The Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Association of Kawasaki has donated around 200 bicycles to underprivileged children in the districts of Hoa Vang, Cam Le and Ngu Hanh Son in Da Nang every year since 2003.

The Association's representatives deliver bikes to poor children in Da Nang

The bike donation project, which was organised by the Association's Director Haruo Miyahara in 2003, has delivered over 12,000 second-hand bikes to poor school pupils in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province.

Volunteers helped collect and package the bikes in containers for shipping from Kawasaki Port to Da Nang and delivering them to kids living in the localities.

Mr Miyahara confirmed that this project will continue and develop to boost friendship and cooperation in the future.

The Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Association was established by the Japanese veterans who remained in Viet Nam after the second world war to fight for Vietnamese independence. It was established on 19 March 1955 when they returned to Japan.

Da Nang and Quang Nam Province's Hoi An City boost cultural exchange with Japan by hosting the annual Viet Nam-Japan Culture Exchange Festival in August.

Japan plans to open a Consulate General in Da Nang as a way of boosting tourism and exchange between Japan and the central city.

Japanese language teaching has been offered at some junior secondary schools as part of the city’s foreign language teaching programme over the 2012-2020 period.

Da Nang also reserved a 1.2ha area for developing the Japan-Viet Nam Culture Centre in Ngu Hanh Son District. It has also launched direct flights from Da Nang to Osaka and Narita.

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)