I thoroughly enjoyed the 2-day “Vietnam Festa IN Kanagawa 2016” that made me fall in love with Vietnam!
Check the event timetable!
The event will be held on October 29th (Sat) and 30th (Sun). First, check the "Vietnam Festa in Kanagawa 2016" homepage and check the timetable and details of the events that will be held around the venue.
After getting off at Kannai Station, we crossed Yokohama Stadium, which was a big hit this year due to the success of the BayStars, and headed to the main area, Nihon Odori Street.
During the exhibition period, it became a pedestrian paradise and many stalls were already lined up. There is a special stage in the middle of the street where various music and performances are held.
There are piano recitals and speech contests for international students at the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Conference Hall, and a stage performance of Vietnam's folk art, ``water puppetry,'' at Zou-no-Hana Park.After sunset, people light up and carry around colorful Vietnamese lanterns. When "Moving Lantern Night" is held...!
There's so much to see and do that I'm having trouble deciding where to focus on what to see, but I was so fascinated by this ``Lantern Night'' that I decided to visit the venue in the evening on Saturday.
There were many people walking with their dogs.The rows of ginkgo trees along Nihon Odori, with their faint scent of ginkgo, are starting to turn a little yellowish. That's what it feels like. The best time to see them is from late November to early December.
Walk leisurely down Nihon Odori Street in late autumn while looking at the products at the food stalls. But just as the sun went down, it suddenly started raining heavily! !
Unfortunately, "Moving Lantern Night" has been canceled...
I wanted to see the scenery with so many fantastic lanterns lit up, but I guess I'll save that for next year. There was a display of lighted lanterns in front of the prefectural office, so this time we would like to introduce you to it.
Vietnamese lanterns are bright and beautiful!
The rain was really disappointing, but I was able to see Asuka II just as it was leaving Osanbashi. As night falls, the sound of a train whistle echoes across the harbor, giving you a truly Yokohama-like scenery.
The scenery of the ship setting sail is romantic.
The second day started with a Vietnamese lunch.
Well, the second day was cloudy again, but it didn't seem like it was going to rain. However, it was a very cold day.
Vietnam has the image of being a tropical country, but the general store had warm goods for the season, so I immediately bought some gloves. There are a lot of felt goods pouches, and each one is so cute!
Now, there are so many delicious-looking foods lined up everywhere that it's hard to decide where to eat lunch.
Speaking of Vietnam, is it pho? Can't we leave out the spring rolls too? I also want to drink Vietnamese coffee, which is sweet and delicious with condensed milk.
Vietnamese food is very popular and has long lines everywhere, whether it's at a food stall or a dry goods store!
The smell of fried chicken!
Very popular Vietnamese sandwich
The upper right corner is Acecock's character Kobuta (Copyright © 2016 Acecock Co.,Ltd.)I went back and forth on Nihon Odori Street several times, looking at miscellaneous goods and encountering mascot characters, shopping and eating, and then headed to Zou-no-hana Park.
First, we will go to see a water puppet show, which is Vietnam's folk art. This is a pastime used by people in rural Vietnam to pray for a good harvest, and has a history of 1,000 years.
A special stage has been set up at Zou-no-hana Park.Many people already!
It's hard to see in front of you, so go up onto the train path and admire it from above. Various puppets and dragons appear and move on the water to the music of traditional Vietnamese instruments.
Although it was from a distance, the expressions on the dolls were so humorous and cute.
Finally, enjoy the live performance!
After this, we will return to Nihon Odori Street and watch the live performance on the main stage.
MTV band , a popular Vietnamese male group, will perform on the final stage of this event.
Furthermore, students from Magcal Performing Arts Academy , who are aspiring musical stars of the future, will be collaborating on their stage and dancing together to liven things up, so I'm looking forward to that as well!
At the Nihon Odori Stage, a Vietnamese contemporary theater performance was just beginning. First, there was a dance by women wearing colorful costumes.
Her slow, graceful, and soft demeanor makes her dance truly feel like a "dance." It was elegant and beautiful!
Next, two men with big pots come out. It looks quite heavy, but it was amazing to balance it on your head, pass each other, and catch it on your back while listening to Chinese-style music!
Next, a female singer appeared. She sang Mayumi Otowa's hit song ``Koibito yo'' in Japanese with lots of emotion.
The Ao Dai, the traditional costume of the dancers, is very beautiful. I feel that many Vietnamese women have good style. Is it because you can't wear Ao Dai without a good style? ?
Before we knew it, it started to get dark, and the stage for the MTV band special concert with Magcal Performing Arts Academy, which marked the end of this event, began!
A lively stage performance with three vocalists, harmonious and rapping. There were many fans in the audience! Everyone is dancing in high spirits.
In the middle of the event, which was filled with excitement, Governor Kuroiwa, who was in the guest seats, was pulled onto the stage!
Then, everyone enthusiastically sang ``Ue o Muite Arukou.'' Governor Kuroiwa is actually good at singing.
Furthermore, the students from Magcal Performing Arts Academy, who were already getting into the rhythm and excited from the time they were on stage, joined in! Let's liven up the stage with dance! !
Liven up the venue with your passionate dance!
On stage with MTVband! Anyway, I'm full of energy!
Before I knew it, there were a lot of people around the stage. This year's Vietnam Festa ended with great excitement. It was a very fun and wonderful stage! !
In his closing remarks, Governor Kuroiwa declared to Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Ambassador of Vietnam to Japan, ``We will make this Vietnam Festa an annual autumn event!'' ( See Governor Kuroiwa's blog )
Expectations are high for next year's event! I'm looking forward to it.
It was a two-day report where I was able to feel Vietnam as a very familiar and friendly country, touching on the "current" of Vietnam's food, culture, traditional art and music, and live performances of popular bands.
