Since its foundation in 2000, the association has developed cooperative programmes with various urban organisations worldwide such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Urban Associations of Germany, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, the European Union and the World Bank.

Cooperation projects include applying information technology to land tax collection in northern Nam Dinh city, improving the urban capacity in waste management in central coastal Phu Yen province and mobilising the community to develop tourism in northern mountainous Lang Son province.

A pilot cooperation programme between the association and Japan's International Centre for Environmental Technology Transfer has been carried out in Ha Dong town of northern Ha Tay province to improve the capacity of local authorities in urban environmental management. The programme has been extended to 10 towns and cities nationwide.