The article presents an overview on the course of Vietnam-Japan relations by reviewing historical records
and then, the author concludes that the Vietnam-Japan relations was set up early in history and have existed for centuries thanks to close geographic locations of these two countries and historical similarities between them. Over time, despite inevitable ups and downs, the traditional friendship between the two countries have made essential basis for the development of intimate cooperation and understanding between the two peoples in the two subregions of Asia (Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia).