Nikkei Asia: US President's Vietnam visit generates new investment wave
US President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam last month seems to have ushered in a new era of expanded economic links between the two countries, said Japan’s Nikkei Asia, adding that a fourth boom of foreign investment in Vietnam may be in the making.
US President Joe Biden speaks at a banquet hosted by President Vo Van Thuong (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)🍰 – USPresident Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam last month seems to have ushered in anew era of expanded economic links between the two countries, said Japan’sNikkei Asia, adding that a fourth boom of foreign investment in Vietnam may bein the making.
The journal said the high-profile talks between the twoleaders were accompanied by some big business deals. Vietnam Airlines, thenational flag carrier, signed an initial agreement to buy 50 Boeing 737 Max jetsin a deal valued at about 10 billion USD. Vietnam's leading tech firm, FPT Software, has announced astrategic partnership with the American startup Landing AI. Synopsys, a leadingsemiconductor design company, has signed a memorandum of understanding to help theVietnamese semiconductor industry cultivate its chip-design workforce.
It recalled that historically, Vietnam has witnessedthree significant booms in foreign direct investment. The first occurred whenHonda Motor began local two-wheeler production in 1997. The second wave spannedthe period from the early 2000s up to 2008. Notably, Samsung Electronics of theRepublic of Korea launched a mobile phone production base in the northern BacNinh province in 2009.
✤ The third boom is believed to have come into full swing inthe mid-2010s. With its purchasing power increasing, Vietnam became a lucrativetarget for foreign consumer businesses. Japanese shopping behemoth Aeon, for instance,inaugurated its first Vietnamese store, Aeon Mall Tan Phu Celadon, in thecountry's largest city, Ho Chi Minh, in 2014.
Now Biden's visit may trigger a surge in US investment inVietnam, the journal said. US investments in Vietnam have been modest compared to those by Asianeconomic powers like Japan or the RoK. As of the end of 2022, the total US directinvestment in Vietnam was 11.4 billion USD, trailing behind the figures forcountries like the RoK with 80.9 billion USD, Singapore 70.8 billion USD andJapan 68.8 billion USD.
Vietnam Airlines and Boeing sign a MoU on sale of 50 Boeing 737 Max jets worth 10 billion USD (Photo: VNA)
During his visit to the headquarters of chip-making giant Nvidiain San Francisco on September 19, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhcalled on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to establish a production base in Vietnam andcapitalise on it as its manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia. PM Chinh also met with other prominent figures in theAmerican tech sector, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and seniorexecutives from Meta, formerly known as Facebook, and Elon Musk's SpaceX. According to the article, Vietnam is keen to pivot from itstraditional labour-intensive industries, such as garment manufacturing andelectronics assembly, toward more value-added high-tech sectors. Collaborationswith US tech companies, especially those dominant in the areas of semiconductorsand AI, will be crucial for the transformation of the country's industrialstructure./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is in the US for the high-level week of the UN General Assembly’s 78th session, had a seminar and a working dinner with leaders of multinational businesses and leading US investment funds in New York on September 21 (local time).
The upgrade of the Vietnam-US bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has opened up strategic opportunities for Vietnam to lure more high-quality investment inflows in terms of innovation and high technology, said Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI).
The US’s increased trade defence measures on imports in general and Vietnamese goods in particular has made it increasingly hard to export to this market, according to Counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US Do Ngoc Hung.
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, had a working session with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Representative to the UN, in New York on October 5 to discuss measures to strengthen cooperation between the two delegations in global issues at multilateral forums, including the UN.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
US President Joe Biden speaks at a banquet hosted by President Vo Van Thuong (Photo: VNA) 
Vietnam Airlines and Boeing sign a MoU on sale of 50 Boeing 737 Max jets worth 10 billion USD (Photo: VNA) 
