In response to a request from Hai Phong City in Vietnam, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) conducted a five-day training program for 17 senior officials from September 2 to 6, 2024.

The first training program for the leaders of Haiphong City focused on local governance and administrative management, with lectures by GRIPS faculty and external lecturers, as well as a visit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The participants learned about Japan's local government system, administrative reform, regional economic cooperation, and leadership in the public sector. During the visit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, they learned about the local government's efforts for digital transformation (DX).

At the wrap-up session on the final day, each participant shared their impressions of the lectures and their takeaways, such as "I wish to learn more about finance and budgeting," "I gained useful insights from the lecture on municipal mergers," "I learned both theory and practice," and "By comparing the situation between Japan and Vietnam, I was able to understand the similarities and differences ". Many participants visited Japan for the first time, and they seemed impressed by the convenience of transportation and the city’s cleanliness after spending a week in Tokyo.

In the end, the Program Director, Professor Hirofumi Takada (Vice President and Director of the Executive Development Center for Global Leadership), awarded certificates of completion to all participants concluding the five-day training program.