If you're in Hanoi with young children this month, there's a small, free cultural event worth working into your plans. Ehon Week, an annual celebration of Japanese picture books, has returned to the Japan Cultural Information Building at the Japanese Embassy, running until October 30. The venue is Gate C, opposite 100 Van Phuc Street — easy to find, and the whole thing is a gentle, low-key way to spend a morning or afternoon with kids.
The centrepiece is an exhibition of 100 original Japanese editions alongside their Vietnamese translations, so non-Japanese-speaking families can follow along. This year's theme is recycling and environmental protection, woven into the books and activities on offer. The word ehon historically referred to illustrated volumes, including the woodblock-printed books of Japan's Edo and Meiji periods; today it simply means picture books — but ones with a long pedigree in Japanese childhood.
Organised by the North Bridge Foundation, now in its third edition since launching in 2023, the week goes beyond static displays. There are interactive reading sessions, plus hands-on workshops in colouring, collage and crafts inspired by the books. For travelling parents, it doubles as a rainy-day activity and a genuine cultural exchange: storytelling and art give Vietnamese and Japanese traditions a shared stage.
The foundation's roots go back further than the festival itself. Founder Le Thi Thu Hien started with weekend reading sessions at the Japan Foundation back in 2014, and the organisation has since made ehon familiar to a growing number of Vietnamese children. The stated ambition is to keep expanding — more books reaching more children, and eventually original Vietnamese-made ehon of their own.
For visitors, the appeal is practical as much as cultural. Family-friendly activities in Hanoi tend toward parks, water puppet theatres and museums, and a quiet picture-book exhibition makes a nice contrast to the city's intensity. It costs nothing, it's indoors, and it works even if your child only speaks English — picture books are, after all, mostly pictures.
The embassy district location also puts you near Hanoi's expat-friendly Ba Dinh area, with cafes and the main diplomatic quarter within walking distance. Pair a visit with a stroll and lunch nearby, and you've got a full, easy half-day.
Whether you're a local parent, a long-stay traveller with kids, or simply curious about Japanese illustration traditions, Ehon Week is one of those small events that adds texture to a trip. It runs until October 30 — no booking mentioned, so just turn up.
