Vietnam encourages Japanese firms to invest in key sectors: NA leader
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has called on Japanese firms to invest in key sectors in Vietnam including supporting industries, high technology, digital transformation, clean energy, and smart agriculture.
Addressing the “Meet Japan – Mekong Delta region” event in Can Tho city on August 8, the NA leader highlighted that the relationship between Vietnam and Japan remains a model of successful bilateral cooperation, grounded in over 50 years of political trust, cultural affinity, and shared historical ties.
He noted that Japan is home to a thriving community of more than 600,000 Vietnamese nationals - the second-largest foreign community in the country, while over 2,500 Japanese enterprises are actively operating in Vietnam, reported VOV.
The leader underscored the strategic importance of the Mekong Delta, dubbed Vietnam’s "rice bowl" as it produces approximately half of the country’s total rice output and accounts for 95% of rice exports, 65% of aquaculture production, and 70% of national fruit yield.
Despite its vast potential, the region continues to face a series of critical challenges including the escalating impact of climate change, limited workforce, underdeveloped transport and logistics infrastructure, the absence of a supportive industrial ecosystem, and weak regional linkages, he said.
He reiterated Vietnam’s consistent view of Japan as a top-tier strategic partner, particularly in the fields of economy, investment, and technology transfer.
Expressing appreciation for Japan’s long-standing support through Official Development Assistance (ODA), the Chairman highlighted landmark projects such as the Can Tho Bridge - a powerful symbol of bilateral friendship, and the upgrade of Can Tho University, alongside numerous initiatives across other Mekong Delta localities.
NA Chairman Man urged both governments and business communities to deepen strategic cooperation.
Emphasizing the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, he called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
He reiterated Vietnam’s ambition to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and achieve high-income status by 2045. In this journey, he affirmed, the Mekong Delta will play an indispensable role in the nation’s sustainable development strategy, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation.
He welcomed alignment between Vietnam’s development goals and Japanese initiatives such as the Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI) and the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), noting that these frameworks could find strong partnerships within the Mekong Delta, especially in renewable energy and environmental protection projects.
The top legislator stressed that the NA and Government are committed to placing people at the centre of national progress, and will not trade off social equity or inclusive development for short-term economic growth.
He also expressed strong confidence that ongoing institutional reforms, including administrative streamlining, governance efficiency, anti-corruption measures, and comprehensive public sector reform, will provide a favorable environment for foreign investment, particularly from Japanese enterprises looking to expand in Vietnam and the Mekong Delta, according to VNA.
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| National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man addresses the “Meet Japan – Mekong Delta region” event in Can Tho city on August 8. (Photo: VNA) |
He called for Japanese businesses to take an active role in building sustainable value chains, thereby contributing to the shared prosperity of both nations.
Secretary of the Party Committee of Can Tho Do Thanh Binh said that the new city was officially established from July 1, merging the former Can Tho with the former provinces of Hau Giang and Soc Trang. This restructuring marks a transformative step in the development trajectory of the Mekong Delta, solidifying Can Tho’s role as a dynamic growth pole in the Southwest subregion, he said.
He underlined that Can Tho is ready for a new era of growth - more efficient, more transparent, and more deeply committed to working alongside investors and enterprises.
Meanwhile, Chairwoman of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Obuchi Yuko commended Vietnam’s impressive economic performance, which continues to outpace its peers in ASEAN and affirms its growing importance in global supply chains. She noted that the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023, and that the Vietnamese community in Japan continues to grow in both size and influence.
Obuchi Yuko also highlighted the success of recent cultural exchanges, particularly the Vietnam Festival in Tokyo, which drew over 140,000 attendees and brought the vibrancy of Vietnamese culture to the Japanese public in a lively and engaging manner. She added that the ongoing Expo 2025 in Osaka–Kansai, attracting around 10,000 visitors each day, reflects a strong and growing public interest in the cultures of both countries.
As head of the parliamentary friendship alliance, she pledged to continue fostering deeper ties between lawmakers in both nations, with the aim of elevating the Vietnam–Japan partnership to a new level.
Throughout the conference, leaders from provinces and cities across the Mekong Delta, along with representatives from Japanese and Vietnamese businesses and investment groups, engaged in discussions on the development potential of localities and identified practical pathways to enhance future collaboration.
Language, culture strengthen Vietnam – RoK ties
Language and culture are factors of “soft power” that help deepen understanding and connection between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK), according to Professor Lee Jai Hee, President of the International Graduate School of Language Education (IGSE) in Seoul.
Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents ahead of the state visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam to the RoK from August 10 to 13, Lee noted that since 2020, IGSE has pioneered the training of professional Korean – Vietnamese interpreters and translators, aiming to develop top-quality human resources to serve as a cultural and linguistic bridge for bilateral cooperation.
