"Vietnam Festa in Kanagawa 2016" will be held from October 28th to 30th, 2016!

Not just food! Vietnam event to promote exchange of people, economy and culture

——I heard that “Vietnam Festa” started last year. Please tell us the background.
 

Yazawa : When you hear Vietnam Festa, do you imagine a food festival with local food stalls? But Kanagawa's "Vietnam Festa" is not just that. Since Governor Kuroiwa took office, Kanagawa Prefecture has been making efforts to promote economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges with Vietnam. For example, we are actively supporting the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises in the prefecture into Vietnam by utilizing a part of the rental factory developed and operated by a private company in the suburbs of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, as the "Kanagawa Industrial Park." Two years ago, when Governor Kuroiwa visited Vietnam and met with the president and prime minister, holding an event became a hot topic, and it was decided to hold a "Vietnam Festa" in Kanagawa Prefecture. Various people, mainly local governments and companies, collaborated and held the first event last year.
 

Nobunari Yazawa

——Economic exchange came first, didn't it?
 

Yazawa : That's right. Last year, many Vietnamese government officials, including the general secretary of the Communist Party, visited Kanagawa Prefecture, and held seminars as part of the "Vietnam Festa in Kanagawa" economic program, as well as matching between international students and companies in the prefecture. And from the next day, we held a festival as a cultural exchange program for the general public to enjoy. It is an event where you can see, eat, and experience.
 

——Last year was a great success.
 

Yazawa : Initially, we set a target of mobilizing 200,000 people, but when we opened the lid, it was about 400,000 people. After last year's success, we decided to hold it again this year. Moreover, this year is also a year to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the prefectural office building. The governor is also working hard, so I want to make it an event that surpasses last year.
 

pattern of last year

——Why was Kanagawa’s “Vietnam Festa” successful?
 

Yazawa : I think it's because you can enjoy not only food but also a wide range of culture such as theater and live performances. Above all, I think it was important to block off public roads and create an extraordinary space. Another reason for its success is that it has been dyed only in Vietnamese colors without giving a sense of multinationality. Last year was Silver Week, so many customers came.
 

——Are most of your customers Japanese?
 

Yazawa : Most of them are Japanese. However, there are currently more than 10,000 Vietnamese living in Kanagawa Prefecture. These people also came. Moreover, the number of visitors to Japan from Vietnam far exceeded the number last year, probably because Vietnamese TV stations visited each station for coverage. I think I was able to contribute to inbound as well.
 

Participatory events such as Instagram campaigns and lantern nights

——“Vietnam Festa” will be held from October 28th to 30th this year. The title, “Fill with Vietnamese colors!” is also impressive.
 

Yazawa : The "Vietnam Festa" starts on the 28th, but actually, the "Vietnam Month" started on October 1st. The idea is to take root and develop Vietnamese culture, rather than just a one-day event. Therefore, we are trying various things, such as holding Vietnamese food fairs at hotels in the Minato Mirai area, and exhibiting photographs of French photographer Lihan Krocbiel, who lives in Hoi An. In other words, "Vietnam Festa" is the finale of Vietnam Month. That's why I gave it these titles.
 

——Please tell us about the highlights.
 

Yazawa : First, the water puppet show. It is a folk performing art with a history of 1000 years, and we invite theatrical members from the local area. An elliptical pool is used as a theater, and the theater troupe manipulates puppets while submerged in the water. Moving around, jumping, blowing fireworks, it's so much fun. If you donate 1,500 yen as an individual sponsor, we will give you a viewing ticket at a convenience store.
 

water puppet show

We will also promote collaboration between Japan and Vietnam. On the 30th, the popular local band MTV band performed with the students of the Magcal Performing Arts Academy, a performing arts human resource development project in Kanagawa Prefecture. Lucky Ikeda's choreography will be performed along with the performance. In addition, we are planning a Vietnamese song by Mari Kumamoto, a pianist who became a Magcal ambassador. Exchange dance performance between Zama General High School and Vietnamese people, BamgBoom playing handmade bamboo instruments! The concert looks interesting too.
 
There will also be a talk show by actress Rina Takeda, who is from Kanagawa Prefecture and is an ambassador for animal welfare in the prefecture. Kanagawa Prefecture's mascot character will also appear at the venue (laughs).
 

——Are there events that are participatory rather than spectative?
 

