Japanese cherry blossoms to cast pink glow on Hanoi

Some 20,000 cherry blossoms and 100 trees imported from Japan will be on display at Ly Thai To Park near the Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake in downtown Hanoi.

The exhibition is part of a cultural exchange between Vietnam and Japan to be held from March 29 to 31.

The trees will be brought to Hanoi by flight, according to the organizers.

Besides, there will be a Yosakoi dance performance, traditional art shows and folk games to give visitors a chance to experience Japanese culture.

There will also be Vietnamese arts performances at the festival including ca tru and hat xam. Ca tru is an ancient genre of chamber music featuring female vocalists, with origins in northern Vietnam. Hat xam is busking music often performed by blind artists.

To Van Dong, director of the city Department of Tourism, said the event also hopes to boost tourism growth.

Japan is among the 10 biggest markets fueling Vietnam’s tourism boom in recent years. Last year 826,674 Japanese visitors came to the country, a 3.6 percent increase from 2017.