(VOVworld) - The First Cherry Blossom Festival in Ho Chi Minh City opened at the September 23rd Park on Friday. 130 cherry blossom trees and 10,000 branches have been transported from Japan's Hokkaido.  

(Photo: VNA)

Nguyen Thi Thu, Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said the festival is a practical activity to strengthen bilateral diplomatic relation between the two nations and between Ho Chi Minh City and Japanese cities.

Iijima Isao, special advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister, said through this event, municipal residents and visitors will learn more about the Japanese national flower.

A variety of cultural and arts exchanges were held during the festival including a travel expo presenting destinations, tourism products and services, a food fair, a seminar promoting cooperation and tourism development investment, and art performances.