The article titled “Why Vietnam could be Asia’s biggest trade war winner” quoted a senior economist at Natixis in China’s Hong Kong as saying “Vietnam is poised to capture some of China’s global market share in labour-intensive manufacturing”.
Vietnam is taking advantage of trade tensions to boost the nation’s profile as a manufacturing and export powerhouse, selling everything from shoes to smartphones. Trade amounts to about twice its gross domestic product - more than any country in Asia apart from Singapore, the economist said.
The article also looks at what makes Vietnam attractive to foreign investors.
Production workers in Vietnam are paid an average of 216 USD a month, less than half what their peers get in China. Thanks to government subsidies, electricity is also cheaper than in Indonesia and the Philippines, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com’s June data.
Vietnam also has one of the largest labour forces in Southeast Asia, at 57.5 million. That compares with 15.4 million for Malaysia and 44.6 million for the Philippines, according to the World Bank.
Regarding trade deals, Vietnamese leaders have pursued free trade agreements with the Republic of Korea and Europe and signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in March this year.
Vietnam completed a trade deal with the EU in June that will eliminate almost all tariffs. In Southeast Asia, only Singapore has a similar agreement with the EU.
Vietnam’s government is also making it easier for foreign investors to do business with a proposed securities law allowing 100 percent foreign ownership of public companies, except those in restricted sectors like banking and telecommunications.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam is surging, with the government expecting disbursed FDI to rise to a record 18 billion USD this year.
Vietnam’s proximity to China also adds to its appeal, according to the article.
Chinese companies that need raw materials or product components from the US will find it easier to source these goods via Vietnam.
In addition, Vietnam is China’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam boasts one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, forecast to expand at about 7 percent this year. The dong has been relatively stable in 2018, compared with other currencies in Asia.
“Strong economic growth and political stability are very important to investors,” said Tony Foster, the Hanoi-based managing partner in Vietnam for law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
Relating to this topic, Erik Lundh, senior economist of the Conference Board, a non-profit independent economy research organisation in the US, told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in the US that many multinational groups which previously depended on China have considered building manufacturing workshops in countries like Vietnam because of the labour cost advantage and fewer risks posed by the US-China trade war.
According to the expert, to succeed like China over the past two decades, Vietnam should aim to become a high-tech manufacturing destination and focus on developing high quality human resources.
VNA
(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).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
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