Against a backdrop of social stability and Government that is highly supportive of business, Vietnam is set to continue its multi-year run of 6-7 per cent annual GDP growth. And, where South Korea and other Asian peers might be wincing from drops as large as 10 per cent, Vietnam has enjoyed an 8 per cent year-over-year increase in export growth.

Brian Spence.

These are indeed figures to conjure with, but anyone needing further proof of Vietnam’s growing stature would have to look no further than the stunning rise of foreign investment. In 2018, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam rose by 9.1 per cent year over year to hit US$19.1 billion, marking this dynamic country’s sixth record year for FDI in a row. Almost 1,400 new FDI projects had been registered by the summer of 2019, which was up nearly 70 per cent on the prior year. The waves of capital keep flooding in.

Vietnam has followed China’s lead (from back in the late 1990s) by pursuing a “stable dong” policy that has done much to encourage foreign investment. But the Government’s commitment to keeping the currency on an even keel is just one among many factors that have turned - and kept - the capital taps fully turned on.

The prospect of leveraging a young, well-educated and highly motivated workforce at competitive wage rates is naturally a very attractive one, and particularly so where economic and social stability is also assured. Vietnam’s economy is on track to continue growing at 7 per cent every year, and the benefits of this boom have been widely felt. In contrast to less happy places in the region, housing and living costs are reasonable and continue to track down as a proportion of wages.

A business-friendly government

The Vietnamese Government has been incredibly supportive of business on both the small and large scale, and on the domestic and international fronts. Entrepreneurship and innovation are thriving under Vietnam’s 'Startup Nation' initiative, which is targeting 1 million new enterprises by the end of next year, and, at the same time, the country has been busily forging international trade deals that are now set to bear serious fruit.

Last year saw the inking of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam) and this summer saw the long-awaited EU and Vietnam Free Trade Agreement signed. This pact has been hailed by the EU as “the most ambitious free trade deal ever concluded with a developing country” and will pave the way for tariffs to be lifted on 99 per cent of goods between the two.

Perhaps just as important are the rapid improvements being made to Vietnam’s legal and business framework as part of these deals, greater protection of intellectual property rights being one important example. The Vietnamese Government couldn’t be more committed to raising the country’s standing on the world stage.

So where is all this foreign investment going, and where does it come from?

The workshop of Asia

Vietnam’s meteoric rise as a manufacturing hub off the back of increasing costs in China has been hard to miss, so it is perhaps no surprise that manufacturing and processing receive almost three-quarters of FDI currently (about $11 billion last year). This ascendancy looks sure to continue amid the US-China trade war and the massive investments being made into Vietnam’s infrastructure.

Real estate is also seeing foreign inflows of more than $1 billion a year which can only rise as tourism to Vietnam increases and infrastructure improves. Close behind is retail and wholesale investment, a market which is expected to reach $180 billion by next year as a result of Vietnam having one of the fastest growing middle classes in Asia. By 2020, many expect that it will have in fact doubled in size in just a decade to include 33 million people. That is a lot of people ready to deploy - and enjoy - their new-found affluence.

Those sectors are just the top three, and there is a long and diverse tail of booming FDI recipients potential investors should have in mind - science and technology being a major one. Just as diverse are the sources of this capital. Although investment from Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, China and Japan are all big investors. Serious money is also coming from outside Asia too: Swedish furniture giant Ikea plans a $450 million retail centre and warehouse system in Hanoi, while America’s Universal Alloy Corporation and Alton International Enterprises have received the green light for production centres in Da Nang. The roll call of cities and provinces becoming destinations for international investment just grows and grows.

If all this seems amazing, please bear in mind that these are just a few strands of the narrative. Vietnam’s investment story is as multi-faceted as it is compelling.

Incredibly, however, the whole thing seems to be passing many by. I have been firmly settled in Vietnam for several years now, but when I do take trips back home, it never fails to surprise me just how outdated most people’s notion of Vietnam is – even those who profess to be very internationally-minded business people. They may see the stellar growth, but not necessarily all the measures being put in place to support and sustain it long term. They may appreciate the country’s manifest dynamism, but not the diligence with which its future is being built up.

That should spell opportunity to any ambitious investor – wherever in the world they may be. VNS

Brian Spence*

* Brian Spence is managing partner of S&P Investments. He has more than 35 years of experience in the UK financial services industry as an investment manager, financial planner and M&A specialist. He is a regular contributor to the UK financial press and has a deep understanding of the financial services community. Brian’s column will reflect on all the challenges and opportunities within the Vietnamese market, bringing a fresh perspective to today’s hottest issues. The columnist’s email address is brian@sandpinvestments.com.