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Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki at a press briefing in Hanoi.

Japan sees Vietnam as central to its FOIP strategy, says Ambassador Ito Naoki

The visit, scheduled for May 1–3 at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, comes shortly after Vietnam consolidated its top leadership, underscoring Japan’s strong emphasis on its relationship with Vietnam.

Ambassador Naoki told media workers on April 28 that Japan’s decision to choose Vietnam as a venue to articulate key strategic directions is “not accidental,” but reflects the country’s growing economic dynamism and rising international standing.

Vietnam in focus of FOIP strategy

According to the ambassador, Vietnam has emerged as an increasingly important partner in Japan’s FOIP vision, a strategic framework first introduced a decade ago to promote a rules-based, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Amid evolving geopolitical and economic dynamics, Japan aims to further develop FOIP through more comprehensive and adaptive approaches. In that context, strengthening cooperation with Vietnam, a fast-growing economy with expanding regional influence, is seen as essential to advancing the initiative, he said.

Japan also sees Vietnam as a key partner in shaping a peaceful and stable regional order under the FOIP framework. The Ambassador noted that Japan, as a country that shares a strong commitment to peace, seeks to work closely with Vietnam to proactively contribute to a stable and rules-based international environment.

He recalled that during a phone call with General Secretary and President To Lam on April 13, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s intention to further strengthen ties with Vietnam, a country pursuing “strategic autonomy”, amid an increasingly complex regional landscape, according to VOV.

Japan also welcomes Vietnam’s ongoing reforms and supports its long-term development vision toward 2030 and 2045. By mobilising both public and private sector strengths, Japan aims to contribute to Vietnam’s new growth model, the diplomat added.

A key highlight of the visit will be Prime Minister Takaichi’s policy speech at Vietnam National University in Hanoi, where she is anticipated to outline Japan’s updated vision for the FOIP. This marks the second time a Japanese Prime Pinister has chosen Vietnam to deliver such a speech, following former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide in 2020.

From strategy to action

Beyond its symbolic significance, the visit is expected to translate strategic alignment into concrete cooperation.

During high-level talks, leaders from both sides are set to review progress and explore new avenues of collaboration within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. Priority areas include energy security, economic resilience, rare earth supply chains, as well as academic and people-to-people exchanges.

Japan has also signaled continued support for Vietnam’s development goals, including its long-term vision toward 2030 and 2045, particularly through new-generation official development assistance (ODA) and private-sector engagement.

Four pillars shaping future ties

Looking ahead, Ambassador Naoki said, Japan has outlined four key pillars that will shape the next phase of bilateral cooperation.

The first focuses on advanced industries such as semiconductors, digital transformation, green transition, artificial intelligence and innovation. Japan has committed to supporting Vietnam’s human resource development, including training hundreds of semiconductor researchers.

The second pillar centers on energy security and strategic infrastructure, with new initiatives aimed at enhancing supply chain resilience and supporting sustainable growth across Asia.

Third, both countries seek to deepen cooperation in diplomacy and security, contributing to peace and stability in the region.

The fourth pillar emphasizes people-to-people ties, cultural exchange and academic collaboration, seen as the foundation of long-term bilateral relations. Travel between the two countries has rebounded strongly, with both sides aiming to surpass two million annual visits by 2030.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit would mark a new step forward in bilateral ties, reinforcing Vietnam’s role not only as a key partner of Japan, but also as a pivotal player in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.

UN official praises Vietnam’s preparations for 11th NPT Review Conference

United Nations Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsuon April 28 praised Vietnam’s thorough preparations and constructive approach in its role as Chair of the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

At a reception before the conference, Nakamitsu stressed the need to uphold and reaffirm commitment to the treaty. She called on countries to take concrete actions to bridge differences, build consensus, and deliver substantive outcomes.

The UN official praised Vietnam’s capacity and efforts, along with those of Ambassador Do Hung Viet in his role as President of the conference, believing that Vietnam’s methodical preparations and constructive approach would steer the meeting toward tangible results that meet the expectations of the global community.

Ambassador Viet expressed honor at receiving the trust and unanimous support of all NPT member states to preside over the 11th Review Conference.

