Vietnam boasts a wide range of famous dishes such as pho (soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat – usually beef or chicken), banh mi (baguette filled with cold meats, pâté, and vegetables), and che (sweet dessert), with pho the top favorite of foodies, said Aoyagi Yoichiro, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives.

Falling in love with pho ‘at first sight’ two decades ago, the Japanese congressman since then has seen the bond between him and Vietnam grow through cultural exchanges.

“Through these events, we hope that Vietnam and Japan will learn more about each other’s culture and tighten their bilateral ties,” Aoyagi told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper at the Japan Trend Festival held in Ho Chi Minh City last weekend that he served as head of the organizing board.

Aoyagi first came to Vietnam in 2003 to attend the annual IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians.

His first impression of this Southeast Asian country was that it looked dynamic and had much potential for growth, the Japanese politician recalled.

In the following years, the two countries exchanged more ideas to set up economic-political cooperation as well as initiated cultural exchange events, with the very first ones being the Japan Festival in Vietnam and then the Vietnam Festival in the East Asian nation, which later became annual events.

Many other events to strengthen the Vietnam-Japan ties have been launched in recent years after the number of Vietnamese working and learning in Japan kept rising.

“It’s helpful to build up the connection between the two countries in a systematic and regular manner, including the launch of many annual cultural and sporting events, in which people of the two nations take part in and learn about each other’s culture,” the congressman said.

He attached importance to the role of food in tourism events, saying that Japan has served a growing number of international visitors in recent years.

The East Asian nation welcomes an average of 20 million international tourists each year, with the majority of them seeking to explore Japanese cuisine as part of their must-do activities in the country.

Therefore, the Japanese government and relevant agencies set the gastronomy tourism sector as one of Japan’s economic development strategies.

Also, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry is planning to export Japanese food to destinations around the world, so that tourists can enjoy the Japanese food and culinary culture anywhere.

The Vietnamese culinary culture also boasts some similarities to the Japanese one, Aoyagi said, suggesting Vietnam should consider bringing Vietnamese dishes to every corner around the globe, as food is key to achieving economic growth.

The Japanese politician revealed that he is a fan of Vietnamese food, adding that the upcoming ‘Vietnam Pho Festival 2023’ in Japan is one of the country’s most notable culinary events overseas.

Amid the host of activities held throughout this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam – Japan bilateral diplomatic ties, the pho festival is anticipated to be an exciting occasion, he elaborated.

According to him, a lot of Vietnamese firms set up their businesses in Japan, with the launch of Vietnamese restaurants in Japan remaining a popular business practice, and pho is likely to be the most widely-known Vietnamese dish there.

He shared that the Vietnamese pho is tasty and he liked the variety of the dish.

Aoyagi first tried pho during a hotel breakfast, he recalled.

“Its broth was delicious and the dish was easy to eat,” he recounted his impression when first sampling pho.

“Pho served at hotels definitely doesn’t taste as good as that offered at local eateries, but I think the Vietnamese pho is easy to eat,” he added.

“I believe that not only me but also many other Japanese agree that the Vietnamese pho is very tasty.”

Aoyagi served as co-chair of the executive committee of the Vietnam Festival held in Japan in June this year.

He has made significant contributions to the Vietnam – Japan friendship over the years, including opening up opportunities for Vietnamese footballers to play in Japan.

He also joined 15 out of the 16 editions of the Vietnam Festival in Japan as part of the organizing board.

The ‘Vietnam Pho Festival 2023’ is scheduled to take place at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, Japan on October 7 and 8 this year, with the aim of enhancing the global recognition of Vietnamese culinary culture, particularly pho.

The festival also serves as a tangible commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

The event is co-organized by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and Saigontourist Group, in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, and Japanese partners.

The program also enjoys sponsorship from national carrier Vietnam Airlines, Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company, the Ngoc Linh Kontum K5 Ginseng Pho brand, and several other domestic and international companies.

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The National Archive Center 4, a division of the State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam, situated at 2 Yet Kieu Street in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, has recently opened a digital exhibition center for woodblocks from the Nguyen Dynasty, recognized as World Documentary Heritage.

On September 22, the digital exhibition center, displaying digitized documents and records related to the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks, was inaugurated at the National Archive Center 4, thanks to funding provided by the Vingroup Innovation Foundation.

Following the opening ceremony, visitors to the National Archive Center had the unique opportunity to experience hologram technology which allowed them to delve into the stories surrounding the woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945). 

The hologram technology provides a three-dimensional projection that can be viewed without the need for any special equipment, such as cameras or glasses.

