Deepening Strategic Ties: Kanagawa Prefecture Drives Japan-Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange

The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Japan continues to show dynamic growth, with Kanagawa Prefecture emerging as a vital hub for accelerating cultural and economic interaction. The recent meeting between General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee To Lam and Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa underscored the robust expansion of cooperation across all sectors, reinforcing the essential framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership established between the two nations in November 2023.

Kanagawa Prefecture holds the distinction of being the first Japanese prefecture to consistently host Vietnam Festivals and investment forums. These recurring events significantly bolster the bond between the two peoples. Held alternately in Japan and Vietnam, these initiatives are crucial instruments for fostering mutual understanding, stimulating cultural tourism, and broadening economic relations.

Governor Kuroiwa Yuji highlighted that the Vietnam Festival in Kanagawa will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025. Furthermore, the prefecture is actively planning to host the Kanagawa Festival in Hanoi in November 2025, marking a reciprocal exchange. The Governor also reported on the success of investment attraction campaigns conducted in major Vietnamese cities, including Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, demonstrating tangible results from these efforts.

These endeavors have led to a flourishing exchange of enterprises: 22 Vietnamese businesses now operate within Kanagawa, while 32 Kanagawa companies are actively investing in Vietnam. Since the inaugural Vietnam Festival in Kanagawa in 2015, when approximately 10,000 Vietnamese residents lived there, that number has surged to roughly 40,000 people. This makes the Vietnamese community the second-largest foreign population in the prefecture, trailing only Chinese citizens. General Secretary To Lam, who assumed office in August 2024, expressed his appreciation for this support and requested continued assistance for this substantial Vietnamese diaspora in Kanagawa.

Future cooperation is set to focus on crucial areas like healthcare and addressing the challenges associated with demographic aging. Through an agreement with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health, Kanagawa Prefecture’s MEBYO initiative will facilitate the transfer of knowledge in these fields. This aligns with Vietnam's overarching goal to strengthen its healthcare system, evidenced by the recent signing of a memorandum between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the 2025–2030 period, aimed at developing medical tourism.

Cultural exchange is being enriched by unique projects, notably the upcoming premiere of a musical scheduled for September 2026 in Kanagawa. The performance is based on the authentic love story between the Vietnamese woman Ngoc Hoa and the Japanese merchant Araki Shotaro, serving as a powerful symbol of the deep cultural connection between the two countries. Vietnam's Ambassador to Japan, Pham Quang Hieu, previously noted that the Vietnam Festival in Kanagawa represents a comprehensive cultural and economic event, acting as a model of influence and a vital link between Vietnamese and Japanese residents in the prefecture.

The strengthening of ties between Vietnam and Japan, which have maintained dynamic relations since 1973, encompasses not only regional cooperation but also significant labor exchange, with approximately 310,000 Vietnamese workers currently employed across Japan. The partnership between Kanagawa and Vietnam, built upon mutual investments and cultural integration, establishes a robust foundation for delivering substantial and long-term benefits to both parties within the context of their comprehensive strategic partnership.