As part of its program to develop human resources in Southeast Asia, SSACF seeks to encourage economic and cultural ties between Japan and Vietnam by offering Japanese language training courses for Vietnamese teachers. In FY1993, 26 trainees successfully completed the first course in June and 30 enrolled in the second course that began in September. This year also saw the launch of an intermediate-level course for non-teachers. In addition to language training, support was provided for the production of textbooks, cassette tapes and other Japanese language teaching materials. Furthermore, as part of the "Japanese Culture Week" hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi in October 1993, SSACF assisted the Ministry of Education and Training in holding a Japanese speech contest, and later sponsored a visit to Japan by the four contest winners accompanied by the Vice-minister of Education and Training.