Hue - Okinawa youth bond through cultural exchange

HNN.VN - On July 31st, a delegation from Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, including 16 high school students along with representatives from Okinawa Prefectural Government and Japan Overseas Cooperative Association (JOCA) Okinawa Office, arrived in Hue City to participate in a cultural exchange and homestay program as part of the “OIC Youth’s 2025” program. This event is one of the key activities under the Japan-Hue 2025 Homestay and Cultural Exchange Program.

Youth participants engaging in Origami, a unique cultural art form of Japan

Speaking at the exchange event, Chairwoman of the Vietnam–Japan Friendship Association of Hue City, Mrs. Do Thi My Chau, emphasized that this event comes at a meaningful time as Hue is actively celebrating National Tourism Year- Hue 2025, and its milestone status as one of six centrally governed cities in Vietnam. These factors highlight the significance of the event, not only in terms of culture but also in fostering international cooperation and connection between Hue and various regions of Japan, particularly Okinawa.

This is also the first time the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Hue City has collaborated with JOCA to organize a homestay program for high school students from Okinawa, aiming to provide students with a deeper understanding of local Vietnamese culture and daily life through firsthand experience.

The cultural exchange activities included musical performances, music appreciation sessions, and traditional experiences such as wearing the Yukata, enjoying Japanese tea ceremony, practicing calligraphy, folding Origami, and participating in traditional Japanese games. These activities created unforgettable memories and sincere friendships among the participants.

More than just a meeting and connecting between young people from two countries, the program serves as a seed of friendship, nurtured through each smile and shared story. It lays a strong foundation for long-lasting and deeper cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. Through this exchange, every teacher and student involved becomes an ambassador of Vietnam-Japan friendship in the new era.

By BACH CHAU