Recently, Vietnamese audiences have been excited about a special new Doraemon episode themed around Vietnam. Titled “The Gift of a Trip to Vietnam,” the anime draws attention with a series of unique and charming images showcasing the country’s famous landmarks and cultural elements, all portrayed through the classic Japanese franchise.
In “The Gift of a Trip to Vietnam,” Shizuka expresses her love for Vietnam and her wish to visit someday. To make her happy, Nobita decides to gift her a trip to Vietnam using the magical Anywhere Door. However, when he asks Doraemon for help, they find out the door is being repaired and can’t be used. With assistance from Doremi, Nobita and Shizuka embark on a memorable journey to Vietnam, accompanied by several other fascinating gadgets.
The episode quickly became a fan favorite after the trailer dropped. Famous Vietnamese landmarks appear throughout the story, including the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Ha Long Bay, Saigon Central Post Office, and the ancient town of Hoi An.
Additionally, the elegant ao dai worn by Shizuka and Doremi sparked a buzz among viewers. Many fans expressed deep pride seeing their homeland beautifully portrayed in a classic anime like Doraemon, which dedicated an entire episode to Vietnam.
Japanese media also quickly covered this special Vietnam episode of Doraemon. According to the popular Dora World site, various activities and contests have been organized to celebrate and promote the episode, including coloring contests featuring Doraemon characters dressed in ao dai and photo challenges matching real-life Vietnamese locations shown in the anime.
In Vietnam, Doraemon is considered a national anime and a cherished part of childhood for millions across generations. The story of the futuristic robotic cat helping his clumsy friend grow up has been adapted into many long-running anime series and films, based on the legacy of the late manga creator Fujiko F. Fujio. Many theatrical releases have achieved impressive box office success in Vietnam, some even crossing the 100 billion VND mark. For example, Doraemon: Nobita’s Adventure in the Painting World earned 148 billion VND, holding the record for the highest-grossing anime film in Vietnam until it was surpassed by Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire. More recently, the revamped version of Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea topped the box office on its opening day, breaking the streak of Vietnamese films during Tet and grossing over 42 billion VND in its first week.
