Cultural diplomacy helps boost tourism and investment

Cultural diplomacy is exemplified in cultural exchange activities, and art performances to promote the image of Vietnam to the world and attract foreign investors and tourists.

“We are happy to see each other” was the farewell song performed by Vietnamese artists at the Vietnam Festival in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture last September. During the festival, Vietnamese water puppetry, folk dance, and musical instruments were introduced to a Japanese audience. 

The cultural event brought Vietnamese and Japanese closer together.

“I watched the water puppetry performance in Vietnam once. This time, water puppetry is performed at the Vietnam Festival in Japan. It’s very interesting,” said Asuka, a Japanese audience member.

Kuroiwa Yuji, the governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, said the Vietnam Festival is a much-awaited exchange event in Kanagawa and its neighboring areas. He expressed his hope that the festival will grow in a larger scale.

“It’s so exciting. I hope that such cultural events will serve as a foundation to promote economic cooperation and exchanges between our two countries,” said Kuroiwa.

The Vietnam Festival in Kanagawa Prefecture started in 2015 and has since been an outstanding cultural exchange event between Vietnam and Japan.

Cultural exchanges between Vietnam and other countries have been further promoted, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic came under control.  

The most notable events last year included Vietnam Days in Austria and India to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations with those countries. Vietnam Days in the Republic of Korea with a movie screening and a cuisine festival took place late last year for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In late 2021, Vietnam attended World Expo 2020 in Dubai, which attracted the participation of more than 190 countries and 25 million visitors.

Vietnam’s culture, music and arts as well as natural landscapes were introduced at the event, reflecting Vietnam as a country where traditional and modern values are harmonized.

“This is the platform to show the world what is Vietnam and what is its perspective, what they dream and what quality they have. This is the platform to show that Vietnam has potentials. A small country, it does not matter. They have potentials to prove themselves,” said Khaled Bin Amer, an Indian visitor at the Expo.

Tran Nhat Hoang, Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, “Following the success in the past years, in 2023, we will continue to promote more cultural exchanges with other countries to help boost tourism and investment.”

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