Japan and Vietnam are moving into a ‘co‑creation’ era, boosting cooperation in technology, human‑resource development and people‑to‑people exchanges, said Obuchi Yuko, chairwoman of the Japan‑Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance. This new partnership could shape study, work and travel options for Vietnamese youth.

Obuchi Yuko highlighted that Vietnam recorded a 9.96 percent economic growth in the third quarter of 2026, the highest in ASEAN. She said the rapid growth has turned Vietnam into a major manufacturing hub that is increasingly linked to Japan’s economy, creating new job prospects for young workers.

She also pointed to the Vietnam‑Japan University, which is expanding its education and research programmes, especially in semiconductor technology. The university aims to become a hub that supplies skilled personnel to both Japan and Vietnam, giving Vietnamese students more specialised study options.

According to Obuchi, joint research and workforce training in advanced fields such as semiconductors are being accelerated through Japan’s Strategic Science and Technology Innovation Initiative for ASEAN. This initiative will provide Vietnamese youth with hands‑on training and pathways into high‑tech careers.

Both governments have set a target of two million reciprocal visits by 2030. Obuchi noted that last year around 810,000 Japanese travelled to Vietnam and about 680,000 Vietnamese visited Japan, showing growing travel opportunities for young people.

In summary, the co‑creation agenda links education, industry and tourism, meaning Vietnamese young people can look forward to more study programmes, high‑tech jobs and easier travel to Japan. The partnership is designed to turn these possibilities into reality.