Japan’s Mainichi newspaper is gradually restarting all of its programs to promote cooperation in education, tourism, trade and culture between Vietnam and Japan, expecting to deepen partnership with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper during this journey, Yoshiro Tanaka, deputy editor-in-chief of Mainichi, told Tuoi Tre's Editor-in-Chief Le The Chu during a reception for the latter on Friday. 

The organizing board of the Vietnam Phở Festival 2023, including the representative from Tuoi Tre and Pham Huy Binh, chairman of Saigontourist Group, visited the headquarters of Mainichi, Tuoi Tre’s strategic partner, on the same day.

The festival, scheduled to take place at Yoyogi Park - Keyaki Namiki, Tokyo on Saturday and Sunday, is meant to introduce Vietnamese cuisine, especially pho, to the world and recreate the taste of homeland pho for overseas Vietnamese.

“That Tuoi Tre and domestic firms can hold an overseas event after the COVID-19 pandemic is worthy of admiration,” said Tanaka.  

“Mainichi hopes that Tuoi Tre will support the former to resume its promotion activities to contribute to fostering bilateral ties,” he added.

Pham Huy Binh (R), chairman of Saigontourist Group, hands a picture of lotus to Yoshiro Tanaka, deputy editor-in-chief of Mainichi. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Over the past few years, Tuoi Tre has offered Mainichi media support for various events organized in Vietnam. Among them are the Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden relay marathon, and the World Police Band Concert.

Chu said that since March 2011, the cooperation between the two newspapers has made great contributions to the connection between the peoples of the two nations.

Representatives of the organizing board of the Vietnam Phở Festival 2023 are pictured standing in front of the headquarters of Mainichi. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Seven years from its debut, the Vietnam Phở Festival 2023 started going international and made Japan its first overseas destination to spread the taste of Vietnam’s traditional dish to Japanese.

The festival becomes so meaningful when it serves as a tangible commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

The fest not only introduces pho, the signature dish of Vietnam, to Japanese friends, but also acts as a platform to further connect the two countries via culinary culture, Chu underlined.

Mainichi will play a role in spreading information about the event to Japanese readers, and firms.

Tanaka said that the latest issue published by Mainichi covers a report on the feelings shared by some Japanese politicians and celebrities about the Vietnam Phở Festival 2023 and the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - Japan diplomatic relations.

Tuoi Tre's Editor-in-Chief Le The Chu (L) gives a gift to Nguyen Duc Minh, Deputy Chief of Mission-Minister at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Over the past many years, the two newspapers have joined hands to hold various economic, educational and cultural events, including the ‘Vietnamese market from the perspective of Japanese enterprises’ seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, the ‘M&A in Vietnam – Investment Attraction’ conference in Tokyo, the ‘Japanese technology-based Vietnamese farm produce’ conference, and the ‘Vietnamese and Japanese education’ seminar.

The two representatives of the newspapers said that more cultural exchange programs will be launched in the future. 

At the reception, Binh from Saigontourist Group introduced the firm’s ecosystem of 50 hotels, travel companies, golf courses, and tourism-training facilities, underscoring that the group is seeking cooperation opportunities in Japan.

Saigontourist Group has many years of experience in organizing large-scale cultural and cuisine events, he said.

Speaking at a meeting with the organizing board of the fest on the same day, Nguyen Duc Minh, Deputy Chief of Mission-Minister at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, said that some 15 Vietnamese cultural festivals will kick off in Japan this year.

The Vietnam Phở Festival 2023 is the first fest about pho to be rolled out by a newspaper in collaboration with firms.

“Pho has become popular in Japan, so the festival is expected to attract crowds of Japanese,” Minh said.

The organizing board of the Vietnam Phở Festival 2023 poses for a photo in front of the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Scheduled to attend the Vietnam Phở Festival 2023, co-hosted by Tuoi Tre and Saigontourist Group, are many chefs and winners of the ‘Hoa Hoi Vang’ (Golden Star Anise) award Nguyen Tien Hai, Nguyen Tu Tin, and Pham Quang Duy.

The 'Hoa Hoi Vang' award is granted each year during the 'Day of Pho' event to honor pho chefs from across Vietnam.

Participating restaurants include Pho Dau, Pho Hai Thien, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Pho Phu Gia, Pho’S, Sen SASCO, Pho Ta, Binh Tay Food, Pho VGCC, and Pho Thin Bo Ho, among others.

The event receives backing from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, and Japanese partners.

The festival will be organized in association with national carrier Vietnam Airlines, Suntory Beverage & Food, Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO), Dai-ichi Life, and ALSOK.

Miss Intercontinental 2022 Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc is this year’s ambassador for the festival.

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