Yazawa : If you donate 3,000 yen as an individual sponsor, we will give you a lantern. On the 29th, we plan to hold a “moving lantern night” where people will parade down the main street of Japan with these lanterns up. Thousands of lanterns were donated from Quang Nam province in Vietnam, and they are filled with LED lights. It's an experience you can't quite get to walk with everyone while the road is illuminated by lights. You can apply with a Seven Ticket, so please join us. In addition, we will hold a workshop to paint Vietnamese bamboo umbrellas and try on Ao Dai.
 
In addition, we are also doing a large-scale campaign using Instagram this year. If you follow Kanachan TV's official account "kanachantv" and post a photo with the hashtag "#Vietnamese color", you will be entered into a lottery for a suite room accommodation ticket at Hotel New Grand or a round-trip air ticket to Vietnam. You will also win gorgeous prizes.
 

——Although it is not a food festival, it seems that many Vietnamese restaurants will be open. Please tell us about the characteristics of Vietnamese food.
 

Yazawa : Vietnam is a country of rice, just like us. It is similar to Chinese cuisine in that it uses oil, but it also incorporates French culture. The spices are not too strong, so it feels natural and good for the body like Japanese food. Pho noodles made from rice flour, and banh mi, which is sandwiched between beef and vegetables in French bread, are famous. Just like in Japan, Vietnam has slightly different seasonings depending on the region, so it might be interesting to eat and compare. This time it will be held at the end of October, so there are probably many restaurants serving warm pho.
 

——This year, the venue seems to have expanded even further.
 

Yazawa : Last year, we blocked off Nihon Odori and used the entire prefectural office. This year, in addition to Nihon Odori, we are using Zou-no-hana Park and a part of the prefectural office building.
 

A speech contest for international students will also be held at the main conference hall of the prefectural office. Last year, we had international students visit famous places in Kanagawa Prefecture. Their point of view was different from ours, and it was novel and very interesting. This year's theme is "About the charm of Kanagawa Prefecture that I think". Currently, there are about 2,200 Vietnamese international students in Kanagawa Prefecture, and those who apply will participate in the contest. Speaking skills are also competed, so you can expect a high-level contest.
 

As the name of Magcal, an event that attracts many people

——Mr. Yazawa, by running the “Vietnam Festa,” please tell us if there are any new attractions in Vietnam that you have noticed.
 

Yazawa : In the first place, the relationship between Japan and Vietnam is very old. In the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, merchant ships crossed over Hoi An, and Hoi An has a bridge called Nihonbashi and the family crests of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa families. It is said that there used to be a Japanese town. This kind of history is what I learned for the first time when I was involved in the "Vietnam Festa".
 
On the other hand, Vietnam has been through the war, and there are many Vietnamese refugees living in Kanagawa Prefecture. I felt that it was necessary to convey these political backgrounds and their thoughts. Meanwhile, a new culture is about to bloom locally. As a socialist country, there is a tendency to value cooperativeness, but I feel that young people have a strong spirit of taking on challenges, saying, "Let's achieve something together."
 

As a future task, I would like to exchange languages with them. There are not many opportunities to come into contact with Vietnamese. Moreover, because it is a multi-ethnic country, the language is different depending on the region. The country is also vertically long and larger than Japan. At the Vietnam Festa, I would like you to come in contact with people from various regions.
 

INTERVIEWER It would be nice if there was more familiar contact and interaction.
 

Yazawa : The governor is promoting magnet culture, or Magcal for short, that attracts people with the charm of culture and art and creates a lively atmosphere in the region. I hope that this “Vietnam Festa” will also be an event that attracts many people through cultural exchanges between the two countries.
 

——Finally, please give us a message.
 

Yazawa : This year, we are increasing participation through an Instagram campaign, a water puppet show with private sponsorship, and a lantern night. We will continue to send out various information, including the governor, so please take a look at the official website. We also think that we can use the Vietnam Festa as a starting point to create events of a different kind, such as a Vietnamese music festival. I would like to deepen exchanges between people, goods, and cultures in various ways.
 

Let's go to hotels and supermarkets and enjoy Vietnamese food during the period of October!

 
Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel Seafood Bistro Pier21
 

A Vietnamese lunch plate where you can choose the main dish in collaboration with the Vietnam Festa.

