By 2030, Vietnam is expected to achieve significant economic milestones within Southeast Asia, as predicted by the World Bank. In order to promote lower tariffs and reduce trade barriers, it has already signed a number of free trade agreements (FTAs). Moreover, the rise of the fintech industry and the booming e-commerce sector ensures that the country is on a path to becoming a strong digital economy. The combination of all these factors reaffirms that now is the best time to invest in Vietnam.
As a result, investors from all around the world looking for investment opportunities in Southeast Asia or Asia-Pacific have increasingly been setting their eyes on the country. From 2022 onwards, Vietnam is ready to see a tremendous inflow of market entry and business setup activities.
Factors contributing to Vietnam’s economic growth
1. Investing in sustainability
The Vietnamese government understands the urgency to switch to green energy and has set a carbon-neutral target for 2050. In fact, as of 2020, the nation had the largest solar power output in Southeast Asia. Moreover, it is ranked among the best ten nations in the world for producing solar power.
RELATED: Vietnam is Ready to Implement Carbon Pricing for Sustainability Goals
To realize its goal of carbon neutrality, it is imperative that Vietnam proactively invests in solar and wind power production by 2030. Various measures like carbon pricing and Emission Trading System (ETS) have also been considered by the government to combat climate change. Moreover, international companies have now got access to Vietnam’s previously uncharted wind energy sector.
2. A young working population
Vietnam is one of Asia’s most densely populated countries. In 2020, the country had a population of 100 million, with a median age of 32.5 years. According to the General Statistics Office, statutory working-age employed workers were estimated to be 45 million in numbers as of Q2 2022, up 2.3% year on year.
Apart from having a young working population, the country is host to affordable cheap labor. Between 2020 and 2021, the country’s average monthly wage was USD 192.
RELATED: Recruitment Advice for Foreign Business Owners in Vietnam
3. Government tax incentives
There are two main incentives for corporate income tax (CIT) in Vietnam, namely preferential tax rates and tax holidays. Businesses can also cut costs by taking advantage of leasing exemptions and customs tariff rewards.
Tax incentives in Vietnam are among the most lucrative in Southeast Asia, giving foreigners a favorable environment to expand their business operations or invest. For instance, a company can be eligible to pay no taxes in the first years if they are involved in a tech-based sector or have their establishment based in special economic zones.
Moreover, government resolution 406 was passed in December 2021 as an aid to companies affected by COVID-19.
4. Strategic Location
Due to its central location in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is an attractive investment destination. The country shares shipping routes with China in addition to its proximity to the country. It also has nearly 50 active freight ports and 10 international airports.
Vietnam’s capital city is in the north, Hanoi, while its financial center in the southern region, Ho Chi Minh City, is home to a melting pot of startup activity. Moreover, a number of business opportunities can be found in Da Nang, the country’s second-largest city.
5. Significant trade agreements
Business in Vietnam is easier than ever thanks to a multitude of trade agreements. These trade deals provide convenience to investors from around the globe by enabling them to establish businesses owing to reduced trade barriers and cheaper tariffs.
6. A stable political and economic environment
By 2025, the government plans to transform the country into a mid-income nation, an upper-income nation by 2030, and a high-income nation by 2045. In order to accomplish this goal, steady economic progress is needed. Vietnam’s economy grew by 7% in 2019 in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, clocking USD 271.16 billion in GDP (2020). According to Trading Economics forecasts, the country’s GDP will average around 340 USD billion in 2023.
7. Relocation of supply chains from China
With the prevalence of US and China trade disputes, Vietnam stands to gain the most. Companies in China looking to divert their production are inclined towards entering Vietnam.
8. A Stable & Industrialized Future
By 2030, Vietnam is expected to be one of ASEAN’s top three industrialized countries. Several of its industries are competitive at a global level and are an integral part of the global value chain. The national industrial development policy aims to achieve ultimate modernization and industrialization by 2045 in Vietnam.
Free Trade Agreements
By investing in public projects and supporting foreign investment, Vietnam has welcomed free trade with much optimism. Moreover, the country successfully fused globalization with national policy that made it easier to trade and let healthy competition flourish.
