The Vietnam Festival 2018 will take place at the Yoyogi Park in Tokyo between 10 am and 8 pm on May 19 and 20.
Vietnamese Ambassador
to Japan
Nguyen Quoc Cuong addressing the press briefing.
Speaking at a press conference for the event, which was held
in Tokyo on
April 23, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the festival is
part of activities celebrating 45 years of the two countries’ diplomatic
relations.
It is an opportunity for
overseas Vietnamese to remember their home country and for Japanese friends to
learn more about Vietnam,
the diplomat noted.
After a decade, the Vietnam
Festival has become a big draw for both Vietnamese and Japanese living around Tokyo. In 2017, the
number of attendees amounted to 180,000.
Also at the press conference,
General Secretary of the festival’s organising board Aoyagi Youichirou
highlighted the significance of the event for people-to-people exchanges
between Vietnam and Japan.
He said this year it will
build on the successes of past editions to contribute to boosting mutual
understanding and bilateral ties.
The festival will feature 110
stalls classified into four categories of traditional cuisine, entertainment,
music, and tourism. Performances of Japanese artists and Vietnamese singers and
students will take place on the main stage.
Vietnam Festival 2018 is expected to draw 150,000
visitors.
Source: NDO
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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