The two-day event, sponsored by the Vietnam-Japan Exchange Culture Association, is being held at the Vietnam Exhibition Centre, No148 Giang Vo Street.

Despite light drizzle, visitors to the festival are enthusiastically participating in various activities, including Yosakoi dance, Japanese cuisine, Cosplay performance, Kendo and Aikido traditional martial arts.

Many Japanese folk games such as Kazaguruma (pinwheel paper craft), Take-tonbo (bamboo fly), and Origami (paper folding art) are attracting a great deal of attention as well.

Festival goers have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of beautiful cherry tree arrangements made of silk with unique designs featuring Japan’s beautiful scenery and culture.

Hoang Anh, a student from the Hanoi-based national university, was impressed by traditional Japanese dance, Yosakoi, and cozy atmosphere of the festival.

“This is a good chance for Vietnamese students to get better understanding of cultural identity and natural landscape of Japan,” she said.

Some photos on the cherry blossom festival in Hanoi: