Ample room remains for trade, investment cooperation with Japan, RoK

Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are among Vietnam’s most important economic partners, with considerable room for further cooperation, but Vietnamese enterprises must adopt clearer strategies and continuously upgrade technological capacity to attract more investment and expand trade, experts said.

They gathered at a seminar hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Center of International Integration Support (CIIS) under the HCM City Institute for Development Studies on December 15, aiming to explore ways for fostering Vietnam's trade with the two Northeast Asian countries.

Vu Manh Dong from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Department of Foreign Market Development said Japan remains one of Vietnam’s leading economic partners across trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), official development assistance (ODA), and labour cooperation. Bilateral trade has been strongly supported by free trade agreements such as the Vietnam – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA), the ASEAN – Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Trade structures between the two countries are largely complementary. Vietnam mainly exports textiles and garments, transport vehicles and parts, machinery, wood products, aquatic products, and computers and components to Japan, while importing computers, electronic components, machinery, equipment, and steel products.

In terms of investment, Japan was Vietnam’s third-largest investor as of the end of November 2025, with 5,698 projects and total registered capital of 79.27 billion USD, accounting for about 15% of total FDI.

According to the official, Vietnam – Japan cooperation benefits from tariff incentives under the FTAs, geographical proximity, Vietnam’s labour advantages, and Japan’s strong capacity for technology transfer. However, Vietnamese businesses face challenges including stringent quality standards—particularly for agro-fishery products, intense competition from other countries, limited access to capital and advanced technology, cultural differences, and exchange rate volatility.

Exports to Japan are expected to continue growing in wooden furniture, textiles – garments, food products, and handicrafts, Dong said.

Pham Minh Ha, First Secretary at the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan, said the Japanese market increasingly prioritizes safety, traceability, green consumption, and health-oriented products, driving demand for processed and frozen food as well as convenience products. Packaging requirements are strict, while drugstore chains are emerging as a new distribution channel for certain food and agricultural products, reported VNA.

Nguyen Duy Kien, head of the Northeast Asia and South Pacific division at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, speaks at the seminar. (Photo: VNA)

To succeed, she recommended, businesses must stay updated on regulations, ensure quality control, invest in technology, pursue long-term market strategies, promote trade promotion, and further engage in business networking activities in Japan.

Turning to the RoK, Pham Khac Tuyen, Commercial Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in this country, identified four major barriers: tightening legal and technical standards; mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements; pressures from digitalisation and localisation; and stringent logistics and testing standards of distribution systems.

Vietnamese firms should focus on long-term value rather than short-term price competition, prioritising product quality, environmentally friendly packaging, brand building, and sustainable partnerships, he said, ading that participating in specialised fairs in the RoK is also an effective way to seek suitable partners.

Nguyen Duy Kien, head of the Northeast Asia and South Pacific division at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, noted that shifting supply chains and rising high-tech investment from the RoK offer opportunities for Vietnamese firms to integrate more deeply into Korean supply chains, particularly in supporting industries.

However, he warned against over-reliance on single customers; underinvestment in production capacity, quality governance, and technology; and weak negotiation skills, contract risk management, and business culture understanding.

Kien recommended that enterprises upgrade capabilities in stages, from simple processing to higher-value, technology-intensive component manufacturing. He also called on authorities to shift from traditional investment promotion to strategic support, including assistance with international certification, digital transformation, and legal advisory services.

Vietnam welcomes 20 millionth international visitor in 2025

Vietnam welcomed its 20 millionth international visitor of 2025 on December 15, marking a milestone for the country’s tourism industry as it surpassed 20 million foreign arrivals in a single year for the first time.

The ceremony was held at Phu Quoc International Airport by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the An Giang provincial People’s Committee.

The milestone visitor arrived on a flight operated by LOT Polish Airlines from Poland, carrying more than 200 international passengers to Phu Quoc, a special administrative zone in An Giang province. Three passengers were honored at the event as the 19,999,999th, 20,000,000th and 20,000,001st international arrivals, cited VOV.

