Tokyo, Jan. 26 -- The Vietnamese communities in Japan's Saitama prefecture and the UK's London marked the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday with celebrations that bridge cultural distances and preserve traditional heritage.

The first-ever Vietnamese Tet festival in Omiya city, Saitama, unfolded on January 25-26, providing an opportunity for Japanese friends to enjoy Vietnam's traditional culture and cuisine.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu underscored the significance of the event, which helped the overseas Vietnamese (OVs) to reconnect with their roots and honour the nation's cultural values.

He laid stress on the flourishing Vietnam - Japan relations over the recent past, with exchanges and cooperation between their localit...