Vietnam's former Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre
On Tuesday, the Japanese government announced the recipients of its 2026 Autumn Conferment of Decorations, with former Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh among those honored.
According to the list released by the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi, six Vietnamese nationals were selected for the decorations.
Former PM Chinh received the Grand Cordon, First-class Rising Sun Order of the Great Cross, while former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.
The Japanese Embassy said the former PM had made significant contributions during his tenure as prime minister to elevating Vietnam-Japan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023.
It also recognized his efforts to advance cooperation projects and accelerate their implementation, helping translate the new bilateral framework into tangible results.
The embassy also highlighted three dialogues he held with Japanese businesses within a year, from March 2025 to March 2026.
The discussions helped identify solutions and make progress in addressing difficulties and obstacles facing Japanese companies operating in Vietnam.
First-class Rising Sun Order of the Great Cross. Photo: Government of Japan
Regarding former Deputy Prime Minister Dung, the Japanese side noted that he had continuously served as co-chair of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative since taking office as planning and investment minister in 2016.
He also co-chaired several major conferences with the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the Japanese government to improve Vietnam's investment climate and address difficulties and obstacles faced by Japanese businesses operating in the Southeast Asian country.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung. Photo: Supplied
In addition to the two former Vietnamese government leaders, the Japanese Embassy announced that four other Vietnamese nationals would receive decorations.
Professor Dao Xuan Hoc, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, former Rector of Thuy Loi University and Chairman of the Board of the Japan International School, was awarded the Third Class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
Professor Ho Tu Bao, former professor at the School of Knowledge Science at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and professor at the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM), also received Third Class.
Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hao, former director of the Vietnam-Japan Human Resources Cooperation Center (VJCC) and former head of the Japanese Language Faculty at Foreign Trade University, was awarded the Fourth Class, Gold Rays with Rosette.
People's Artist Le Khanh (Tran Mai Khanh), former deputy director of the Youth Theater of Vietnam, received the Fifth Class, Gold and Silver Rays.
Established in 1875 under Emperor Meiji, the Order of the Rising Sun has a history spanning more than 150 years. It comprises several classes, each with its own designation and insignia.
The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is its highest class. Japan has awarded various classes of the decoration to Vietnamese individuals in recognition of their significant contributions to bilateral relations.
Most recently, during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to Vietnam in May 2026, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun was formally presented to former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
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