Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito left for Vietnam on Monday, the first visit to a communist nation for the heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne, officials said.
During the week-long trip, he will meet President Nguyen Minh Triet in Hanoi and visit the ancient city of Hue in central Vietnam, as well as Ho Chi Minh City in the south, the palace said.
The trip marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Japan is the largest foreign donor to Vietnam.
"I am glad if I can contribute to much closer relations of friendship between the two countries, and would like to deepen my understanding of the Vietnamese people and the country," Naruhito told a news conference last week.
Crown Princess Masako, who has skipped most public duties since late 2003 because of stress-induced illness, did not accompany the prince on the trip but bade him farewell at the palace.
The former career woman has struggled to adjust to life inside the world's oldest monarchy.
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