Vietnam welcomes the 20 millionth international visitor in 2025 aboard LOT Polish Airlines aircraft from Poland on December 15

Polish national Karolina Agnieszka Muskus was identified as the 20 millionth visitor. She received commemorative gifts from local tourism stakeholders, including Sun Group and Ngoc Hien Pearl, a Phu Quoc-based pearl producer.

“This is my first time in Vietnam, and it certainly won’t be my last,” Muskus said, describing the country as beautiful and its people as friendly.

Tourism officials said reaching the 20-million mark reflected growing international confidence in Vietnam as a safe, welcoming and diverse destination.

The milestone is expected to support Vietnam’s longer-term goal of attracting 35 million international visitors by 2030, as the country seeks to position tourism as a key driver of economic growth and strengthen its national brand.

Ha Noi boosts tourism promotion towards year-end breakthrough

The final months of the year are regarded as a decisive period for the capital’s tourism industry. With a range of new products, vigorous promotional activities and strong participation from the business community, Ha Noi’s tourism sector is aiming for a breakthrough, laying the foundations for growth in 2026.

The city has welcomed more than 28.2 million visitors since the beginning of the year, reaching 91% of its annual target and surpassing the total number of visitors recorded in the whole of 2024. Of these, 6.17 million were international arrivals, while total tourism revenue is estimated at nearly 110 trillion VND. These figures underscore the capital’s growing attractiveness, with a particular driving force from the strategy to expand suburban experiential products and develop night-time tourism offerings at sites such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Hoa Lo Prison.

In October alone, the number of visitors to the capital reached 2.27 million, including 695,000 international arrivals, up 17.8% year on year, 490,000 of whom stayed overnight. Domestic visitors totalled nearly 1.6 million, while overall revenue approached 9.93 trillion VND, an increase of 11.9%. The occasion of National Day celebration, together with a strategy of product diversification, has provided fresh momentum, helping Ha Noi emerge as a primary destination rather than merely a transit point in international travel itineraries.

Travel enterprises continue to serve as the “backbone” of the market. Across the city, there are 2,687 tour operators, including 2,101 international travel companies, alongside more than 9,500 active tour guides. This workforce plays a crucial role in driving market growth, expanding visitor sources and adding value to the tourism ecosystem.

In addition, the capital’s tourism authorities are updating accommodation databases, implementing the campaign “Vietnamese People Prioritize Vietnamese Goods” within the tourism sector, finalising the sector’s development plan for 2026, and proposing that Ha Noi host the National Tourism Year 2026.

In 2025, the capital city aims to welcome 31 million visitors, including 7.5 million international arrivals, accounting for more than 30 per cent of Vietnam’s total target for international visitors. Tourism revenue is projected to reach 130 trillion VND.

Alongside these targets, a range of new products is being developed and refined. The city has promoted a night-time tourism model at the special national heritage site of Soc Temple (Soc Son District) and is developing community-based tourism linked to ethnic minority culture in Yen Xuan Commune. Both products are expected to help extend visitors’ length of stay and increase tourist spending.

Ha Noi is also strengthening regional linkages, notably through cooperation with provinces in the Mekong Delta in tourism promotion activities for 2025, reaffirming the capital’s role as a coordinating hub within the national tourism network. Numerous training and capacity-building programs for local communities at destinations such as Muong Coc (My Duc District) are being rolled out with the aim of positioning local residents as key stakeholders in sustainable tourism.

A large number of residents and visitors were attracted by a recent series of high-impact events, including the World Cultural Festival, which drew more than one million attendees, as well as programs such as “World Culture Day”, “Vietnamese Ao Dai”, and the “Ha Noi Autumn Festival”. These events create a space where heritage and modern experiences intersect, reinforcing Ha Noi’s brand as a “city of events”.

A proposal to renew the management, conservation, and promotion of the Huong Son Complex (Huong Pagoda) is currently being submitted to the city for consideration, with expectations of a turning point for spiritual and eco-tourism. Meanwhile, a number of new products, including the Soc Temple night tour, agricultural tourism in Bat Trang and Ung Thien, and community-based tourism in Yen Xuan, are being finalized and prepared for launch.

With strong determination to accelerate during the peak season, the capital’s tourism sector expects that the results achieved in the final months of the year will provide momentum for Ha Noi to make a significant breakthrough in 2026.

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