IGSE’s curriculum focuses on three core skills – language fluency, cultural and social understanding, and professional translation techniques. From 2026, it plans to launch a Korean – Vietnamese business administration program to train interpreters with corporate management knowledge, meeting the needs of Korean firms operating in Vietnam and beyond, cited VNA.
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| Professor Lee Jai Hee, President of the International Graduate School of Language Education (IGSE) in Seoul. (Photo: VNA) |
Currently, around 100 Vietnamese students are pursuing postgraduate studies at IGSE, including 20 PhD candidates. The school also offers various scholarships, including special awards for outstanding students.
In a bid to expand cooperation with Vietnam, IGSE has signed memoranda of understanding with eight Vietnamese universities. These agreements cover joint training models such as “1+1” programs, dual-degree options, and curriculum transfers. The school hopes to replicate its successful partnership model with universities of Uzbekistan in Vietnam.
On the RoK's language education policy, the professor noted that Vietnamese language is now officially taught at four high schools and is one of eight optional second foreign languages in the national university entrance exam. This, he said, reflects both the rapid growth of the Vietnamese community in the RoK and the increasing interest among Koreans in learning more about Vietnam.
Lee expressed his confidence that Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit will strongly inspire young people in both countries, helping strengthen a sustainable foundation for a substantive and long-term partnership between Vietnam and the RoK.
Vietnam and the RoK established diplomatic ties in 1992 and upgraded them to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. Today, the RoK is one of Vietnam’s top investors, trading partners, and sources of development cooperation.
Vietnam makes bold move to attract foreign experts with relaxed labor laws
From August 7, 2025, foreign workers involved in innovation and digital transformation sectors in Vietnam will no longer be required to obtain a work permit, according to a newly issued government decree.
The Vietnamese government has issued Decree No. 219/2025/NĐ-CP, which introduces major changes to the regulations concerning foreign labor in the country, replacing Decree No. 152/2020/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 70/2023/NĐ-CP.
The new decree simplifies administrative procedures, shortens processing times, and notably expands the list of individuals exempt from work permits. This reform is part of Vietnam’s strategy to attract high-quality talent in emerging industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
Under the new regulations, competent authorities must process complete work permit applications within 10 business days. If the application is rejected, a written explanation must be provided within 3 working days.
The provincial People’s Committees will remain the primary authority for issuing, renewing, extending, and revoking work permits, as well as granting confirmations of exemption for workers employed at businesses based in their jurisdictions, cited VNN.
For workers employed by companies operating across multiple provinces, the People’s Committee where the company’s headquarters is located will be responsible for work permit administration.
A notable amendment in Decree 219 is the broader eligibility for work permit exemption. Newly included are foreign workers invited or confirmed by central ministries or provincial authorities to work in prioritized sectors such as finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, and socioeconomic development.
Decree 219 also retains several existing exemptions, including:
Investors contributing capital of at least VND 3 billion (approx. USD 118,000)
Foreign journalists certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Teachers or administrators at intergovernmental educational institutions
Family members of diplomatic personnel
Individuals responsible for establishing a commercial presence in Vietnam
Additionally, foreign experts providing technical or professional consultancy, or performing tasks related to ODA-funded projects (research, assessment, monitoring, or management), remain exempt from work permits - further facilitating foreign investment and cooperation.
Decree No. 219 officially came into effect on August 7, 2025.
Perseids meteor shower to light up Vietnam’s night sky this August
The Perseids meteor shower is about to reach its brightest moment of the year in the coming days, promising to transform the night sky into a blazing, vivid canvas that can be observed from Vietnam.
According to the Hanoi Astronomy Society (HAS), people in Vietnam will soon enjoy a “feast of lights” with up to 120 meteors per hour. The Perseids, one of the most impressive meteor showers of the year, occurs from mid-July to late August, with its peak around August 12–13, when the Earth passes through the densest region of debris left by the Swift–Tuttle comet.
HAS stated that under ideal conditions, away from city lights and with a moonless sky, the Perseids can produce up to 120 meteors per hour. These meteors are fast, bright, and often leave long glowing trails behind them. Some even explode in brilliant flashes known as fireballs.
However, this year there is a slight obstacle. The full moon occurs on August 9, meaning the sky will still be quite bright on the nights of August 12 - 13. This moonlight will dim the faintest meteors. Still, observers can expect to see dozens of bright meteors, especially if they are in rural areas or places with low light pollution, reported VOV.
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| Sky-watchers in Vietnam have a chance to see the Perseid meteor shower on August 12 - 13 this year. (Photo: space.com) |
The best time to watch the meteor shower is from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. (local time), when the radiant point of the meteor shower in the constellation Perseus is highest in the sky.
HAS encouraged astronomy enthusiasts to prepare for up to 120 meteors per hour. No telescope or binoculars are needed; people can observe with naked eyes.
HAS also noted that during this time, the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will appear close to each other, dominating the eastern sky just before sunrise. One shines with dazzling flashes, the other with steady bright light, promising an unforgettable experience.
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