Japan-Vietnam Traveling Photography Exhibition 'Echoes of Life | Tea from Vietnam: The Baton of Life' to Launch from August 2026

Tinh, a specialty Vietnamese tea shop, will launch a Japan-Vietnam traveling photography exhibition on Vietnamese tea starting August 2026.

This exhibition was made possible thanks to the support of 284 backers through a crowdfunding campaign held last September to October.

Focusing on the tea culture and daily lives of people in the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam—a subject that has seen limited systematic documentation and outreach even within Vietnam—the exhibition was developed through on-site reporting and production.

The exhibition will travel from Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, continuing its journey accompanied by voices from visitors in each city.

Exhibition Overview: A Three-City Tour Across Japan and Vietnam

'Echoes of Life | Tea from Vietnam: The Baton of Life' is organized by Tinh, a Vietnamese tea specialty store, and will tour three cities: Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi.

Exhibition updates will be posted regularly on the official website: Vietnam Tea Japan-Vietnam Traveling Photography Exhibition 2026.

[Tokyo] August 5 (Wed) – August 29 (Sat), 2026

[Ho Chi Minh City] September 19 (Sat) – October 4 (Sun), 2026

[Hanoi] October 10 (Sat) – October 18 (Sun), 2026

Works at the Intersection of Vietnamese and Japanese Perspectives

The works on display were created as a collaborative project between Vietnamese photographer Nguyen Son Tung (Mr. Tung) and Tinh, a Vietnamese tea brand founded by Japanese creators.

By combining Mr. Tung’s perspective as a Vietnamese native with Tinh’s viewpoint—formed through repeated visits to tea-producing regions—the exhibition presents landscapes and ways of life that can only be revealed through deep dialogue and trust with local communities.

Photographer Tung during a visit to tea-producing regions

Exhibition Highlights

A total of 32 photographs will be displayed.

Visitors can follow a narrative journey from wild tea trees growing in mountain forests, through tea processing, to the daily lives of local people—experiencing the exhibition as if traveling through the tea-producing regions themselves.

Small lives, the gift of water, people in the mountains who receive life and pass it on. The bounty from the mountains.

Tokyo Exhibition Overview

Venue: KOSHA KOSHA AKIHABARA

Dates:

August 5 (Wed) – August 8 (Sat), 2026

August 18 (Tue) – August 22 (Sat), 2026

August 25 (Tue) – August 29 (Sat), 2026

Hours: 10:00–18:00

Closed: Sundays and Mondays

Admission: Free

Venue: KOSHA KOSHA AKIHABARA

Vietnam Exhibition Overview

Dates:

Ho Chi Minh City: September 19 (Sat) – October 4 (Sun), 2026

Hanoi: October 10 (Sat) – October 18 (Sun), 2026

Admission: Free

Venue details will be announced later on the Vietnam Tea Japan-Vietnam Traveling Photography Exhibition 2026 website.

The exhibitions in Vietnam will be held primarily at galleries that feature extensive collections of works by Vietnamese artists.

Ho Chi Minh City Venue Hanoi Venue

Cultural Exchange Events Expanding from the Photography Exhibition

In addition to the photo exhibition, a series of events will be held featuring guests from diverse fields such as design, cuisine, and art.

Using tea as a gateway, these events aim to create spaces for reflection on Japanese and Vietnamese cultures.

Event details will be updated regularly on the Vietnam Tea Japan-Vietnam Traveling Photography Exhibition 2026 website.

Main programs currently planned include:

Multiple events and programs, varying by venue, are being developed.

Exploring Vietnamese Aesthetics

Inviting creators from various fields—including painting, embroidery, and photography—to discuss the aesthetic sensibilities Vietnamese people have discovered in nature and daily life.

Understanding Vietnamese Tea Through Food

Exploring the relationship between Vietnamese agriculture, food culture, and tea through collaborations with chefs.

Conversations on Vietnamese Tea with Tea Masters

Dialogues with tea professionals active in the industry about the current state and future of Vietnamese tea.

Featured Events in Tokyo

Highlighted events to be held at the Tokyo venue are introduced below.

Additional events will be updated regularly on the Vietnam Tea Japan-Vietnam Traveling Photography Exhibition 2026 website.

August 8 (Sat)

The World of Vietnamese Tea Through a Designer’s Eyes

Welcoming Not for Co., Ltd.—the design firm behind Tinh’s brand identity—this talk will explore how Japanese designers perceive Vietnamese tea culture and capture its unique characteristics.

Tinh’s packaging designed by Not for Co., Ltd.

August 24 (Mon)

Tea That Enhances Cuisine, Cuisine That Enhances Tea

In collaboration with Kukkyu, a restaurant offering tea-centered course meals, a talk event themed around 'tea that complements food' will be held, followed by a simple pairing session and an after-party.

*Note: The venue will open only during event hours on August 24.

Kukkyu’s Japanese confectionery made with Tinh’s tea

Visitor Participation: 'Feedback Wall'

The exhibition will feature a 'Feedback Wall' where visitors can freely leave their thoughts and messages.

These messages collected in Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi will travel with the exhibition, sparking new dialogues in each location.

Additionally, based on the feedback received, a dialogue program titled 'Tea Dialogue' will be held, inviting visitors to exchange opinions with one another.

Background of the Exhibition

In the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam, a rich tea culture nurtured in harmony with nature still thrives today.

Yet, these ways of life and cultural practices have not been sufficiently documented or shared, even within Vietnam.

'Echoes of Life | Tea from Vietnam: The Baton of Life' aims to document this culture, create new spaces for dialogue between Japan and Vietnam, and contribute to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tea industry.

About Encha Co., Ltd.

The company imports and sells Vietnamese tea grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Representative Uchida established a local entity (CONG TY TNHH ENCHA) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and founded Encha Co., Ltd. in Yokohama in 2024.

The company engages in both retail and wholesale sales, actively promoting and spreading awareness of Vietnamese tea.

Brand website: https://www.tinh.jp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinh_tea.jp/

Exhibition website: Vietnam Tea Japan-Vietnam Traveling Photography Exhibition 2026