Tourism and Culture - Bridges of Friendship

In his opening remarks, Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shared, after 11 years and nine successful editions, the Vietnam Tourism Promotion Program held within the Vietnam Tourism - Culture Promotion Festival in Kanagawa has affirmed its reputation as a cultural and tourism bridge, connecting Japanese people with Vietnam and bringing them closer to a destination known for its beauty, friendliness, and uniqueness.

The Deputy Minister highlighted the many cultural and social similarities between Vietnam and Japan: both nations have rich traditions, deep respect for ethical values, and resilient, hard-working people. He recalled that exchanges between the two countries began over 1,000 years ago, when Vietnamese monk Phat Triet traveled to Nara - then the capital of Japan - to share Buddhism and music. Since then, Vietnam - Japan relations have grown steadily, culminating in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023, which reflects a mature, trusted, and mutually supportive friendship.

Deputy Minister Ho An Phong spoke at the event

Deputy Minister Ho An Phong emphasized that alongside strong economic, investment, and trade ties, cooperation in tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange has also flourished, forming an important foundation for the two countries’ increasingly close relationship.

Recent years, numerous joint initiatives between the two sides have been seen, such as signing cooperation agreements on tourism, organizing destination-promotion programs, cultural performances, and particularly the Vietnam Tourism - Culture Promotion Festival in Kanagawa. Thanks to cultural similarities and mutual trust, Vietnam and Japan have become among each other’s most favored destinations.

“Tourism and culture cooperation between Vietnam and Japan still holds enormous potential, especially in areas where both countries have complementary strengths, such as promoting tourism and developing cultural heritage for tourism. We aim to strengthen cooperation and strive to double the number of exchanged visitors between our two nations in the coming years,” Deputy Minister Ho An Phong affirmed.

Kanagawa Prefecture's Governor Kuroiwa Yuji spoke at the event

Kanagawa Prefecture's Governor Kuroiwa Yuji thanked the Vietnamese ministries and agencies for their cooperation in organizing both the Vietnam Tourism - Culture Promotion Festival in Kanagawa and the Kanagawa Festival in Vietnam in recent years. These events, he noted, have significantly contributed to strengthening ties between Kanagawa Prefecture and Vietnam, deepening people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing friendship and solidarity between the two nations.

Vietnam - An Attractive Destination for Japanese Tourists

At the program, representatives of the Vietnam National Authority of  Tourism introduced Vietnam’s tourism development policies, signature destinations, and distinctive tourism products.

Accordingly, Vietnam boasts a wealth of natural and cultural resources that support diverse forms of tourism, from cultural-historical and eco-tourism to community-based and sustainable travel. With its stunning landscapes, rich heritage, traditional craft villages, and vibrant festivals, Vietnam offers unique experiences. Vietnamese cuisine - renowned for its freshness and flavor - also continues to win the hearts of international travelers.

The country is home to famous UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Sites, including Ha Long Bay, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Hoi An Ancient Town... These, along with other destinations, have frequently been ranked among the world’s best attractions by trusted travel platforms such as TripAdvisor and Telegraph, as well as global media outlets including CNN, BBC...

Vietnam currently exempts Japanese citizens from visas for stays of up to 45 days. For travelers applying for an e-visa, the stay can be extended to 90 days. Along with this, the expansion of direct flights between the two countries has created highly favorable conditions for tourism and business exchanges.

Japan remains one of Vietnam’s top five source markets. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed 711,000 Japanese visitor arrivals, and nearly 540,000 arrivals in the first eight months of 2025, a 17% increase compared with the same period last year. Conversely, Japan also attracts a growing number of Vietnamese travelers, with more than 420,000 arrivals recorded in the first seven months of 2025.

Looking ahead, Vietnam will focus on developing educational tourism and golf tourism packages, offering Japanese travelers cultural exchanges, practical learning opportunities, and world-class golf services. At the same time, the country is building unique, high-quality tourism products to appeal to new-generation tourists such as Millennials and Gen Z, while maintaining loyal repeat visitors and expanding promotion beyond Japan’s major cities.

During the program, Japanese businesses and guests also learned about Vietnam Airlines’ flight services, enjoyed a traditional water puppet show, and participated in a lucky draw with meaningful gifts presented by Vietnamese tourist enterprises.

VNAT's Vice Chair woman Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai gave lucky draw

Special Vietnam traditional water puppet show

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