Sakura trees and branches will be exhibited in downtown Hanoi at the Japanese Culture Exchange Festival. (Photo: VNA)

The event, which will take place at Ly Thai To Park by Hoan Kiem Lake from Friday to next Monday, celebrates the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties this year.
Artisans from Japan are helping arrange the exhibition of Japanese sakura alongside local flowers.

The event will include various cultural activities, such as the introduction of the Japanese tea culture, chess, Kendama folk games and Japanese cuisine near Hanoi Children’s Palace, besides a Yosakoi dance performance by 17 teams on Dinh Tien Hoang street.

The event will also host various Vietnamese traditional arts such as ca tru (ceremonial singing), hat xam (blind busker’s singing) and folk dances.

Further, the Hanoi authorities and Japanese partners will hold a meeting to discuss tourism, health, education and economic investment.

Japanese cooks will demonstrate the preparation of traditional food, including ramen noodles, soba noodles, takoyaki cake and sushi.