Strengthening Cultural, Sports, and Tourism Ties Between Vietnam and Japan

Strategic Insights -

Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam ITO Naoki met at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism headquarters on August 15 to discuss enhancing cultural, sports, and tourism exchanges between the two countries. The meeting aimed to strengthen and promote cooperation in these areas to new heights. Minister Nguyen Van Hung expressed gratitude to Ambassador ITO Naoki for his efforts in developing the field of Culture, Sports, and Tourism between Vietnam and Japan, highlighting the importance of cultural similarities as a solid foundation for exchanges and cooperation activities between the two countries.

Key Takeaways:

  • Minister Nguyen Van Hung emphasized that cultural exchange cooperation has helped people from both countries understand each other's cultures, contributing to promoting Vietnamese culture in Japan and vice versa through events like Vietnam Cultural Day in Japan and Japanese cultural day in Vietnam.
  • The two countries have had effective and practical cooperation in the field of sports, with Vietnam receiving help from Japan in sending experts and coaches for key sports and participating in tournaments.
  • In the field of tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has organized tourism promotion programs in big provinces and cities of Japan, resulting in a significant increase in Japanese visitors to Vietnam, with 449,265 visits in 7 months of 2025, up 17% compared to the same period in 2024.
  • Minister Nguyen Van Hung hopes that the Vietnam Exhibition at the Expo Osaka 2025 contributes to promoting people's exchange, improving understanding, and spreading good values of Vietnam to international friends.
  • Japan aims to bring the number of bilateral tourists exceeding 1 million on each party in Niigata province in June, with the goal of achieving this before 2030.

Statistics:

  • Japanese visitors to Vietnam reached 449,265 times in 7 months of 2025, up 17% compared to the same period in 2024 (Source: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung).
  • Vietnamese visitors to Japan reached 312,000 times in the first 5 months of 2025, up 10% over the same period last year (Source: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung).
  • The Vietnam Exhibition at the Expo Osaka 2025 received a large amount of interest from tourists (Source: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung).

Sources:

  • Minister Nguyen Van Hung - Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung
  • Ambassador ITO Naoki - Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam ITO Naoki
  • Expo Osaka 2025 - The exhibition received a large amount of interest from tourists