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| At the signing of the memorandum between Hue and Nara |
Prioritizing “Heritage - Culture - People”
One of the key foundations for comprehensive cooperation between Hue and Nara lies in their shared development vision: both sides aim to use heritage as a pillar of sustainable development.
In meetings between the leaders of both regions, the theme of “heritage - culture - people” has consistently been given top priority, alongside areas such as investment, trade, healthcare, education, and climate change response.
“We view our relationship with Nara Prefecture not merely as an opportunity to expand international cooperation but as a joint mechanism to tackle development challenges in an increasingly unstable world. Localities, especially cities with shared cultural traits, must proactively connect and work together to expand resources, share experiences, and strengthen internal capacity amid increasing pressure on public budgets and investment”, said the Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hue, Nguyen Van Phuong.
Mr. Yamashita Makoto, Governor of Nara Prefecture, said that: “Nara desires to cooperate with Hue in the preservation and promotion of heritage values. Both regions possess distinctive UNESCO-recognized heritage and share the challenge of ensuring heritage remains vibrant in modern life without it fading away. This is a problem no one can solve alone”.
In alignment with this mutual understanding, the memorandum of understanding between Hue and Nara goes beyond cultural exchanges. It also aims to implement heritage education projects, develop bilingual Vietnamese-Japanese digital learning materials, build online learning libraries, and share experiences in preservation and digitization of archival materials. This is a valuable opportunity for young people in both countries to learn together and safeguard traditional cultural values within an open cooperative framework.
Beyond culture and education, the Hue - Nara cooperation model opens up a new approach to labor and employment policies. According to the latest statistics, the Japanese market accounts for over 80% of Hue’s exported labor force. Sectors with high demand such as nursing, mechanical engineering, and food processing hold strong potential for meaningful cooperation between the two localities.
Hue City is currently developing an in-depth database on skilled labor while promoting Japanese language training in vocational schools and colleges. The goal is to create a workforce ready to work at Japanese enterprises, or to return and launch startups after working in the land-of-cherry-blossoms.
Preserving the roots to embrace the future
For the business community, the partnership between Hue and Nara is seen as a positive signal, opening up new opportunities in supply chains, particularly as Hue develops six industrial parks and the Chan May - Lang Co economic zone with a focus on ecological, high tech, and environmentally friendly directions.
A highlight of Japanese investment in Hue is the AEON MALL shopping center - a project with a total investment of nearly USD 170 million that began operations in September 2024, generated broad ripple effects in consumption, services, and job opportunities. It also reflected the strong reform and partnership policies of local authorities in selectively attracting foreign investment.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, Hue’s placement among the top 10 provinces and cities with the highest Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) in 2024 is a “positive signal from the market”. It demonstrates that Hue is not only rich in culture and heritage but also has genuine growth potential, provided there is cooperation from international partners, especially Japan and Nara Prefecture.
According to Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Van Phuc, what makes the Hue-Nara relationship unique is the clearly defined proactive role of local governments in implementing bilateral diplomacy, through both official and people-to-people channels. Both sides actively seek common ground, initiate joint ideas, and promote concrete programs. Local governments serve as flexible and effective bridges in modern international relations.
It is clear that the relationship between Hue and Nara is not simply the product of a signed agreement. Rather, it is the synergy of two cultures, two development visions, and two communities united by a shared aspiration: to preserve their roots while stepping confidently into the future.