki, udon, sushi, along with many types of noodles, pastries, and typical grilled foods. Interspersed among the Japanese stalls are Vietnamese food vendors, creating a diverse culinary space with many choices.
Right next to the food stalls is a public seating area where visitors can sit, rest, and enjoy their food.
A space that celebrates traditional Vietnamese and Japanese culture.
Besides the commercial stalls, the festival also dedicates space to showcasing the traditional culture of both countries. Here, visitors can find displays of Vietnamese ao dai alongside yukata – the traditional Japanese attire.
Some booths also showcased Vietnamese calligraphy combined with Japanese haiku poetry, offering visitors a unique cultural experience. These activities not only helped viewers learn more about the cultures of both countries but also created many interesting photo opportunities and experiences.
Japanese haiku poetry combined with Vietnamese calligraphy.
In addition to food, the festival also features participation from many organizations in the tourism and aviation sectors. Booths from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), ANA, and Japan Airlines attracted visitors with information about destinations, promotions, and activities promoting Japanese tourism.
In addition, many travel and tour companies are participating, introducing cultural experience tours, sightseeing, and exploration of Japan for Vietnamese tourists.
With hundreds of thousands of attendees and a wealth of cultural, culinary, and artistic exchange activities, the Vietnam-Japan Festival 2026 continues to affirm its appeal as one of the major international cultural exchange events in Ho Chi Minh City, while also contributing to further strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries.
