The Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan held its Congress for the 2025–2028 term in Tokyo on April 6. The event saw the attendance of Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, along with representatives of various associations and members of the Vietnamese community across Japan.
The congress served as an opportunity for the Union to review and evaluate its outstanding achievements in the past term and devise key tasks for the new term, aiming to strengthen unity and support for the Vietnamese community in Japan.
The Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan was established on April 6, 2023, with the goal of uniting and connecting Vietnamese community organisations across Japan. At the inaugural congress (2023–2025), Dr Nguyen Hong Son was elected as president of the union by popular vote.
At the beginning of 2024, the Union’s member organisations launched various support programmes for the Vietnamese community in the Noto Peninsula (Ishikawa Prefecture), which was heavily affected by earthquake disaster.
The union also initiated a successful fundraising campaign, raising more than 3.6 billion VND (138.821 USD) in the first round to support localities in Vietnam affected by Typhoon No. 3 (Typhoon Yagi) in September 2024.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu speaks at the congress. (Photo: The Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan) |
Speaking at the congress, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu highly appreciated the union’s practical community-focused activities during the past term. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Embassy and diplomatic missions in Japan will continue to support the Union’s and other associations’ initiatives. These efforts help promote the image of a united, law-abiding, and homeland-contributing Vietnamese community in Japan.
In the era of national rise, the Vietnamese people in Japan need to make greater contributions and greater efforts to be worthy of its role as the second-largest overseas Vietnamese community in the world.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu
Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu proposed that in the upcoming term, the union and its member associations should carry out substantive, methodical, and systematic activities, especially in areas such as supporting Vietnamese workers, disseminating Japanese legal knowledge, promoting Vietnamese culture, and teaching the Vietnamese language to younger generations. He also encouraged the Union to play a guiding role in supporting newer or smaller associations in their development.
The congress unanimously re-elected Dr Nguyen Hong Son as president of the union for the 2025–2028 term. Dr Son is currently the CEO of Aikai Group and has been appointed by the Ibaraki Prefectural Government as a member of the Comprehensive Planning Review Council for the 2025–2027 term.
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Dr Nguyen Hong Son speaks at the congress. (Photo: The Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan) |
With a spirit of unity and innovation, the congress approved the direction and tasks for the second term, focusing on supporting the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Japan, while encouraging the active participation of community organisations in building a positive image of the Vietnamese diaspora.
In addition, the union and Vietnamese community associations in Japan will continue to closely cooperate with Japanese partners and associations to implement meaningful programmes, further strengthening Vietnam–Japan friendship ties.
