The 2015 Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival is set to take place atHanoi’s Thang Long royal citadel on April 11-12, bringing fluffy pinkscenery to the capital city dwellers.

The eventwill be organised by the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundationas part of activities to celebrate 42 years of the two countries’diplomatic ties.

Visitors will be treated to Yosakoitraditional dance, cosplay and martial arts performances, and anintroduction to special Japanese dishes.

Apart from the usual“Sakura” decoration, there will be interesting activities such as Sakuraplanting, exhibition, and an area introducing Sakura and photography.

The Cherry Blossom Festival was opened in Ha Long city ofnorthern Quang Ninh province on April 2, themed“Peace-Prosperity-Cooperation and Development”.

The four-dayfestival was held by the municipal People’s Committee and the JapanWanokai International Culture Association to strengthen the friendshipand cooperation between the people of the two countries.

On theoccasion, children in the northeast part of Japan – which bore thebrunt of the tsunami and earthquake four years ago – presented cherrytrees to children in Quang Ninh.

On the sidelines of the eventwere art and cultural exchanges; a trade fair showcasing tourismproducts, food and household utensils at 100 pavilions of the twocountries; screening of Japanese cartoons; and business workshops onhealth, education, the environment and agriculture.

TheJapanese Cherry Blossom Festival was first held in Hanoi in 2007,providing an outstanding cultural activity in Vietnam to introduceJapan’s cultural beauty to visitors.

The earliest cherryblossoms come into bloom in late January in southern Okinawa prefectureand reach northern Hokkaido prefecture in early May. The flowersdrop off about a week after they appear.-VNA