Minister Nguyen Van Hung received Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki

On the morning of June 15, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung had a meeting and worked with Mr. Ito Naoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam.

Welcoming Ambassador Ito Naoki to visit and work at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Minister Nguyen Van Hung expressed his delight at the important and positive developments in the relationship between the two countries in recent times, including effective cooperation in culture, sports and tourism.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung received Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki

The Minister appreciated and thanked Ambassador Ito Naoki for his contributions to developing the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including in the fields of culture, sports and tourism .

According to the Minister, based on political trust and cultural similarities, cooperation in the fields of culture, sports and tourism between the two countries has achieved good results. Both countries recognize the importance and mission of culture in connecting the two peoples to enhance exchange and cooperation.

Cultural exchange cooperation is one of the bright spots when Vietnam and Japan regularly maintain cultural exchange activities, such as Cultural Festivals in each country and many meaningful joint cultural activities.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has supported Japan in organizing Japanese film festivals in Vietnam, and symphonic concerts, operas and other programs. In particular, in the field of publishing, Japanese children's books are very popular in Vietnam. At the same time, art programs such as Vietnamese water puppetry in Japan are organized to help Japanese people enjoy this very unique art form...

Vibrant cultural and artistic exchanges help people on both sides understand culture more deeply, thereby promoting the culture and image of the two countries to the people.

Regarding tourism, Japan is a traditional key market of Vietnam, and vice versa, Vietnam is also an important tourist market of Japan. The number of Vietnamese tourists to Japan is growing strongly every year.

In terms of sports, Vietnam has received great support and assistance from Japan in training and coaching. Vietnam is always ready to participate in tournaments organized by Japan as well as major international tournaments held in Japan. This is not only meaningful in terms of sports but also demonstrates the solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

Reception and working session

The Minister said that the recent results are a very important premise for the two countries to enhance cooperation in culture, sports and tourism in the coming period, becoming more and more substantial and aiming for higher results. Not only in terms of the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Japanese ministries in charge of culture, sports and tourism, but also to further expand cooperation between localities of the two countries in a more extensive and substantial direction.

Regarding some contents to promote cultural, sports and tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in the coming time, the Minister said that Vietnam has supported Japan to host and actively participate in the World Exhibition EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Implementing the Project "Vietnam participates in the World Exhibition EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan" approved by the Prime Minister, Vietnam has organized the Vietnam Exhibition House at EXPO 2025.

After nearly 4 months of opening, the Vietnam Exhibition House has welcomed nearly 900 thousand visitors, of which the record number of visitors in one day is more than 12,500, and is considered one of the most favorite type B exhibitions for visitors, especially Japanese visitors. Thereby, it continues to enhance people-to-people exchanges, understanding and continues to spread the good values of Vietnam to the Japanese people as well as international friends.

The Minister said that in the coming time, the delegation of the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam will visit Japan and attend the National Day at EXPO 2025. The Minister respectfully invited the Ambassador to take time to attend the activities of the Vietnam National Day at EXPO 2025 taking place on September 9, 2025.

In addition, to organize the National Day at EXPO 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will mobilize a large number of artists and artisans from many localities, including southern provinces and cities of Vietnam. The Minister requested the Embassy of Japan to consider and issue Japanese visas to relevant members at the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi to participate in events in Japan in the coming time.

Regarding tourism development, the Minister said that the two sides need to strengthen tourism promotion, especially promoting communication about destinations in each country, so that people of the two countries have more options when visiting and traveling. The Vietnam National Tourism Administration and the Korea Tourism Organization and localities, especially the twinned localities of the two countries, need to strengthen connections and do better in promotion and advertising.

On this occasion, the Minister also invited Japanese tourism businesses to attend the Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair - ITE HCMC 2025 to promote promotion in a practical manner.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki

Thanking the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Minister Nguyen Van Hung for taking the time to meet and work, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki expressed his joy that the relationship between the two countries has made many great strides in recent times.

In the field of culture, sports and tourism, the Ambassador believes that the cooperation plans between the two countries will be materialized through practical cooperation actions, with support and assistance from Minister Nguyen Van Hung and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Agreeing with the proposals of Minister Nguyen Van Hung, the Ambassador said that the two sides still have much room for cooperation in culture, sports and tourism. Ambassador Ito Naoki hopes that the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to closely coordinate and promote cooperation programs in the coming time.

Delegates take souvenir photos.

One of the contents emphasized by the Ambassador is that the two countries need to strengthen the implementation of cultural and tourism promotion activities to increase the number of visitors from each side. In the coming time, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam will organize many tourism events and respectfully invite the Minister to attend.

In addition, promoting cooperation in the fields of cinema, art, music, museums... Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki affirmed that Japan will further promote cultural, sports and tourism cooperation activities with Vietnam, for the benefit of both countries./.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/bo-truong-nguyen-van-hung-tiep-dai-su-nhat-ban-tai-viet-nam-ito-naoki-20250815133439729.htm