Development of academic partnerships between developing and developed countries is a sustainable approach to build research capacity in the developing world. International collaboration between the Department of Public Health of Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine in Japan and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam began in 2002. The relationship has now grown into multifaceted efforts in public health research and education. During the past five years, two joint research projects were launched. Education projects included an epidemiology training course for Vietnamese physicians that has been carried out twice, an overseas public health elective for Japanese medical students that has been offered three times, and additional exchanges of medical professionals. The present article summarizes our past partnership activities and discusses several issues that need to be resolved in hopes of better promoting similar networks between Asian countries. (Contains 3 tables.)