Vietnam currently hosts over 170 foreign-invested semiconductor projects with a total registered capital approaching $11.6 billion, according to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong.

The information was shared during the opening ceremony of SEMI EXPO Vietnam 2025, the country’s largest semiconductor and electronics exhibition, held on November 7.

The event brought together global technology corporations, government agencies, academics, and industry experts, marking Vietnam’s growing presence in the international semiconductor arena.

Vietnam emerges as a strategic hub for leading chipmakers

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong emphasized that the semiconductor industry is a strategic technology sector, playing a pivotal role in enhancing competitiveness, driving economic growth, and asserting national strength.

Vietnam's semiconductor industry currently includes over 170 foreign-invested projects, involving around 60 design firms, eight packaging and testing projects, and roughly 20 enterprises supplying materials and equipment.

According to Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Tam, major tech players like Samsung, Intel, Amkor, Foxconn, and Hana Micron continue to expand operations in Vietnam, citing cost-effectiveness, productivity, and high-quality output as key factors.

Global giants such as NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Coherent, and Marvell have also chosen Vietnam as a strategic base for semiconductor R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain expansion.

“These achievements reflect global investor confidence and highlight Vietnam's strategic leap toward knowledge-based growth, innovation, and international collaboration,” Tam noted.

Linda Tan, President of SEMI Southeast Asia, praised Vietnam’s continuous policy updates, infrastructure improvements, and investment in human capital, which have helped build a dynamic and robust semiconductor ecosystem.

This year’s SEMI EXPO Vietnam welcomed over 250 exhibition booths from 19 different global regions, demonstrating strong international interest.

Vietnam’s four core strategies for semiconductor development

Vietnam aims not only to participate in the global semiconductor value chain but also to build a competitive, advanced, and appealing semiconductor ecosystem that supports national autonomy and sustainable development.

Despite current challenges such as limited high-tech human resources, an underdeveloped ecosystem, and modest domestic demand, Vietnam benefits from geopolitical advantages, deep international integration, double-digit growth in electronics exports, a young population, legal and policy flexibility, and strong political will from the highest leadership levels.

According to Deputy Minister Phuong, political will is perhaps Vietnam’s strongest asset in advancing its semiconductor ambitions. The government has approved a strategy to develop the semiconductor industry through 2030, with a vision to 2050, built on the formula: C = SET +1.

Here, “C” stands for “Chip,” structured around three pillars:
S – Specialized chips,
E – Electronics industry,
T – Talent.
The “+1” symbolizes foreign investment, seen as a key driver in elevating Vietnam’s position in the global supply chain.

Phuong elaborated on four core guiding principles for this strategy:

First, mobilize resources and introduce special incentives to support research, design, and production of specialized chips for sustainable development across electronics, IoT, and other sectors.

Second, integrate semiconductor advancement with the broader electronics and digital transformation landscape, positioning it within Vietnam’s national industrial development framework.

Third, prioritize investment in high-quality human resources. Vietnam aims to become a global semiconductor talent hub, establishing major laboratories and specialized university programs backed by supportive policies.

Finally, Vietnam will leverage its geopolitical position and strategic partnerships to become a new destination in global supply chain diversification.

Vietnam’s private sector joins the global race

From the business side, Nguyen Cuong Hoang, Director of the Viettel Semiconductor Center, said the company has followed the SET +1 model since 2017.

Viettel focuses on developing specialized chips for telecommunications and finance, viewing the broader electronics sector as a springboard for semiconductor commercialization.

On talent development, Viettel aims to build a domestic IT workforce and cultivate 10 world-class experts. In terms of foreign investment, Viettel leverages Vietnam’s geopolitical role to attract global partnerships in the semiconductor supply chain.

Hoang also revealed Viettel’s plan to establish Vietnam’s first high-tech semiconductor manufacturing plant dedicated to chip design and electronic device production.

This initiative is a cornerstone of Vietnam’s National Semiconductor Development Strategy through 2030, aiming to complete the domestic value chain.

“The plant will stimulate industries from science and technology to education and training. It will serve as a nucleus for chip design development, targeting 100 design firms and 15,000 engineers by 2030,” Hoang stated.

Du Lam