A special "Doraemon" episode, titled "A Birthday Gift: A Trip to Vietnam," will air on 23/5 on Japan's Asahi TV. This broadcast coincides with Shizuka's May birthday celebration and the 22/5 release of the movie Doraemon: Nobita and the Underwater Castle in Vietnam, according to Yahoo.

Characters wear conical hats and ao dai in the "Doraemon" episode about Vietnam. Photo: TV-Asahi

The episode centers on Nobita's promise to Shizuka after she expresses a desire to visit Vietnam. He plans the trip as a birthday gift. The plan faces a hurdle when Doraemon's "anywhere door" gadget is under repair. Still, Doraemon helps Nobita fulfill his promise.

This marks the third installment in the "Doraemon Around the World" series, following previous episodes set in Thailand and Spain. The production team confirmed the episode will feature iconic Vietnamese locations: Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh, and Dragon Bridge in Da Nang. Shizuka will be seen wearing traditional ao dai, and Doraemon's "translation bread" gadget will take on the distinct flavor of Vietnamese banh mi.

In conjunction with the episode, producers launched the "Let's Decorate! Chan-chi Coloring Contest." Participants can download drawings of Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, and Dorami in ao dai from the program's website. They can then color and enhance these with various materials, including stickers or origami paper. The contest runs simultaneously in Vietnam and Japan. Top entries will be recognized and awarded Doraemon-themed board game sets.

The Doraemon manga, created by Fujiko F. Fujio (the joint pseudonym of artists Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko from 1954 to 1987), first appeared in 1969. The narrative centers on a robot cat from the 22nd century who travels to the 20th century to assist Nobita, a clumsy elementary student, in overcoming challenging situations. Beyond everyday tales, the friends embark on numerous adventures.

Over five decades, Doraemon has sustained its popularity, selling 250 million manga copies and ranking among the top 10 best-selling manga ever. In 2008, the character was named Japan's first anime cultural ambassador. In 2012, on its "minus 100th" birthday (Doraemon's birth year is 2112), the robot cat received citizenship in Kawasaki city, home to its creators and the story's setting.

Cat Tien (according to Yahoo)