Acknowledging that the conference takes place amid a highly complex and challenging global landscape, he underscored the message “nothing is impossible”, reflecting confidence that cooperation, goodwill, and commitment from the global community will help the conference achieve concrete outcomes, VNA reported.

Ambassador Do Hung Viet chairs the press briefing. (Photo: VNA)

Earlier, he chaired a press briefing to update global media on the conference’s significance, goals, key agenda items, and state of preparations. He fielded questions on the NPT’s role and effectiveness, Vietnam’s approach as chair, ways to handle complex issues and differing stances among member states, expectations for outcomes, and prospects for adopting a consensus document.

The 11th NPT Review Conference runs from April 27 to May 22, with representatives from 191 NPT member states taking part, along with numerous international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and global movements for nuclear disarmament.

Vietnam pitches itself as promising trade partner to Mexican firms

The Vietnam Trade Office in Mexico teamed up with the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico on April 28 to showcase Vietnam’s booming economy and pitch opportunities for trade and investment.

In her speech, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Mexico Nguyen Thi Trang hailed Vietnam as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific, with well-controlled inflation, a sprawling network of free trade agreements (FTAs), and increasingly diversified foreign investment inflows.

A major selling point at the event was how well the two economies complement each other. Vietnam shines in light industry, apparel, electronics and processed agricultural products, while Mexico dominates in manufacturing, particularly automobiles, and boasts massive distribution networks across North America. These differences open room for expanded trade exchanges and supply chain diversification as global companies scramble to reshuffle their sourcing.

Trang used the occasion to introduce the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2026 (VIS 2026) to Mexican companies. The event is scheduled for September 3–5 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. Hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, the expo will connect hundreds of Vietnamese manufacturers and exporters with international buyers and distributors in food, beverages, household appliances, and supply chains.

The discussion session turned lively, with Mexican attendees raising questions about investment policies, industrial parks, and supply chain restructuring. Plenty of Mexican firms and experts expressed keen interest in deepening ties with Vietnam in manufacturing, distribution, and workforce upskilling, VNA reported.

Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Mexico Nguyen Thi Trang (second from right) at the event (Photo: VNA)

Local experts at the event pointed out that Mexico and Vietnam, both packing large markets, strategic locations, and growing trade networks, are now well-placed to take their relationship far beyond basic buying and selling into serious investment cooperation, technology transfer, and joint inter-regional supply chains.

According to Vietnam Customs data, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Mexico hit 8.17 billion USD in 2025, up 27.4% annually. Of this, Vietnam’s exports totaled 7.03 billion USD, up 28.7%, while imports stood at 1.14 billion USD, up 23.7%.

The office noted that this sustained growth underscores the rising complementarity between Vietnam’s manufacturing prowess and Mexico’s appetite for imported parts and materials, especially as the latter solidifies its role as a key production hub in North America.

Notably, the 2025 growth momentum was driven not only by Mexico’s domestic consumption but increasingly by its central role in regional supply chains. Its electronics, automotive, and assembly industries are hungry for components and semi-finished goods, and Vietnam is stepping up as a competitive, low-cost supplier with solid production capacity.

Da Nang fireworks festival makes Travel + Leisure’s top nine summer events

US-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure says the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2026 (DIFF 2026) is among the world’s top nine summer events worth travelling for this year.

According to the publication, the fireworks festival turns the Han River into a multi-week night-time stage, where international teams compete over several evenings with synchronized music and pyrotechnic displays.

The magazine described the festival as an iconic event of the central city, noting that beyond fireworks displays, it also offers a range of street parades, music performances and festive activities along Bach Dang Street and the Han River waterfront.

DIFF 2026 is scheduled to run from May 30 to July 11 under the theme “Da Nang – United Horizons,” bringing together 10 teams from eight countries and territories to compete across five qualifying nights and a grand finale.

The opening night on May 30, themed “Nature,” will see the host Da Nang face China. Subsequent nights include “Heritage” (June 6) featuring France and Vietnam’s Z121 Vina Pyrotech, “Culture” (June 13) with Japan and Italy, “Creativity” (June 20) with Germany and Macau (China), and “Vision” (June 27) with Australia and Portugal. The final will take place on July 11, cited VOV.

