Homeland Spring programme for Vietnamese expats to return to Japan in early 2025

At a recent press conference held in Hanoi, Mai said that the annual programme is the biggest cultural event held for more than six million Vietnamese expats across 130 countries and territories worldwide on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.

Highlights of the event in Japan in January 2025 will be Miss International Culture and Friendship 2025 beauty contest and the International Child Supermodel 2025 contest in Japan, both of which aim to seek beauties to help promote solidarity among the overseas Vietnamese community and enhance ties between Vietnam and Japan.

There will be booths to introduce Vietnamese and Japanese dishes, high-quality products and handicrafts from both countries.

Vietnamese folk games such as nhảy sạp (dance between bamboo poles) will be organised, Mai said, adding that an art programme will be arranged with stellar performances put on by Vietnamese artists, as well as representatives from the Vietnamese community there.

The event was first held in Japan in 2020, not only attracting the attention of the Vietnamese community, but also from Japanese people.

During the 2024 festival held in Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture on January 20-21, 1,500 people in Ao Dai (traditional long dress) formed an S-shaped map of Vietnam.