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Many Japanese approve of ‘pho’: Japanese congressman
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.
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| Food is key to achieving economic growth, according to Aoyagi Yoichiro, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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.
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| The price list of Pho Thin Lo Duc restaurant in Tokyo, Japan in 2019. Photo: NICK M. |
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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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20230926/many-japanese-approve-of-pho-japanese-congressman/75791.html
Cruise ship Zhao Shang Yi Dun brought 721 Chinese passengers to Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam on Tuesday to visit its world-famous Ha Long Bay and other popular tourist sites.
This was the first group of Chinese cruise passengers to pass through the Ha Long international cruise port this year, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.
As scheduled, these cruise passengers will spend one day exploring Ha Long Bay, and another day touring Ha Long City as well as visiting some tourist destinations in Hanoi.
The cruise ship is set to travel to Da Nang City in central Vietnam and Hong Kong before returning to the port of Shekou in Shenzhen, located in Guangdong Province, mainland China.
The first cruise ship from the port of Shekou entering Ha Long City showed a positive sign of Quang Ninh’s inbound tourism and Chinese travelers’ soaring return after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| The first Chinese cruise passengers are given flowers after they enter Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: T . Duong / Tuoi Tre |
Cruise ship Zhao Shang Yi Dun is expected to make five port calls in the city and take over 4,000 Chinese guests to the bay from now until the end of the year.
By March 2024, the Chinese-flagged ship will have brought more than 12,000 passengers to Quang Ninh Province.
The province will also welcome multiple Chinese ships in 2024.
A representative of the Ha Long international passenger port said that the 2023 cruise season started in October, with many international cruise ships from Europe and America docking in the city.
The province has received 60 registrations from international cruise ships to dock at the Ha Long international passenger port in 2024.
Among them are Mein Schiff, Celebrity Solstice, Noordam, MSC Splendida, and Westerdam.
Accordingly, over 70,000 international cruise passengers will visit the province next year.
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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20231128/vietnams-ha-long-bay-welcomes-first-chinese-cruise-passengers-this-year/76984.html
Dong Ho Lagoon and a charming long coastline hugging Den Mountain, coupled with numerous tasty dishes such as bun ken (noodle soup), grilled chicken, and stretchy rice noodles make Ha Tien City an ideal getaway for domestic and international tourists, mainly travelers from neighboring Cambodia.
Nguyen Thi Mong Quyen, director of the Ha Tien trade and tourism promotion center, said on Sunday that the city, situated in Vietnam’s Kien Giang Province, shares both land and maritime borders with Cambodia, smoothing the path for the neighbor’s visitors to enter the city.
Over the past few months, the number of Cambodian travelers visiting Ha Tien to explore its natural beauty and savor delicacies has been growing.
“Since the start of the year, Ha Tien City has welcomed over three million domestic and international tourists,” Quyen said.
“In particular, throngs of holidaymakers from Cambodia have toured the city.
“Some 1,000-2,000 Cambodian tourists travel to the city each holiday or festival.”
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| A beach in Ha Tien City woos locals and foreigners. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre |
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| ‘Bun ken’ (noodle soup), a must-taste specialty in Ha Tien City Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre |
To get ready to welcome Cambodian travelers on the forthcoming Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays, travel agencies in Ha Tien are working to offer new tourism products and adorn the current tourist attractions such as Dong Ho Lagoon, a seaside path skirting Den Mountain, Thach Dong Cave, and Da Dung Mountain.
Tourists are fond of sea bathing, playing water sports, and savoring seafood as well as the city’s specialties.
Du To Tuan, director of travel firm Vietravel’s branch in Rach Gia City under Kien Giang Province, said that Cambodia is a potential tourism source market.
A huge number of tourists from the country have traveled to the province over the past few months.
They often go sightseeing in Ha Tien first, and then take a speedboat ride to famous Phu Quoc Island, he said.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the crowds of tourists to Ha Tien City during the upcoming 2024 New Year holiday,” Tuan said.
“We will roll out various community-based tourism products to diversify services to delight international visitors.”
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| ‘Bok lo hong,’ a popular dish of the Khmer ethnic group in Ha Tien City, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre |
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| Visitors enjoy an alpine coaster ride to explore a breathtaking mountain in Ha Tien City, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre |
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| Tourists explore the beauty of Thach Dong Cave in Ha Tien City, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre |
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| Travelers on an electric three-wheeled motorcycle take a look around Ha Tien City at night. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre |
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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20231127/stunning-scenery-delicacies-in-vietnams-mekong-delta-draw-cambodian-visitors/76961.html
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