Vietnam’s chip sector on the grow
Vietnam is in a position to become the next chip design hub with Southeast Asia a natural choice for semiconductor factories looking to relocate outside of China.
The country has used billions of U.S. dollars in investments to set up research and education centers, attracting major chipmakers to shop there.
Vietnam has risen as the third largest chip exporter to the U.S., behind Malaysia and Taiwan, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications. In February 2023, its semiconductor exports to the U.S. reached $562.5 million, up from $321.7 million in February 2022.
Vietnam seeks to turn chip manufacturing into a major export earner. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Report.
Currently, most of Vietnam’s chip exports come from foreign-invested companies. Amid the trend, U.S. chip vendor Marvell Technology announced last week its plans to establish a world-class design center in Ho Chi Minh City.
The facility will house advanced semiconductor engineering and will be a top technology workplace for those looking to upgrade their skills and careers, Marvell said.
It intends to invest in the development of critical technical skills in Vietnam through a newly formed scholarship program in order to meet the talent requirements of its new design center in Vietnam, said the company. The program will support talented students pursuing degrees in engineering and computer science at selected universities in Vietnam.
The Marvell Scholarship program aims to strengthen critical engineering skills in Vietnam, expand female workforce representation at all levels and responsibilities, and improve diversity by recruiting from low-income regions.
"One of the major challenges of the global semiconductor industry is research and engineering shortage and this presents a huge opportunity for aspiring Vietnamese tech talents," said Loi Nguyen, executive VP of Marvell's optical and copper connectivity group and a native of HCMC.
"The establishment of Marvell's Design Center in Vietnam is a significant step towards bridging this talent gap and fostering the semiconductor industry in Vietnam," he said.
Last year, the U.S.-based electronic design automation (EDA) company Synopsys started to expand its investments in Vietnam, announcing its commitment to training Vietnamese chip designers in HCMC.
Dutch suppliers to giant chipmaker ASML Holding gauged reality in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia this March to build factories in the Southeast Asian markets. The mission’s purposes include “exploring the possibilities for establishment/production in Vietnam and/or Malaysia,” the Brabant Development Agency, a Dutch public body co-organizing the working trip, said in an announcement.
The other purposes are exploring the local business climate, finding available local support, learning from entrepreneurs who are already established, and building local networks, said the agency.
Vietnam has mostly focused on attracting big players in the semiconductor businesses to invest in the country. American giant Intel was the first major corporation to operate parts of the chip-making process in Vietnam, with its test and assembly facility based in HCMC, and Intel has so far invested $1.5 billion into the country, with fresh investments in the pipeline but Intel has not publicized the new amounts.
After Intel, other major global players like Samsung, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, SK Hynix, Hayward Quartz Technology, Synopsys, and NXP Semiconductors entered the country.
Today, more than half of Samsung smartphones are made in Vietnam, where the Korean giant launched a $220 million R&D center in late December in a fresh move expected to turn Vietnam into a global research and development hub.
In August 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on the Vietnamese tech giant to seriously and effectively implement plans for R&D, designing and manufacturing domestic chips.
Right after that, FPT, another Vietnamese tech giant, and Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast entered the world's semiconductor industry. FPT Software launched FPT Semiconductor, and through the new subsidiary, FPT Software aimed to gain a slice of Asia Pacific's semiconductor market, which accounts for 60% of global sales, the Hanoi-based firm said in September 2022
By 2023, FPT Semiconductor plans to supply 25 million chips globally, FPT Software said.
- Read More
Maintaining market status upgrade a bigger challenge: official
Vietnam's stock market status will be upgraded by FTSE Russell from "frontier" to "secondary emerging" from September 21 next year, but continued reform is critical as the bigger challenge is to maintain the new classification, said a market watchdog official.
Finance - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 1:30 pm GMT+7
HCMC partners with Nasdaq to develop int’l financial center
The Finance Department of Vietnam’s southern metropolis Ho Chi Minh City has signed an MoU with the U.S.-based stock exchange Nasdaq on the development of an international financial center (IFC).
