Why the World Can Only Invest In — and Not Ignore — Vietnam

In an era marked by geopolitical fragmentation and shifting economic alliances, Vietnam stands out as a rare case of clarity, momentum, and strategic relevance. While many emerging markets oscillate between promise and volatility, Vietnam continues to move in one direction: forward.

From policymakers in Washington, Brussels, Tokyo, and Seoul to global CEOs and leading geopolitical thinkers, the message is increasingly uniform. Vietnam is becoming indispensable — not optional, not merely “interesting,” but indispensable.

A growing global consensus now reinforces this point. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, has praised Vietnam’s “remarkable resilience and capacity to adapt to global shocks.” Former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described Vietnam as “a central partner in Indo-Pacific stability and supply-chain resilience.” The IMF highlights Vietnam as one of the strongest-performing Asian economies for the decade ahead, while McKinsey, BCG, and Deloitte consistently rank it among the top global destinations for manufacturing relocation. Ian Bremmer, one of the most influential voices on global order, repeatedly cites Vietnam as a model of “smart hedging” between major powers — an increasingly rare and valuable geopolitical asset. For global investors, such convergence of expert views is unusual. It means the Vietnam story is not hype; it is validated worldwide.

Part of Vietnam’s appeal stems from the clarity of its national strategy. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese leadership have articulated three priorities that align very well with global investment trends. The first is green transformation. Vietnam’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, its rapid expansion of solar and wind power, and its $136 billion Power Development Plan position it as a regional leader in renewables. This makes Vietnam a natural home for green technology, EV components, renewable supply chains, and climate finance.

The second pillar is digital transformation. Vietnam aims to become a top 50 digital economy by 2025 and a top 30 by 2030. The prime minister has been clear: digital government, digital economy, and digital society are the fundamental pillars of development. This vision fuels growth in fintech, AI, cybersecurity, digital services, and an increasingly vibrant tech startup ecosystem.

The third priority is supply-chain leadership. Vietnam seeks to evolve from an assembly-based economy into a value-added manufacturing powerhouse, with stronger domestic suppliers and higher-tech inputs. This ambition is perfectly aligned with diversification strategies across the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea. Simply put, Vietnam’s priorities match global priorities.

Investors are converging on Vietnam for structural reasons that extend beyond policy. Geography is one. Situated at the heart of the world’s fastest-growing region, Vietnam sits at the intersection of economic gravity and geopolitical rivalry. Its unique balancing act — close to China but not dependent on it, integrated into ASEAN yet increasingly influential within it, aligned with major powers but not beholden to any — has earned admiration from geopolitical strategists.

Talent is another. Vietnam’s young, educated, adaptable workforce is one of its greatest assets. With a median age below 34, strong STEM foundations, high productivity relative to cost, and fast digital adoption, Vietnam offers a “talent dividend” unmatched in much of the region. This is precisely why companies such as Apple, Samsung, Google, and Lego continue expanding their footprint in the country.

Vietnam’s manufacturing rise further strengthens its appeal. It is already a top global electronics exporter, the world’s second-largest smartphone producer, and a top-three Asian destination for new factory investment. The next phase, encouraged by government strategy, is to move decisively up the value chain — into semiconductors, green components, pharmaceuticals, advanced textiles, and high-tech engineering.

Vietnam’s state also plays a defining role. Unlike many emerging markets, Vietnam’s policy environment is pragmatic, predictable, and aligned with global economic norms. Prime Minister Chinh’s mantra — “Harmonise interests, share risks, win together” — resonates with investors weary of abrupt regulatory shifts elsewhere. Vietnam understands that trust is the most valuable currency in today’s geopolitical landscape — and it is earning that trust.

Challenges do exist, but they are strategic rather than structural. Vietnam faces power-supply constraints, infrastructure demands, value-added gaps, and exposure to US–China competition. Yet these are challenges of scale, not of direction. Vietnam is not struggling with stagnation; it is grappling with success and with the pace of its own expansion. Many emerging markets would welcome such challenges.

As global boardrooms prepare their 2030 strategies, Vietnam now appears consistently in three essential discussions: where to move capacity, where Asia’s next wave of growth will come from, and where geopolitical risk remains manageable. Vietnam has become a growth anchor, a supply-chain stabiliser, and a geopolitical hedge — a unique combination in today’s fractured world.

Vietnam offers precisely what the 2020s demand: economic dynamism, geopolitical balance, green ambition, digital transformation, political stability, and a government committed to global integration. Every major global actor — from the IMF to the U.S. government, from the EU to Japan, from tech giants to manufacturing leaders — sees the same reality. Vietnam is emerging as a core pillar of the global economy.

And this is why, as we look toward 2030, the world can only invest in — and not ignore — Vietnam.