(VOVworld) - The 2013 Vietnam-Japan Spring Festival will open next weekend at the Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Centre to mark the 40^th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Press conference about the 2013 Vietnam-Japan Spring Festival in Hanoi (Photo: Vietnamplus.vn)

The festival will offer visitors the opportunity to taste traditional dishes from both Japan and Vietnam and join folk games, martial and origami paper art demonstrations. Director of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyen Van Tinh said: “Vietnam selected 3 out of 39 countries who were celebrating the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties to hold celebration for Friendship Year, namely Italy, Canada and Japan. The spring festival is one of 40 activities being held by the Japanese Embassy this year. Vietnam will hold 3 activities in Japan, including an exhibition of Vietnamese antiques, a performance by the national symphony orchestra and an exchange program starting this September.”