Ho Chi Minh City remains attractive to foreign investors because of its market scale, new development space and institutional reforms. International capital is increasingly moving into high technology, modern infrastructure and sustainable development.
Turning that potential into quality projects will require greater transparency, predictable policy, reliable energy and connected infrastructure. This was heard at the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City Investment Cooperation Forum, hosted on November 2 by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre and Fortune Asia magazine.
Investors seek quality capital
ITPC Director Pham Quang Nhat said the city attracted 19.1 billion USD in foreign direct investment during the first 10 months of 2026, equal to 73.9% of its annual plan. It has more than 22,036 valid projects worth over 157.4 billion USD and remains Vietnam’s leading destination for foreign investment.
Capital is shifting towards larger projects with more technology and longer horizons. Nhat cited three trends: a move towards high technology and digital infrastructure, greater interest in infrastructure and logistics, and foreign confidence turning into actual investment. He cited the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, worth more than 4.9 billion USD, which recently received an investment registration certificate with one of the world’s leading container port operators.
From January to October, operating projects registered nearly 5.7 billion USD in additional capital. Foreign investors also made more than 1,611 contributions to or purchases of shares in domestic companies.
Nguyen Loc Ha, Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the city is gaining development space from the expansion of its administrative boundaries. Ho Chi Minh City combines advantages in finance, services, industry, seaports and logistics, along with a large consumer market and developed financial and commercial services.
The city is targeting double-digit growth and aims to become an Asian economic, financial and service hub by 2045. It seeks long-term partners in strategic infrastructure, high technology, finance, logistics and green energy, with priority for projects linked to technology transfer, advanced governance and workforce development.
Andrew Staples, Editorial Director of Fortune Asia, said companies in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 ranking for 2026, based on 2025 data, posted total revenue of 1.88 trillion USD, up 3.4%, and total profit of 150 billion USD. The 72 Vietnamese companies on the list recorded 177.9 billion USD in revenue, up 10.5%, three times the Southeast Asian average. They accounted for about a quarter of the ranking’s revenue growth although their initial share was below 10%.
Staples said the figures create opportunities for cooperation in industrial upgrading, automation, electrification, energy management, advanced materials and resource-efficient production, as well as supplier development, technical training, international recruitment, equity investment, joint ventures and project finance.
Investors want predictability, power and transparency
Travis Mitchell, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, said Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City, is well placed to attract US investment because of its startup scene, skilled workforce and high-tech potential. The US takes about 32% of Vietnam’s export turnover, or around 130 billion USD a year. US companies are most interested in semiconductors, high technology and healthcare.
The goal of developing about 50,000 high-tech engineers by 2030 is expected to help Vietnam enter global technology value chains more deeply. Attracting such projects will require stable power at a reasonable cost, renewable energy development and better policy, including Power Development Plan VIII and the power purchase mechanism.
Mitchell also stressed transparency and policy predictability. Improving the business environment, supporting research and innovation, and enabling technology adoption will help companies plan long-term investments, expand and add value in Vietnam.
Wesley Chua, Treasurer and Executive Board Member of the Singapore Business Association in Vietnam, said Vietnam has made progress in its legal environment and transport, seaport and logistics infrastructure. He cited the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park model in Binh Duong as an example of long-term cooperation. Rules on cross-border payments, double-taxation avoidance and investment policy affect planning, expansion and reinvestment.
Ho Chi Minh City can attract more Singaporean capital in services, logistics, infrastructure and the digital economy, but it needs effective institutions, connected infrastructure and stable energy.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