Da Nang fireworks festival among top 9 summer events worth travelling for.

Technology is a key feature of this year’s festival, with the integration of Sky AR, allowing spectators to interact with the fireworks display and personalise their viewing experience via personal devices. Laser LED projection systems across the Han River and surrounding buildings will further turn the venue into a multi-dimensional stage, enhanced by real-time audio technology to deliver synchronized music and fireworks experiences from various vantage points.

Other events on the list include Midsummer in Sweden, Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul (L-Imnarja) in Malta, WILDHOOD Festival in the UK, Nantucket Daffodil Festival in Massachusetts, the US, Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo, Japan, Hemis Festival in Ladakh, India, Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain, and Glastonbury Festival in the UK.

Vietnamese cuisine gains global spotlight through leaders’ street food moments

Images of Republic of Korea (RoK) President Lee Jae Myung enjoying street-side pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), while the First Lady strolled through a crowd with an ice cream in hand, have gone viral across Asian media, once again highlighting the global appeal of Vietnamese cuisine.

Such moments are not new. In May, 2016, then US President Barack Obama sat on a plastic stool to savour bun cha (rice vermicelli with grilled pork) in Hanoi alongside chef Anthony Bourdain, creating an image that went viral around the world. Former US President Bill Clinton also tasted pho during his Vietnam visit in 2000, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Anthony Albanese were seen enjoying local staples such as iced coffee, banh mi, and draft beer during their Vietnam visits.

Notably, these experiences took place not in luxury venues but at modest eateries serving familiar dishes like pho, bun cha, banh mi (Vietnamese baguette), and iced milk coffee, foods deeply embedded in daily Vietnamese life.

Vietnamese cuisine is increasingly acting as a cultural ambassador, Duong Thanh Dao, Vice Chairman for Communications of the Food and Beverage Association of Ho Chi Minh City, told Young People newspaper.

Duong Duc Minh, Deputy Director of the Institute for Economic and Tourism Development Research, said Vietnam's food culture remains closely tied to family life, sharing, and social connection, unlike the fast-food orientation seen in many countries. This cultural depth helps explain why images of foreign leaders dining at casual venues resonate strongly with the public.

“They are not just tasting food but experiencing a very authentic, everyday cultural space,” he said.

From natural diffusion to a systematic strategy

In recent years, Vietnamese dishes have gained wider global recognition through travellers and international rankings. A social media group named “Vietnam Banh Mi Appreciation Society,” with nearly 200,000 foreign members, is dedicated to reviewing banh mi from street stalls to established shops, reflecting growing international enthusiasm for the dish.

Most recently, banh mi was again listed by CNN among the world’s best sandwiches, underscoring its sustained appeal.

According to culinary artisan Ho Dac Thieu Anh, the strength of Vietnamese cuisine lies in its balance of flavours, such as salty, sweet, sour, and spicy, combined with diverse local ingredients. While some Asian cuisines emphasise a dominant taste, Vietnamese food prioritises balance and health.

Each region offers distinct variations, from Hanoi-style pho to central and southern interpretations of dishes such as bánh xèo (sizzling pancake) and bun bo Hue (Hue-style beef noodle soup), giving visitors a rich and varied culinary journey, he said.

However, much of Vietnam's culinary wealth remains underexplored. With 54 ethnic groups and a wide range of seasonal specialties, the country holds significant potential to develop unique food-based tourism experiences, VNS reported.

President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung and his spouse take a stroll around Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi during a visit to Vietnam in April 2026. Photo: VNS

Minh noted that simply including local dishes in tour menus is not enough to leave a lasting impression. Instead, visitors should be offered immersive and emotionally engaging experiences that inspire them to share their journeys and return.

Dao stressed that now is a crucial time to elevate Vietnamese cuisine globally. He called for a shift towards a more strategic approach focusing on standardizing quality while preserving authenticity, strengthening links between cuisine and tourism, and promoting the sector through communication and creative industries. Such efforts would help position Vietnamese cuisine as a key pillar of national soft power, aligned with global trends towards “delicious, green, and sustainable” development.

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