This paper deals with Japan and Vietnam in the latter half of the 19th century. when China as a large country abundant both in treasure, trade and industrial opportunities, found itself in the centre of Western Powers´ interests which made them more involved in the Far East. The objective of the paper is to analyze the main factors which determined the way Japan and Vietnam faced up to Western encroachment, and to explain why Vietnam became a part of French Indochina and why Japan came into power. Namely, it points out the different situations and conditions of Japan and Vietnam before their openings to the Western World, and thereby clarifies the rwo countries´ positions within international relations in the Far East. Additionally, it brings up some differences in Japan´s and Vietnam´s domestic situations in order to document their readiness to meet external challenges.