On November 10, 2026, Emperor Naruhito gave the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun to former Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The ceremony shows the close link between Japan and Vietnam.

The award recognized Chinh’s work to make Japan‑Vietnam relations stronger. He helped raise the partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.

Between March 2025 and March 2026, Chinh led three dialogue sessions with Japanese businesses. The talks looked at problems that Japanese companies faced. The sessions helped find solutions.

Five other Vietnamese people also received the Order of the Rising Sun in the ceremony. They got different classes of the award. The Emperor gave decorations to 13 people in total, including two foreign nationals.