Wave of high-tech FDI accelerates
One of the world's largest high-tech corporations - NVIDIA Group (about 4,500 billion USD, early 2026) - with the establishment of the Research and Development (R&D) Center in Vietnam is an important milestone. This is the result of a policy to attract high-tech FDI in the right direction, in line with the spirit of Resolution 50 in the context of increasing global technology competition. NVIDIA's presence not only attracts more large technology corporations from the US, Europe, China... but also affirms that Vietnam has the potential to become a R&D center and participate more deeply in the semiconductor and high-end electronic component value chain, gradually escaping the "trade pit" of low value.
This also shows that Vietnam's infrastructure, human resources and investment environment are meeting high standards, opening up opportunities to receive technology transfer and master core technology. FDI into Vietnam is therefore moving into a new phase, focusing on source technology and strategic technology, contributing to promoting in-depth growth, improving productivity and competitiveness.
Since 2021, after issuing Resolution 50 and signing 17 free trade agreements, including new generation FTAs such as EVFTA, CPTPP, UKVFTA, Vietnam has attracted an average of about 24 billion USD of FDI capital implemented each year; in 2025 alone, it reached a record of 27.5 billion USD. Many high-tech projects are invested in production and export, taking advantage of incentives from agreements along with advantages in human resources, land and taxes.
The FDI sector accounts for over 70% of total export turnover, continuously having a trade surplus in the 2016-2025 period; the proportion of high-tech goods reached 36% of total manufacturing turnover, higher than the ASEAN and world average. This shows that the direction of attracting high-quality FDI is increasingly clear.
The appraisal and licensing of projects are also tightened at both the central and local levels; many projects that do not meet technology and environmental protection standards have been rejected.
However, FDI into the high-tech sector in Vietnam still faces many challenges, regarding ensuring the ecosystem operates fully and synchronously for a long time. Although the institution has improved, the licensing time is still long, administrative procedures are not really streamlined and transparent; informal costs are still a barrier.
Technical infrastructure, especially green energy and clean water for large-scale projects, is still limited; transportation, logistics and digital infrastructure are continuing to be completed. High-quality human resources are still lacking. The plan to train 100,000 semiconductor and AI engineers by 2035 may not meet the needs as semiconductor, new energy, AI, automation, new materials... projects develop strongly, requiring a scale of human resources of up to millions of highly skilled workers, especially in the context of the golden population structure ending after 2036.
Spending on research and development (R&D) is still low, about 0.5% of GDP in 2025, while developed countries reach 1.5-2% of GDP, limiting innovation capacity. In addition, competition to attract FDI is increasingly fierce from countries with large markets, high incentives, and a more transparent environment. The application of a global minimum tax of 15% also reduces competitive space by tax incentives, forcing Vietnam to shift to improving the quality of the investment environment and internal capacity.
Setting high-quality FDI as a strategic priority
From 2026, attracting high-tech, high-quality FDI and green capital flows needs to be placed in strategic priority. In the context of increasingly fierce global competition, Vietnam must implement synchronous, substantive and more effective solutions.
First of all, it is necessary to affirm that FDI continues to play an important role in promoting growth, creating jobs, receiving high technology, modern management models, large capital sources and expanding markets. FDI attraction must be associated with the requirement to improve strategic autonomy in technology and strategic technology products; and at the same time promote structural shifts, energy transformation, management innovation and synchronous development of market types. It is necessary to summarize 40 years of FDI attraction and strengthen communication about the new stage orientation.
Second, continue to improve institutions in the direction of improving project selection standards, prioritizing high technology, core technology and high added value. Proactively build an ecosystem of technology learning, digital transformation and commercialization of research results; develop a network of domestic enterprises participating in the supply chain, supporting industries with high quality and competitiveness.
Third, promote investment in modern infrastructure: digital infrastructure, 5G/6G telecommunications, logistics, finance - banking, seaports, airports, transportation and green energy. It is necessary to digitize public services, shorten appraisal and licensing time; shift from management thinking to serving development; ensure transparency, legal synchronization and minimize unofficial costs.
Fourth, focus on developing high-quality human resources, increasing investment in innovation, promoting the private economic sector and a team of entrepreneurs with sufficient capacity to become reliable partners of international corporations.
Finally, innovate investment promotion work towards professionalism and efficiency; promote the role of economic diplomacy, the Vietnamese community abroad and long-term strategic investors. Close companionship between the State and businesses will create a foundation for attracting high-tech, green and sustainable FDI in the new period.
