Vietnamese community becomes integral to Aichi as Ho Chi Minh City, Japanese prefecture deepen ties

The two sides pledged to deepen cooperation in investment, high-tech industries, infrastructure, human resource development, and cultural exchanges ahead of the 10th anniversary of their friendship and cooperation relationship.

At a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, permanent vice-chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha welcomed a delegation from Aichi Prefecture led by Governor Hideaki Ohmura.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the city's departments and agencies, Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ono Masuo, and Noriko Hirose, Ho Chi Minh City's tourism ambassador in Aichi.

Ha said the visit was particularly meaningful as the two localities prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their friendship and cooperation relationship established in 2016, marking a decade of close collaboration and opening a new phase of development.

He also congratulated Aichi on hosting the 2026 Asian Para Games, expressing confidence that the event would promote the values of inclusion, equality, and people-centered development.

Ha described the Ho Chi Minh City-Aichi relationship as one of the highlights of local-level cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, citing practical collaboration in investment promotion, cultural exchanges, education, tourism, and business connectivity.

He said around 60 Aichi-based companies are currently investing in Ho Chi Minh City, out of approximately 200 companies from the prefecture operating in Vietnam.

Following the merger with the former Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provinces, Ho Chi Minh City now has greater room for development and expanded opportunities for international cooperation, he added.

The city proposed that the two sides prioritize cooperation in high-tech industries, supporting industries, and new supply chains.

Ho Chi Minh City also called on Aichi to connect companies in manufacturing, automotive production, automation, new materials, semiconductors, and supporting industries with investment and technology transfer opportunities in the city.

The city further proposed expanding cooperation in strategic infrastructure, logistics, urban railways, transit-oriented development (TOD), seaports, airports, and free trade zones, while strengthening collaboration in green transition, clean energy, the circular economy, waste treatment, and urban environmental governance.

It also expressed a desire to broaden cooperation in training engineers and technicians in industrial production, logistics, digital transformation, semiconductors, healthcare, and high-quality services, alongside expanding cultural, sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Governor Hideaki Ohmura said the trip marked his fifth visit to Ho Chi Minh City since the two localities signed a memorandum of understanding 10 years ago.

He noted that bilateral exchanges have developed steadily, highlighting the annual Vietnam Festival in Aichi, held every November.

According to Hideaki Ohmura, many companies from Aichi are continuing to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam.

The governor also said approximately 71,000 Vietnamese people are living, studying, and working in Aichi, the largest Vietnamese community among Japan's prefectures.

The Vietnamese have become an important part of local life with many Vietnamese restaurants and cultural activities, he said.

On air connectivity, the governor said Chubu International Airport currently operates direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Vietnam Airlines operates five flights a week between Ho Chi Minh City and Chubu, while Aichi is working with Vietjet to launch additional services in the future.

In addition to its traditional strengths in the automotive and manufacturing industries, Aichi is focusing on developing its startup ecosystem and hopes to expand cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City in this field while maintaining the mutually beneficial partnership between the two localities.