With a dynamically developing economy, increasingly synchronised infrastructure and distinctive cultural and tourism values, Quang Ninh is gradually expanding its external relations in a more substantive and effective manner. Japan remains one of the locality’s important partners, with cooperation spanning many fields.
In trade, Japan is currently the second-largest export market for Quang Ninh businesses, after China. Expanding trade relations are creating additional opportunities for local businesses to access the Japanese market and enhance the value and competitiveness of their key products, particularly OCOP products, local agricultural specialities and processed foods.
Japan is also one of Quang Ninh’s major partners in foreign direct investment (FDI). The city currently has 248 valid FDI projects with total registered capital of more than USD 16.86 billion. Japan ranks second with 23 projects and total registered capital of around USD 2.8 billion, accounting for 16.6% of the total. A notable project is the Quang Ninh LNG Power Plant, with total investment of around USD 2 billion.
Cultural and tourism cooperation between Quang Ninh and Japan has become increasingly active through delegation exchanges, participation in the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Federation (EATOF), the Cherry Blossom - Yen Tu Yellow Apricot Festival, the Vietnam Festival in Hokkaido and the Hokkaido Festival in Ha Long. These activities contribute to strengthening people-to-people exchanges and promoting the image, culture and tourism products of both sides.
In education, Ha Long University and Ha Long High School for Gifted Students have carried out a range of cooperation activities with Japanese universities, research institutes and organisations, including Osaka University, Asahikawa University, Kitami Institute of Technology, JICA, the Japan Foundation and the Japanese Business Association in Vietnam.
Most recently, in early September 2026, at the 2026 Vietnam - Japan Local Cooperation Forum in Hue, a delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh City People’s Committee Le Van Anh held a working session with Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The two sides agreed to continue maintaining information exchanges, strengthen connections among agencies, organisations and businesses, and study ways to concretise potential areas of cooperation, gradually making relations between Quang Ninh and Shiga more substantive, effective and sustainable in the coming period.
Building on this foundation, Quang Ninh is orienting its cooperation with Japan towards a more substantive approach suited to the needs and strengths of both sides. Priorities include attracting and connecting Japanese businesses with the processing and manufacturing, textile and garment, food, pharmaceutical and high-tech industries, while expanding cooperation in marine environmental protection, plastic waste treatment, the circular economy and climate change adaptation.
Quang Ninh is also seeking to strengthen tourism connectivity through air services and cruise tourism, while making effective use of Van Don International Airport and Ha Long International Cruise Port to expand the Japanese tourist market. In education, science and technology, the two sides have room to further promote exchanges of lecturers, students and interns, research cooperation and technology transfer, while gradually expanding the application of IoT, AI and Big Data in agriculture and environmental management.
From the cooperation foundations already established, stronger connections between Quang Ninh and Japanese localities and businesses are expected to generate more concrete projects and cooperation programmes, contributing to the city’s goals of green and sustainable development and higher-quality growth within its new development space.
