In the chilly early days of December, Sakura City in Tochigi Prefecture was lit up by the vibrant colors of Vietnam Festival Tochigi 2025. This was the second time a Vietnam festival had been held in Tochigi, and the first time it took place right by Ujiie Station, creating a chance for the local Vietnamese community to feel closer to home while still in Japan.
Vietnam Festival Tochigi 2025 ran on December 6 and 7, from 11:00 to 18:00 at Sakura Square (さくらスクエア・氏家東広場). With free admission, the festival brought together Vietnamese food, music, folk games and lively cultural experiences that attracted both Vietnamese residents and Japanese visitors.
Banh Mi Xin Chao, the highlight of the festival
Banh Mi Xin Chao’s booth once again became one of the standout crowd‑pullers of the event. From morning until late afternoon, hundreds of customers lined up for authentic Vietnamese banh mi, with nearly 2,000 sandwiches sold over the two days. These numbers reflect not only the steady appeal of the brand, but also the affection people have for Vietnamese flavors in the middle of a Japanese winter.
CEO/Co‑founder Bui Thanh Tam and the Banh Mi Xin Chao team were on the front line at the booth, caring for every sandwich, every greeting and every smile. The image of their black and yellow uniforms constantly moving between the grill, the counter and the queue has become familiar, showing a spirit that is both professional and warmly approachable.
Banh Mi Xin Chao also contributed financially to the festival’s organization and was honored to receive a token of appreciation from the program. For the team, this is less about sponsorship and more about standing together with the community to build a welcoming space where Vietnamese culture and food can be shared with Japanese friends.
A vibrant and inspiring festival
Beyond the food, Vietnam Festival Tochigi 2025 stood out with colorful performances from Vietnamese and Japanese artists: graceful folk dances, traditional instruments and modern stages that carried the energy of a new generation. Under a bright red backdrop with both Vietnamese and Japanese flags, every song and every dance step helped bring the two cultures even closer.
This year’s festival became even more special thanks to the lantern area, open until 22:00. More than a hundred lanterns inspired by Hoi An lit up the square, turning it into a little corner of Vietnam in Tochigi. Nearby, visitors could color conical hats, take photos at Vietnamese‑style decor spots and join simple traditional games that still carried deep cultural meaning.
The journey of sharing Vietnamese colors continues
As Vietnam Festival Tochigi 2025 came to an end, many people kept the same afterglow in their hearts: the smell of freshly baked bread mixed with coffee, the sound of music from the stage and Vietnamese and Japanese voices echoing across the square. Even when living thousands of kilometers away, the Vietnamese community in Tochigi can still gather, eat together, laugh together and share a quiet pride in where they come from.
For Banh Mi Xin Chao, being part of the festival is not just a chance to introduce products, but also a chance to listen and connect. Every sandwich served is a greeting and a little warmth sent to overseas Vietnamese and to Japanese friends who love Vietnam. Banh Mi Xin Chao will keep working hard to be worthy of that trust and looks forward to seeing everyone again at Vietnam Festival Tochigi 2026, when another Japanese winter will be lit up by Vietnamese colors.
