What I Saw at the Vietnam Festival
The “Vietnam Festa in Kanagawa 2025” was held in Yokohama.
The venue was full of energy, with long lines at the food stalls where everyone enjoyed bánh mì and phở.
On stage, traditional dances and songs were performed, filling the whole area with brightness and excitement.
What moved me most of all, however, was Mrs. Trang’s speech.
Thirty years ago, she came to Japan as a refugee, one of the “boat people.”
At the time, she couldn’t speak the language, and even going to the hospital was frightening.
Just being seen as a foreigner made her feel like she was different, apart from everyone else.
She carried a deep sense of loneliness.
And yet, her father’s words became her anchor:
“You are a flower, uniquely yourself.”
With those words, she found courage and overcame hardships.
Today, Mrs. Trang calls Japan her second home, and she continues to support both foreigners living in Japan and those newly arriving, offering guidance and encouragement.
She also embodies the reality that for second- and third-generation refugees born and raised here, Japan can truly become their second home.
Nowadays, many people come to Japan not simply “to survive,” but “to pursue what they want to do.”
And Japanese society, too, is shifting—seeing newcomers not as “different people,” but as companions in life.
Of course, there will still be moments of loneliness caused by language or cultural differences.
But today, there are people like Mrs. Trang who reach out to help.
And more Japanese people are choosing to walk together.
Later, Mrs. Trang shared this message:
“Through this article, I want to tell the younger generations of foreigners around the world about the importance of peace. I hope they will have confidence in themselves, show kindness to others, receive kindness in return, and keep moving forward.”
If you come to Japan to work and live, one day you, too, will be able to pass the baton to the next generation.
Your story will surely become a part of shaping the future of the world.
Festivals are not just about food and cultural exchange.
They are also places where you can encounter hope and courage.
Perhaps a meeting here will spark someone’s “new first step.”
Because Japan is peaceful, you can take on challenges.
Here, anyone can draw their own story.
Find your story.
