Analysts say that the biggest investors from the Philippines, the hottest economy in Asia, have been heading for Vietnam, where they can see great business opportunities in essential sectors, including food and beverage, infrastructure, clean water and pharmaceuticals.
Vinh Hoan Company (VHC), a Vietnamese big seafood exporter, in late May 2014, unexpectedly announced it had transferred 70 percent of the stakes VHC held in Vinh Hoan 1 Feed Company (VHF) to a Filipino company, reaping $19.6 million.
The buyer was Pilmico International, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, specializing in making animal feed in the Philippines.
Analysts noted that the sale of the fourth largest feed plant in Vietnam with the capacity of 130,000 tons per annum, brought high profits to Vinh Hoan, which built the plant with VND70 billion, or $3.4 million only.
The two sides agreed that the other 30 percent of VHF that VHC is holding will be transferred to Pilmico within five years at negotiable prices.
Prior to that, a Filipino fast food chain, Jollibee, spent $25 million to buy 50 percent of Pho 24, a well-known pho (noodles served with beef or chicken) brand, and a famous café brand, Highlands Coffee.
With the deal, Jollibee became better known to Vietnamese and the brand is mentioned with McDonald’s and KFC when people list the big fast food chains in Vietnam.
Most recently, a large Filipino food group, Universal Robina Corp (URC), has taken big steps in its plan to expand its business plan in Vietnam.
The group announced it will turn Vietnam, with 90 million consumers, into a key market which can bring $1 billion.
URC emerged in the domestic food and beverage (F&B) market recently when it launched C2 bottled green tea, a product considered a direct rival to Tan Hiep Phat, and Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola.
Analysts noted that Filipinos have also been keen on infrastructure projects. In late 2013, Manila Water South Asia Holdings Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the Filipino Manila Water Company Inc, bought 18.37 million SII’s stakes, a Vietnamese water infrastructure company, worth VND310 billion.
The fact that Manila Water injected money into SII was not a surprise at all. Analysts noted that infrastructure is one of the business fields Filipino investors are most interested in.
Ayala Group, the holding group of Manila Water, is a big infrastructure investor in HCM City which has poured big money into many infrastructure development firms, including CII, where it holds 10 percent of shares, SII (44 percent), Kenh Dong Water Supply Company (47 percent) and 49 percent of Thu Duc Water Supply Company.
Reuters has recently reported that Metro Pacific Investments Corp, another major Filipino infrastructure investor, is considering a transport infrastructure project in Vietnam.
Analysts have noted that the investments by these major companies from the Philippines in Vietnam have been profitable, and have resulted in bigger market share.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
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