VietNamNet Bridge - The Cherry-blossom or Genki Festival 2011 will take place in Hanoi on April 16-17, aiming at bringing Japanese culture closer to Vietnamese and enhancing the 40-year relations (1973-2013) between the two countries.

The two-day festival will have various activities, including displays of silk cherry flowers and Japanese lanterns, cooking introduction, exhibition of large-famed paintings on four seasons in Japan, cosplay performance, and Yosakoi dance.

During the festival, the organizing board will sell souvenirs to raise fund for children who suffer from Agent Orange at the Hoa Binh village in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi along with launching a campaign to help Japanese victims of recent earthquake and tsunami.

The festival, which will take place at the Giang Vo Exhibition Center, is organized by the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.

Starting in 2007, the annual cherry-blossom festival attracts many young people who love cherry flowers and Japanese culture.

PV