Toshio Terashita, president of Shinseikai Terashita hospital said that the hospital had been training Vietnamese nurses and caregivers for about six years. At present, only one Vietnamese therapist is working at the hospital.

"We want to use more Vietnamese nurses, caregivers and therapists. Many Japanese hospitals are racing to lure them from Vietnam," Terashita said.

"Among foreign employees at Japan's hospitals, those from Vietnam are most highly valued because they are skilled, patient and diligent. Besides, Vietnam often trains nurses and caregivers in Japanese before sending them abroad, while other countries don't do that," he said.

He noted Japan's issues with an aging population. Some 65 per cent of our people are elderly, while Japanese families only produce 1.4 children each, and few Japanese want to pursue a career in nursing and caregiving.

"As a result, Japan suffers from heavy shortages," he said.

At present, Japan is reported to be in need of about 40,000 nurses and some 150,000 caregivers. So, those from Southeast Asian nations, especially from Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, are preferred most as Japan and these nations share many cultural similarities.

Under the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on sending Vietnamese nurses and caregivers to Japan inked last year, about 300 nurses and caregivers will be sent to Japan for training every year.

Under the EPA, Japan would also help Vietnam build a system to appraise the quality of nursing care in Vietnam and provide certificates for nurses and caregivers after they finish their studies in Japan.

Vietnamese nurses and caregivers can work for seven years in Japan under the EPA. This time can be lengthened if they want to continue. Training fees come from Japan's official development assistance to Vietnam.

However, Terashita said that the implementation of the EPA remained slow, making it difficult for Japan to attract more Vietnamese nurses and caregivers.

Nanohanaen, a nursing home for the elderly in Chiba prefecture, is reported to be receiving only two nurses next year from Vietnam via cooperation with a Vietnamese human resource firm.

"The slow implementation of the EPA will prevent Vietnam's medical professionals from experience operating high-tech medical equipment, while Japan is finding it difficult to promote such technologies in overseas markets, for example Vietnam, and training foreign workers in how to use them," Terashita said.

According to Vietnam's LOD Human Resource Development Corporation, which sends Vietnamese nurses and caregivers to Japan, Vietnam is now training 182 Vietnamese nurses, who will go to Japan next year, in Japanese language and other soft skills.