Ho Chi Minh City and Hyogo Prefecture Strengthen Ties in Tourism, High-Quality Human Resources, and Green Economy

Ho Chi Minh City and Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture are stepping up their bilateral cooperation, focusing specifically on sustainable tourism, high-quality human resource development, and the transition toward a green, circular economy. The strategic alignment was emphasized during a high-level working session held on October 28, 2026, as part of preparations for the upcoming Autumn Economic Forum. Nguyen Cong Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, met with Ogiso Hiroyasu, Director of the Hyogo Prefectural Economic and Tourism Center, to outline a comprehensive roadmap for future collaborative initiatives between the local governments and their respective business communities.

Deepening Economic Integration and Expanding Supply Chains

Japan remains one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most vital economic partners, maintaining a significant footprint in trade, infrastructure investment, and industrial development. According to official municipal data compiled through August 31, Japanese investors have established 2,346 active projects within the southern economic hub. Total registered capital has reached approximately $15.356 billion, placing Japan third among the 152 countries and territories investing in Ho Chi Minh City.

The partnership between Ho Chi Minh City and Hyogo Prefecture is built on a long-standing foundation established in 2007. Over nearly two decades, the two localities have maintained regular high-level delegations, trade delegations, investment promotion campaigns, and collaborative frameworks in education, environmental management, science and technology, and workforce training.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Cong Vinh underscored the critical role of the Ho Chi Minh City-Hyogo Economic Forum in serving as a direct bridge between local authorities and corporate leaders. Following the seventh iteration of the forum, which was successfully hosted in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025, the eighth installment is scheduled to take place on November 10 in Hyogo Prefecture.

The economic landscape of Ho Chi Minh City has evolved substantially following its administrative integration with neighboring Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. This expanded metropolitan spatial framework has created a synergistic economic powerhouse that seamlessly integrates finance, advanced services, heavy industry, deep-water seaport logistics, and international tourism. Local leadership believes this broader developmental canvas offers unprecedented opportunities for Japanese enterprises from Hyogo Prefecture to expand their operational footprints.

During the working session, Ho Chi Minh City authorities formally proposed that the Hyogo Prefectural Economic and Tourism Center act as an active catalyst to introduce Japanese corporations to the city’s investment climate. Particular emphasis was placed on attracting investments in supporting industries, advanced manufacturing technologies, green manufacturing, and smart logistics systems. Furthermore, city officials expressed a strong desire to facilitate the integration of local Vietnamese enterprises into Japanese global supply chains, thereby enhancing their export capabilities and market penetration within Japan.

Advancing Toward Innovation, Green Transition, and Sustainable Tourism

As global industries pivot toward environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality, Ho Chi Minh City is actively seeking international best practices, particularly from technologically advanced regions like Hyogo. Municipal leaders expressed deep interest in Hyogo’s pioneering frameworks for industrial green transitions, hydrogen energy development, and digital transformation in manufacturing processes.

Parallel to industrial cooperation, both localities are placing a renewed emphasis on tourism promotion and cultural diplomacy. Ho Chi Minh City aims to strengthen synergies between local tour operators and international partners to curate high-end, sustainable tourism products. The objective is to foster a robust exchange of travelers, encouraging mutual visitation and deepening cross-cultural appreciation among citizens of both regions.

Hyogo Prefecture’s Strategic Vision: Human Capital and Cultural Exchange

Responding to the municipal proposals, Director Ogiso Hiroyasu highlighted the steady momentum of diplomatic and economic exchanges between the two local governments in recent years. He specifically recalled the official visit to Hyogo Prefecture in April by Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, during which both sides explored expanded avenues for cooperation in healthcare and public welfare.

According to Mr. Ogiso, the alternating economic promotion conferences organized between Ho Chi Minh City and Hyogo serve as invaluable platforms for government representatives and corporate executives to review macroeconomic developments, assess evolving investment climates, evaluate workforce demands, and identify emerging partnership opportunities.

Beyond traditional trade and investment, Hyogo Prefecture is deeply committed to aligning economic expansion with comprehensive human resource development. In October, Hyogo successfully organized a targeted business-student networking initiative at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, featuring participation from 15 prominent enterprises representing the prefecture. These companies introduced lucrative career pathways and recruitment parameters across dynamic sectors such as information technology, mechanical engineering, architecture, and civil construction.

Through these targeted initiatives, Hyogo aims to assist Vietnamese students in navigating international career prospects while simultaneously providing Japanese enterprises with access to a highly skilled, adaptable workforce that meets their rigorous operational standards.

In the realm of cultural and tourism cooperation, Mr. Ogiso noted that Hyogo Prefecture boasts a rich heritage, distinct regional gastronomy, and unique tourist destinations that appeal to international travelers. The prefecture is keen to amplify its destination marketing campaigns within Ho Chi Minh City while simultaneously introducing Vietnamese culture, arts, and tourism offerings to residents across Hyogo. Through sustained promotional campaigns, cultural exhibitions, and public exchange programs, the leadership of Hyogo Prefecture hopes to cultivate a deeper mutual understanding of the lifestyles, traditions, and people of both regions, paving the way for enduring bilateral friendship.

Analysis of Implications and Future Outlook

The renewed commitment between Ho Chi Minh City and Hyogo Prefecture signals a maturation of sub-national diplomacy between Vietnam and Japan. By shifting the partnership focus toward high-end human resources, green technology transfer, and resilient supply chain integration, both localities are addressing contemporary economic imperatives.

For Ho Chi Minh City, tapping into Hyogo’s industrial expertise and technological innovations aligns directly with its broader objective of transitioning toward a knowledge-based, low-carbon economy. Meanwhile, Hyogo’s proactive engagement with Vietnamese universities helps mitigate its domestic labor shortages by securing a steady influx of qualified engineering and technical talent. As both regions prepare for the upcoming eighth Ho Chi Minh City-Hyogo Economic Forum in November, the institutional framework is firmly in place to translate these strategic dialogues into tangible, long-term socio-economic benefits.