The People’s Council of Ho Chi Minh City and the Prefectural Assembly of Japan's Yamaguchi, have formalised a friendly cooperation framework, marking a new step forward in ties between the two localities.

Amid the festive atmosphere of the early days of the Lunar New Year, the “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring) programme 2026, which was held in Toyama of Japan, drew a large number of Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Toyama Prefecture, along with Japanese friends.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 18 sent a congratulatory message to Takaichi Sanae on her re-election as President of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and her continuation in office as the 105th Prime Minister of Japan.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and its Japan–Mekong Economic Committee to step up coordination with ministries and relevant agencies of both countries to boost investment and enhance its quality, particularly through stronger technology transfer and support for Vietnamese firms to improve competitiveness and participate more deeply in Japanese global value chains.

Joining the joyful atmosphere welcoming the Lunar New Year of Horse 2026, Vietnamese embassies in Egypt, Japan, and Austria organised a series of events themed “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring), creating meaningful gatherings that brought warmth, unity, and a strong sense of national identity to overseas Vietnamese communities.

Political parties in Japan have officially entered the campaign period for the House of Representatives election scheduled to take place on February 8. This will be the first election since the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ended its 26-year alliance with Komeito and formed a new ruling coalition with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP).

The third Viet Nam Festival in Osaka 2026 is scheduled to take place over two days, March 7–8, at Taiyo no Hiroba (Sun Square) in Osaka Castle Park.

Viet Nam attaches great importance to and wishes to further strengthen cooperation with Japan across all fields, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 15.

The People’s Committee of southern Vinh Long province and the administration of Japan’s Ehime prefecture are set to strengthen cooperation in fostering sustainable economic development under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on January 12.

With the situation of a declining population, rising prices, and impacts of intense strategic competition, 2026 is forecast to be a year with few advantages for Japan. However, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae affirms that with its inherent strength and the people's will to rise, Japan will welcome a bright future.

At the Summit of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue (CA+JAD), the Tokyo Declaration was issued, setting out an ambitious roadmap to promote cooperation across multiple fields between one of Asia’s leading economies and a region rich in potential. Japan and the five Central Asian countries agreed to enter a new phase of cooperation, elevating their ties to a broad and multidimensional strategic partnership.

Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are among Viet Nam’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.

The Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam marked the second anniversary of the elevation of Viet Nam - Japan ties to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World, on the evening of December 10.

Before setting sail for the Republic of Korea on the next leg of its journey, Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao conducted joint manoeuvring and at-sea communications exercises with JS Yamagiri.

Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki emphasised that Japan remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining, consolidating, and further deepening relations with Viet Nam, while reaffirming its pledge to accompany Viet Nam throughout its process of development, reform, and international integration.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held a bilateral meeting with State Minister of the Cabinet Office of Japan Kazuchika Iwata in Melbourne, Australia, on November 20, on the sidelines of the ninth Commission Meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang chaired a ceremony in Ha Noi, on November 17, to hand over the licence allowing Japan’s Nihon Denpa News (NDN) to reopen its resident office in Viet Nam.

This is the first time the a great national unity festival, and a pilot project of great national unity festival initiated by the VFF Central Committee, have been held for the Vietnamese community abroad, aiming to strengthen solidarity, and promote the power of national great unity bloc in the new era.

Vietnamese tourists have shown a strong preference for travelling to Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) during the autumn foliage season, with respective search volumes rising by 55% and 24% compared to summer.

The Japan Kanagawa Festival in Ho Chi Minh City was held on November 12 to promote business connections and expand cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Kanagawa, and contribute to the Viet Nam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.