page_title: Japan–Vietnam relations
section_title: 16th to 17th century
hierarchical_section_title: Japan–Vietnam relations / History / 16th to 17th century
caption_attribution_description: English: A drawing of a trade ship heading from Nagasaki to Vietnam, from the Gaiban Shokan. This book was prepared as a reference work for "Gaiban Tsusho," the compilation of diplomatic documents of the Tokugawa shogunate, prepared by Kondo Seisai (1771 - 1829), who served as the magistrate of Nagasaki and the magistrate of books and records. It contains copies of diplomatic papers, including 33 certificates impressed with the shogun's vermillion seal for officially authorized trips to Annam (Vietnam), the Netherlands, and Luzon (in the Philippines). It was completed in the first year of Bunsei (1818), and the two sets of two-volume were presented to the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1819. One copy was kept at the Momijiyama Library, and the other, at the Shoheizaka-Gakumonjo run by the shogunate.Bân-lâm-gú: Tsū Tn̂g-kiā kàu An-lâm-kok tsûn-tôo. 自長崎到安南國船圖。Tiếng Việt: Tự Trường Kỳ đáo An Nam Quốc thuyền đồ. 自長崎到安南國船圖。
context_page_description: Japanese–Vietnamese relations are over a millennium old, and the establishment of friendly trade relations can be traced to at least the 16th century. Modern relations between the two countries are based on Vietnam's developing economy and Japan's role as an investor and foreign aid donor.
context_section_description: As early as the 16th century, contact between Japan and Vietnam came in the form of trade and bartering.  Along with Siam (Thailand) and Malaysia, Japanese red seal ships frequented Vietnamese ports. Vietnamese records show that when the port of Hội An was opened by Lord Nguyễn Hoàng in the early 17th century, hundreds of Japanese traders were already residing there.
  Vietnamese traders bought silver, copper and bronze from Japan in exchange for Vietnamese silk, sugar, spices and sandalwood, which fetched a huge profit back in Japan. In order to handle the influx of traders, a Japanese district called Nihonmachi was set up at Hội An. The metals trade was vital to the Nguyen lords, for they needed coins for commerce and bronze to cast guns.
  The two countries enjoyed a warm degree of friendship. Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu exchanged amicable letters and gifts with Lord Nguyen. His son Lord Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên would marry his daughter Princess Ngoc Khoa to Araki Shutaro, an eminent Japanese trader. Traders from Japan often donated money to the locals and were treated well. Many settled and assimilated into their new surroundings.
  
  When Japan entered a period of self-isolation, trade continued to flow, either through the planning of permanent residents or through intermediary Dutch merchants. However, in 1685 the Tokugawa shogunate became aware of the nation's overexploited silver and copper mines, and a trade restriction was put in place. Due to the importance of these metals, the new regulations dampened trade between Japan and Vietnam, as well as much of South Asia.
caption: An Edo period Japanese red seal ship sailing out of Nagasaki for Annam (Vietnam)
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