Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko wandered along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street in Hoi An Ancient Town on Saturday and greeted residents.
The trip to Quang Nam was part of their official visit to Vietnam on September 20-25.
Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Phan Viet Cuong (R) said when he hosted the Crown Prince and Crown Princess that their visit had an important meaning, as Quang Nam and Vietnam in general are holding activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.
Cuong said Hoi An Ancient Town is the representation of the close relationship between Vietnam and Japan, as the place was where the story between Princess Ngoc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro started over 400 years ago.
Adopted by lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, Princess Ngoc Hoa married Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro in 1619. She contributed a lot in aiding the trade between Japanese businessmen and Vietnam after that.
“Partners from Japan have encouraged, shared, and supported developments in Quang Nam,” Cuong said.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess then visited the Red-Seal Ships model, given to Hoi An by Nagasaki local authorities in 2017 as a commemoration of the trade history between Japanese businessmen and Hoi An during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Red-Seal Ships were Japanese armed merchant sailing ships bound for Southeast Asian ports with red-sealed letters patent issued by the early Tokugawa shogunate in the first half of the 17th century.
The ships helped numerous Japanese businessmen reach Hoi An during the period, establishing the trade between Vietnam and Japan.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess exchanged conversations about Hoi An Ancient Town with the tour guide while walking around.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess, along with the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Phan Viet Cuong, greeted residents and visitors to the town from the second floor of the cultural exhibition house.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess listened to the history of the Temple Bridge before walking along the street named after Princess Ngoc Hoa.
The Crown Prince then gave a speech as he attended the welcoming party held by Quang Nam authorities. He said this was his third visit to Vietnam and his first time visiting Hoi An.
According to the Crown Prince, he learned about the ancient town through anecdotes and the media, and this was the chance for him and the Crown Princess to experience the world’s cultural heritage themselves.
The Crown Prince thanked the warm welcoming from Quang Nam authorities and expressed his pleasure visiting Vietnam in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess visited My Son Sanctuary with the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province Le Tri Thanh on Sunday morning.
The Japanese government sponsored the construction of the My Son Museum at the site, where discovered artifacts are exhibited.
The Crown Prince took photos of the towers at the sanctuary. He said he researched the history of the cultural site and was glad to have the chance to visit the place.
He also asked the tour guide questions about the history and the meaning of symbols found at the site, in order to have a better understanding of the heritage.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess then watched art performances at the site.
The Crown Prince is set to visit medical practitioners at Da Nang Oncology Hospital before concluding his visit to Vietnam.