Period: Saturday, October 1, 2016 to Monday, October 31, 2016
Business hours: 11:30-(LO 14:30)
http://www.interconti.co.jp/yokohama/restaurant/restaurant/pier21/index.html

 
Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu All Day Dining "Cafe Tosca"
 

Set up a Vietnamese food (pho) corner at the lunch buffet

Period: Saturday, October 1, 2016 to Monday, October 31, 2016
Opening hours: 11:30-15:00 (16:00 on weekends and holidays)
TEL: 045-682-2218
http://ybht.co.jp

 
Yokohama Royal Park Hotel Cafe Flora
 

Offer a special lunch prepared by the chef

Period: October 11 (Tuesday) to October 31 (Monday), 2016
Business hours: 11:00-(LO 14:00)
TEL: 045-221-1155
http://www.yrph.com/restaurants/flora

 
Rose Hotel Yokohama Brasserie Mililla Foret
 

Vietnamese cuisine appeared in the lunch buffet

Period: October 1st to October 31st, 2016
Business hours: 11:30-15:00
TEL: 045-681-2916 (7:00-22:00)
http://www.rosehotelyokohama.com/content/restaurant0398

 
Keikyu Store
 

33 Keikyu Stores and Motomachi Union stores in the prefecture and 3 stores in Tokyo have set up Vietnamese food corners.
Selling while introducing a simple menu that can be enjoyed at home.

Period: October 10th (Mon/holiday) to October 13th (Thursday), 2016, Motomachi and Kamakura stores: 12th (Wednesday) to 16th (Sunday)
http://www.keikyu-store.co.jp/

 
Navios Yokohama Restaurant "Ocean"
 

For lunch with a buffet, "Bain Mi Sandwich" appears as a main dish choice.
In addition to this, salad, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and soft drinks are included in a buffet style set.

Period: Saturday, October 1, 2016 to Monday, October 31, 2016
Business hours: 11:30-15:00 (LO 14:30)
http://www.navios-yokohama.com/category02/

 
Rembrandt Hotel Atsugi
 

To commemorate the first overseas expansion to Nha Trang, Vietnam, a Vietnam fair will be held at restaurants and bars in the hotel.

Period: Saturday, October 1, 2016 to Monday, October 31, 2016
http://rembrandt-hotel.co.jp/atsugi/13882.html

Cafe Dining "Palm Tree"
 

“French Vietnamese Mise” is a French restaurant that incorporates Vietnamese cuisine. The chef's special creative dishes are now available in the lunch buffet.

Business hours: 11:30-14:30 (Special mega-size menu appears at 12:00 and 13:00!)
http://rembrandt-hotel.co.jp/atsugi/5716.html

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Chinese dining "Turpan"
 

A limited-time Vietnam special course is now available. In addition, we offer a Vietnamese lunch course that you can easily enjoy at lunch.

Lunch: 11:30-14:00
Dinner: 17:30-21:00
・Lunch course http://rembrandt-hotel.co.jp/atsugi/13997.html
・Special course http://rembrandt-hotel.co.jp/atsugi/14010.html

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Bar Rembrandt
 

Starting with cocktails inspired by Vietnam, beer and 8 types of Vietnamese small plate dishes are also available.

Business hours: 17:30-24:00
http://rembrandt-hotel.co.jp/atsugi/14027.html

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lobby lounge
 

We offer Vietnamese-style zenzai “Chae” and Vietnamese coffee.

Business hours: 10:00-17:30
http://rembrandt-hotel.co.jp/atsugi/14025.html

 
JICA Yokohama International Center Port View Restaurant "Port Terrace Cafe"
 

We offer dishes recommended by our Vietnamese staff.

Period: Saturday, October 1, 2016 to Monday, October 31, 2016
Business hours: 17:30-21:00 (L/O 20:30)
http://www.jica.go.jp/yokohama/topics/2016/ku57pq00000ftrt9.html

 
Global Citizen Kanagawa Plaza
 

On October 16th (Sun), a joint film between Vietnam and Japan, "Vietnam's wind blows" will be screened! Please enjoy the topical work that was made into a movie starring Keiko Matsuzaka based on a true story.

Date: October 16 (Sun) ①10:00～ ②14:00～ ③16:30～
①② doors open 30 minutes early ③doors open 15 minutes early
※We recommend ③ because it is expected that the first and second times will be crowded.
Venue: Earth Plaza 5F Video Hall
Paid: Adults 400 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 100 yen
No application required/120 first-come, first-served basis on the day of each session
http://www.earthplaza.jp/ai1ec_event/161016vietnam?instance_id=

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Vietnam Festa in Kanagawa 2016
http://www.infiorata88.com/vfes-kanagawa2016/