Moreover, attendees can gain further insights into the process of compiling and engraving the woodblocks during the feudal period through the use of 3D mapping technology and sand art.

Inside the new digital showcase room, visitors can engage with virtual reality technology, VR 360, to access information about the woodblocks and learn about the creation of this invaluable collection of records.

According to Deputy Minister of Interior Nguyen Duy Thang, the launch of the digital exhibition center at National Archive Center 4 represents a pivotal step in promoting, safeguarding, and disseminating the significance of the woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty to a broader audience.

This process will be expedited through a combination of traditional and modern methods.

“These activities will transform National Archive Center 4 into a more appealing tourist destination, not only for tourists but also for domestic and international experts, particularly young people visiting Da Lat City,” Thang commented.

He believed that the new digital exhibition center in Da Lat can also pave the way for digital transformation in preserving and unlocking the value of records and archives in other cities and provinces throughout Vietnam.

“With the assistance of this virtual exhibition space, we aim to provide those interested in Vietnamese history with easier access to the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks, recognized as World Documentary Heritage,” said Nguyen Xuan Hung, director of the National Archive Center 4. 

“Consequently, we can connect researchers, educators, artists, and others who share a common interest in our nation’s history, in the hope of promoting the values of Vietnamese history across various sectors.”

Woodblocks of Nguyen Dynasty — World Documentary Heritage

The Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks consist of an extraordinarily unique collection of 34,555 wooden plates engraved with Chinese characters.

These blocks cover a wide range of subjects, offering insights into various aspects of Vietnamese society during the feudal period.

Originally, the content on these woodblocks was used for printing books in Vietnam during the 19th-early 20th centuries.

However, as printing techniques advanced globally in the early 20th century, the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks ceased to be used for book printing.

Instead, they became valuable original documents preserved for reference and comparison with other historical records as needed.

On July 30, 2009, the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks received recognition as World Documentary Heritage at the meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) of UNESCO in Bridgetown, Barbados. 

This achievement marked Vietnam’s first entry into UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme.

The Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks are exceptionally rare documents, not only in Vietnam but also on the global scale.

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A new movie adapted from a famous Vietnamese novel has drawn public attention to its storyline and, particularly, cinematography that showcases the beauty of the Mekong Delta.

‘Dat Rung Phuong Nam,’ or ‘Song of the South’ in English, is based on the 1957 namesake book by Vietnamese author Doan Gioi which centers on the adventures of a 12-year-old boy named An during the French colonial period post-1945 in the south.

In the story, An’s mother dies during an attack, forcing the young boy to wander the Mekong Delta and depend on the kindness of locals as he searches for his estranged father.  

The 2023 film adaptation by director Nguyen Quang Dung comes 26 years after the premier of Dat Phuong Nam, a hit television adaptation of the novel. 

Nguyen Vinh Son, director of the 1997 TV series, was invited as the new movie advisor.

At an event for local media on Wednesday last week, the film crew shared their hopes that the movie’s engaging storyline and stunning depiction of the Mekong Delta landscape, people, and culture would enamor audiences.

According to Dung, who said his movie was “inspired by the novel,” the film adaptation takes some creative liberties; however, the main characters and plot mimic the original novel.

“This movie is extremely appropriate for families because it contains both funny and emotional scenes,” said Tran Thanh, an actor and co-producer, adding that “after watching it, you will love Vietnam and its people even more.”

According to Thanh, Dat Rung Phuong Nam would also fit in well with Vietnam’s tourism promotion campaigns thanks to its depiction of the country’s beautiful scenery. 

Filming for Dat Rung Phuong Nam began in December 2022 and took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, An Giang, Dong Thap, Soc Trang, and Tra Vinh Provinces.

The most challenging takes were a floating market scene shot at Tra Su Cajuput Forest in An Giang which took about 60 days to prepare and features over 400 extras.

In a promo video for the film, producer Nguyen Tri Vien said that “settings were the biggest challenge for making the movie and the hardest among them was the floating market scene.”

“Now Mekong Delta people mainly use composite boats, so we had to build 50 wooden boats in Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province and transported them to the Tra Su forest using an even bigger vessel,” Vien said.

According to Tran Minh Tri, former general director of An Giang Tourism JSC, the entity charged with managing Tra Su cajuput forest eco-tourism resort, the venue will try to retain valuable filming settings in order to help promote the movie as well as Tra Su tourism to international tourists.

Dat Rung Phuong Nam has captured attention from the public, with many excited to see one of their favorite childhood stories on the big screen. 

Some, however, worry that the new movie will be overshadowed by the previous successful TV series.

Dat Rung Phuong Nam is expected to hit local cinemas with English subtitles on October 20.

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