Ho Chi Minh City officials said the city is seeking cooperation with Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture in trade, investment, tourism, energy transition and high‑quality workforce development. The announcement was made at a meeting on Wednesday, highlighting a new avenue for youth opportunities.

Japanese investors have 2,346 projects in Ho Chi Minh City with a total registered capital of about US$15.36 billion, ranking third among investors from 152 countries as of August 31. This strong investment base shows the potential for more jobs and training programmes linked to Japanese firms.

In October, Hyogo held a networking event at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. Fifteen Hyogo firms presented jobs in IT, mechanical engineering, architecture and construction, aiming to link Vietnamese students with Japanese employers.

Both sides discussed promoting tourism, developing sustainable tourism products and increasing visitor exchanges. Expanding tourism ties could create additional jobs in travel, hospitality and cultural services for Vietnamese youth.

The partnership aims to help Vietnamese students explore career opportunities in Japan while enabling Japanese firms to connect with suitable candidates. If the plans succeed, the Ho Chi Minh City‑Hyogo link will provide concrete pathways for young people to work or study abroad and boost overall investment and tourism.