Top News - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 11:56 am GMT+7
Vingroup plans $325 mln issuance of international bonds
Vietnam's leading private conglomerate Vingroup (HoSE: VIC) has announced a board of directors resolution to issue $325 million worth of international bonds, with a five-year term and a yield of 5.5% per year.
Companies - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 10:26 am GMT+7
Vietnam raises personal income tax deductions by over 40%
The Standing Committee of Vietnam’s National Assembly, the country's legislature, on Friday approved a resolution on adjusting personal income tax (PIT) deductions, marking a significant increase of over 40% from current levels.
Economy - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 9:11 am GMT+7
EVN subsidiary spreads the spirit of solidarity, compassion
The employees of National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) came together in an inspiring display of unity and compassion in October, each donating one day’s salary to support and express solidarity with the people of Cuba - a nation that has long shared a special friendship with Vietnam.
Companies - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 9:00 am GMT+7
Property fever prompts tighter inspection in central Vietnam's economic hub Danang
Chairman of Danang city People’s Committee, Pham Duc An, has ordered a comprehensive inspection and audit of land valuation and auction activities to prevent and address market manipulation that could destabilize the local property market.
Real Estate - Sat, October 18, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Vietnam mulls opening door for private investment in small modular reactors
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has drafted a parliamentary resolution that, for the first time, would allow private companies to participate in the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
Energy - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 4:37 pm GMT+7
Kido seeks buyer for remaining 49% stake in frozen food affiliate
Kido Group (HoSE: KDC), a leading food company in Vietnam, has approved a plan to divest the firm's remaining 49% stake in its affiliate Kido Frozen Food JSC (Kido Foods).
Companies - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 4:25 pm GMT+7
Le Ngoc Quang appointed Danang city's Party chief
Le Ngoc Quang, a Party Central Committee member and Party chief of Quang Tri province, has been appointed Party chief of Danang for the 2025-2030 term - the highest position in the city, central Vietnam's economic hub.
Politics - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 4:17 pm GMT+7
T&T Group seeks to reshape north-central Vietnam’s urban landscape with major projects
Multi-sector conglomerate T&T Group is developing a model eco-urban complex in Ha Tinh province and plans to build a massive 236-hectare urban area in neighboring Nghe An, with an aim to reshape north-central Vietnam's urban landscape.
Investing - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 2:44 pm GMT+7
Toyota plans $359 mln plant expansion in northern Vietnam
Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) plans to invest about VND9.46 trillion ($359.2 million) in the first phase of its plant expansion project in Phu Tho province.
Investing - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 2:09 pm GMT+7
PVI Insurance sees 9-month profit before tax more than doubling
PVI Insurance has reaffirmed its position as the No. 1 non-life insurer in Vietnam, with total revenue increasing nearly 1.4 times in the first nine months of 2025 and pre-tax profit more than doubling year-on-year - surpassing its full-year targets for both revenue and profit.
Companies - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 9:08 am GMT+7
Vingroup to develop 4,600ha coastal urban project in northern Vietnam
A consortium of Vingroup (HoSE: VIC) and its real estate arm Vinhomes (HoSE: VHM) will develop a 4,600-hectare coastal urban complex in Ha An ward, Quang Ninh province, following local authorities’ approval of a zoning plan.
Real Estate - Fri, October 17, 2025 | 8:30 am GMT+7
Indonesia resumes int’l carbon trading after 4-year hiatus
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has issued a new decree to restart international carbon emissions trading after a four-year hiatus.
Southeast Asia - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 9:23 pm GMT+7
Investors seek 2-year delay for $2.56 bln LNG power project in northern Vietnam, citing equipment hurdles
Investors of a $2.56 billion LNG-fired power plant in Hung Yen province have proposed delaying the project’s commercial operation schedule by two years due to difficulties securing key equipment.
Energy - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 9:04 pm GMT+7
Vietnam to soon raise taxpayers' personal deduction: official
The personal income tax deduction in Vietnam is "very likely" to increase to VND21.7 million ($823,940) per month, including VND15.5 million (588,530) for the taxpayer and VND6.2 million ($235,410) for each dependent.
Finance - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 6:25 pm GMT+7




















