Few franchises in the history of the anime manage to stay as current, fresh and loved by as many generations as Doraemon. The iconic cosmic cat, whose adventures animated by the studio Shin-Ei Animation already exceed 3,000 episodes since its debut in 1979, continues to expand its horizons. On this occasion, the series is preparing to take its protagonists to a fascinating international destination with the premiere of a special chapter set completely in Vietnam.
under the title “The gift is a trip to Vietnam”, this long-awaited episode will air on Japanese television on May 23, and the official website of the franchise has already ignited the enthusiasm of the community by revealing the first official images of what promises to be an unforgettable and visually beautiful adventure.
A very special birthday present for Shizuka
The plot of this new special has a very emotional engine: the birthday of Shizuka, which is traditionally celebrated in the month of May. Learning that her friend’s great dream is to know the beautiful landscapes of Vietnam, Nobita He decides to do everything possible to fulfill his wish, transforming this trip into his great birthday gift.
Throughout the episode, the group of friends will tour some of the most emblematic and spectacular tourist and cultural points of the Southeast Asian country. Among the real locations that have been recreated with the characteristic and colorful artistic style of the anime, the following stand out:
- the historical and mystical Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.
- the impressive Ha Long Bay, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- The imposing and modern Dragon Bridge In Da Nang.
To fully integrate into the local culture, the episode will give us extremely endearing moments, like seeing Shizuka wearing the Ao Dai, the elegant traditional Vietnamese costume. In addition, Doraemon’s inventions could not be missing, and this time we will see a very fun and delicious variant of an old acquaintance: the Honyaku Konnyaku (the famous translator jelly) will have a special version flavored with banh mi, the iconic traditional snack of the gastronomy of Vietnam.
A reward for one of the most faithful communities in the world
The choice of Vietnam as the main stage for this special episode is not the result of chance, but a huge thank you from the producers towards one of the most loyal fan bases of the franchise outside of Japan. Doraemon’s cultural impact on the region has reached truly historic figures in recent months.
Delivery number 44 of the franchise’s film series, Doraemon: Nobitas Art World Tales, broke absolute records in the Vietnamese territory, becoming the highest grossing film and with the greatest assistance in the entire history of the saga in that country. As if that were not enough, the most recent film number 45, titled Doraemon: Nobita and the New Castle of the Undersea Devil, he has just celebrated his great premiere in the cinemas of Vietnam the May 22.
This latest film is already preceded by an overwhelming success after its winter premiere in Japan at the end of February 2026, where it dominated the first place of the box office for six consecutive weeks and grossed more than 4 billion yen. The premiere of this special television chapter works as well as the perfect finishing touch to celebrate these huge commercial and cultural milestones.
Around the world by Fujiko F. Fujio
This trip to Vietnamese lands officially marks the third installment of the special series internally known as “Doraemon Around the World” (Doraemon around the world). Previously, the television production had already marveled the viewers sending the group to explore the landscapes and cultures of Thailand and Spain.
With more than four decades on the air, Doraemon It shows that you do not need to change your essence to continue captivating hearts; It is enough for him to open the magical door to new corners of the world to remind us of the value of friendship, curiosity for other cultures and the power of shared dreams.