RELATED: All of Vietnam’s 14 Free Trade Agreements and Their Implications
Vietnam has struck major free trade agreements in the past ten years with more than 50 nations. In 1995, Vietnam joined the ASEAN free trade area and then signed up for WTO membership in 2007. Some of the Trade Agreements (FTAs) that Vietnam is a part of are as follows:
- EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement
- Vietnam & the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – Trans-Pacific Trade
- Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement
- The U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)
- ASEAN – Regional Free trade agreement
- Vietnam and China Free Trade under ASEAN
- Trade between Vietnam and Australia/New Zealand under AAFTA-ASEAN
- Vietnam – South Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA)
- Vietnam- Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA)
- Vietnam and India under ASEAN (AIFTA)
- Vietnam – Eurasian Free Trade Agreement
- RCEP, the largest trade deal initiated by China
- Vietnam – Cuba Trade Agreement
- Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement
Economic data for 2030 & Beyond
It is expected that Vietnam’s economy is going to surpass Singapore by 2036. The Centre for Economics and Business Research’s (CEBR’s) World Economic League Table 2022 projects Vietnam to be the second largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
According to the projections, the country’s GDP is going to grow at a rate of 10.26% by 2026. With the global economy recovering from the aftermath of the pandemic, Vietnam has shown significant progress and risen to the status of a middle-income country.
RELATED: Vietnam’s Promising Growth Prospects for the Coming Decade
The government’s current five-year development plan (2021-2025) is aimed at the seamless implementation of the present economic development framework. Moreover, Vietnam’s robust manufacturing, an integral part of the global supply chain, provides opportunities to diversify exports and foster trade partnerships.
Vietnamese officials are aiming for the country’s high-income status by 2045, according to Vietnam Investment Review (VIR). A growth rate of approximately 5% per capita is needed for the country to reach this goal.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected the 2025 GDP for the following countries as follows:
| Country | GDP by 2025 |
| Vietnam | USD 571.12 billion |
| Indonesia | USD 1.63 trillion |
| Thailand | USD 632.45 billion |
| Malaysia | USD 556 billion |
| The Philippines | USD 523.53 billion |
| Singapore | USD 496.81 billion |
Apart from having the potential to surpass Thailand after 2028, Vietnam’s economy will outperform Belgium, Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland by 2036.
Digital Economy
The Department of Enterprise Management estimated that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) could grow by USD 30 billion through the digitization of its small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Here are some of the technologies that are changing the landscape of the digital economy in Vietnam:
Blockchain
As the number of blockchain tech apps rises and digital transformation accelerates, Vietnam will be able to compete on a global scale. There are projections that blockchain will create 40 million jobs by 2030, and 10-20% of the country’s business operations will be based on it.
As published by TechSci Research, it is expected that the industry will witness double-digit compound annual growth rates (CAGR). With the adoption of smart contracts and digital IDs across industries, the Vietnamese government is increasingly backing blockchain technology. Smart cities, e-commerce, and digital banking can all benefit from blockchain technology, especially when complemented with 5G infrastructure.
RELATED: What Foreign Investors Should Know about Vietnam’s Thriving Blockchain Technology Sector
Cloud Computing
The cloud computing business in Vietnam is expected to increase by almost 26% in the coming years, faster than anywhere else in Southeast Asia. The technology will improve security compared to physical servers, which will further boost productivity and reduce infrastructure and machinery costs.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Approximately two-thirds of businesses are integrating AI to enhance their digitization, as artificial intelligence will soon be able to operate and improve services and customer relations. Vietnam’s government is trying to establish the country as an innovation hub focused on artificial intelligence.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The percentage of companies that have started employing IoT has reached 86.67%, a 30% increase over 2021. Businesses have reported many benefits, including operating their gadgets remotely, gathering and managing data, taking action on them on demand, and sharing data.
5G and Broadband Networks
According to the Institute of Information and Communications Strategy, the 5G industry can generate about 7.34% of the country’s GDP by 2025. Telecom companies will use 5G to increase the adoption of AI and IoT in smart city development and business operations, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and HD videos.
According to the Ministry of Information and Communications’ Authority of Telecommunications, telecommunications networks are present in all provinces. As of now, 99.8% of the population has access to 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, while 16 provinces and cities have been testing 5G.
Moreover, in 2021, Vietnam had almost 71 million mobile broadband subscribers and 18.8 million fixed broadband subscribers.
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