Vietnam, Japan deepen trade ties as culinary exchange takes center stage

On Friday, the Japanese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City partnered with the Tajimi Sake Brewers Association of Gifu Prefecture to organize "Explore Gifu sake 2025."

Ten sake breweries from Gifu Prefecture took part in the event, creating networking opportunities between Vietnamese and Japanese businesses.

Cultural heritage honored by UNESCO

In his opening remarks, Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ono Masuo explained that across Japan, sake is brewed in regions throughout the country, each with its own characteristics, shaped by the climate and natural environment of that locale.

The techniques of sake brewing have been cultivated by Japanese master brewers through many years of experience and passed down over centuries.

“Sake is enjoyed not only as an alcoholic beverage but has long played an essential role in traditional Japanese ceremonies,” Consul General Ono emphasized.

In recognition of this, Traditional Japanese Sake Brewing was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024.

In an interview with Tuoi Tre News, Ono expressed his hope that this event could help promote the essence of traditional Japanese culinary culture, contributing to making sake as popular in Vietnam as sushi.

He noted that Japanese and Vietnamese culinary traditions share several similarities, including a rice-based food culture and balanced meals of meat, fish and vegetables.

Notably, people in both countries share a preference for enjoying sake and tea.

The territories of both countries also stretch from north to south, creating diversity in climate, geography, and regional culture.

“Because of these commonalities, Japanese cuisine has been warmly embraced in Vietnam. I hope cultural exchanges like today’s event will continue to expand in the years ahead,” he stated.

Pho, ao dai beloved in Japan

Nakashima Daizo, representative of the Tajimi Sake Brewers Association, noted that cuisine and traditional attire serve as important cultural bridges in Vietnam-Japan relations.

He observed that cultural exchange flows in both directions.

On one hand, Japanese culture, especially its cuisine, is increasingly embraced and understood by the Vietnamese public. This is reflected in the growing number of Vietnamese people visiting Japan.

Growing public interest, along with Vietnam’s large population and youthful workforce, has made the country an appealing market for Japanese companies.

At the same time, Japanese people also know Vietnam through its cuisine and traditional attire. The sake brewing master affirmed that banh mi, pho, and ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) are Vietnamese cultural features that are very famous in the Land of the Rising Sun.

“If Vietnamese businesses want to invest in Japan in the fields of culinary culture and traditional attire, this is a market full of potential. Vietnamese cuisine and traditional attire are very popular in Japan,” Nakashima said.

With these advantages, he hopes that more Japanese businesses, especially sake breweries, will come and establish representative offices in Vietnam.