Japan is the largest foreign donor to Vietnam but suspended aid to the country of 86 million people after a Japanese court last month convicted a Tokyo-based consultancy and three of its executives in a bribery case involving Vietnam road projects.

Naruhito's wife, Crown Princess Masako, is remaining at home for health reasons during the prince's trip, which marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Naruhito met with Vietnam's vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan in Hanoi on Tuesday morning. He was due to meet Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet later Tuesday.

Naruhito was scheduled to leave for central Vietnam Wednesday to visit destinations including Hoi An, a Unesco world heritage site with Japanese architectural influences.

On Thursday he will head to HCM City, Vietnam's southern business capital.

Agence France Presse - February 12, 2009