Published:  00:00 Friday - April 10, 2009

As many as 400 branches of Japanese cherry trees and 400 carp streamers have been transported by air to Hanoi in preparation for the city’s Japanese cherry festival, according to Satoshi Fujisawa, secretary of the Japan-Vietnam cultural exchange society.

The cherry trees are being kept in cold storage at the Quan Ngua Sports Palace in Hanoi where the festival will take place from April 10-12, says the Japanese official.

He says that Japanese artisans will arrange the 400 branches into three big and three small cherry trees on April 11 to be ready for display the next morning. Meanwhile, 400 carp streamers – the symbol of Japan’s spring – will be hoisted during the three-day festival.

Exhibitions, seminars and series of diverse cultural activities will be held at the annual event which is expected to attract 200,000 visitors, including 250 Japanese.