Japanese cherry blossom festival kicks off in Hanoi

The gift of 200 cherry trees from Japan adds to the numerous flowers on display at the cherry blossom festival, running on Saturday and Sunday at the Ly Thai To monument near Sword Lake in the heart of Hanoi. During the festival, the cherry trees and flowers will be cared for by Japanese experts to make sure they are in the healthiest condition.

The plants are sourced from the Japanese island of Okinawa, which has similar atmosphere and earth conditions to Hanoi. The festival is part of a series of activities to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Japan-Vietnam relations.