Ways to sustain growth for businesses in Vietnam

To maintain growth momentum and move up international value chains, businesses in Vietnam should focus on enhancing their capabilities in three areas: talent, technology and governance. General Director Dinh Thi Quynh Van of PwC Vietnam underscored this today at the Vietnam Business Summit 2018 held in Hanoi.

Around 1,300 delegates from Vietnam, ASEAN and top trading partners such as the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea took part in the high-level conference, which was organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry within the framework of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018.

Themed “Vietnam – We mean business: Connect and Innovate”, the summit saw Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and World Economic Forum President Borge Brende deliver keynote addresses and hold dialogues with the business community around Vietnam’s role in the ASEAN and global value chains. 

 The event offered local and foreign enterprises the chance to meet with business and government leaders in ASEAN and beyond, gain an insight into Vietnam’s economy, as well as explore new business opportunities in key areas of investment attraction.

Enhancing capabilities for growth

Representing PwC Vietnam – the knowledge partner of the summit, General Director Dinh Thi Quynh Van delivered a speech during the session ‘Vietnam – Connect and Innovate: New business opportunities’. She also joined top leaders from the Vietnamese government, the Asian Development Bank, Citi Vietnam and Vietjet Air in a panel discussion.

Latest research shows that Vietnam’s growth in GDP, FDI inflows, labour force and middle-income consumer base has consistently outperformed many of its regional peers. Ms. Quynh Van said that these all added to Vietnam’s reputation as one of the rising stars of ASEAN and the global economy. However, she pointed out that the country’s advantage of low labour costs will become less valuable over the coming years, as new technologies and changing global trade dynamics threaten this core value proposition.

“In order to grow sustainably, businesses should invest in three key areas: technology, talent and governance,” Ms. Quynh Van emphasised. “Under the impact of Industry 4.0, companies should seriously consider transforming their business to become smarter, more efficient, and more risk-resilient and transparent. For that, they’ll need to equip themselves with the right technologies, the skilled people to operate those technologies, and the appropriate governance structure.”

“Businesses will need to take the lead in this process, but the Government will have a role to play in facilitating the change, especially with regards to the capacity of institutions, skill supply and infrastructure for digital connectivity,” she added.

Improving regional ties

On the occasion of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN and Vietnam Business Summit, PwC introduced the comprehensive study “The Future of ASEAN – Time to Act” about ASEAN economies, and released a special publication named “The Future of ASEAN: Vietnam Perspective”, which provides an in-depth look into Vietnam’s growth fundamentals and competitiveness in comparison with ASEAN peers.

The Vietnam Perspective report focuses on sectors that have great potential for development, including financial services, consumer goods, and infrastructure – transportation. For each featured sector, the report compares Vietnam against other markets in ASEAN and highlights the main growth areas and opportunities that investors can leverage on.

“We believe that developing these sectors will help Vietnam improve its position in the region, as well as its capacity for collaboration. Besides the “hard infrastructure” like railways, roads and ports that will be essential to improve cross-border connectivity, the financial services sector will provide the “soft infrastructure” needed to boost commercial and investment activities,” Ms. Quynh Van explained.

Once among the smaller economies in ASEAN, Vietnam has risen into the middle-income bracket and is recognised as one of the most dynamic emerging countries in the region. 

According to experts from PwC and other international organisations attending the World Economic Forum on ASEAN week, the country will continue to offer promising prospects for the business community. The key to success is to thoroughly understand Vietnam’s business landscape, by identifying the opportunities and challenges for growth.

PSNews

Other News

Vietnam accelerates innovation to boost growth, competitiveness

Vietnam accelerates innovation to boost growth, competitiveness

By 2030, Vietnam aims to rank among the world’s top 40 in the GII; raise total social investment in R&D to at least 2% of GDP, with non-State funding accounting for over 60%; increase international scientific publications by an average of 10% annually; and raise the number of patent applications and granted patents by an average of 16-18% annually.

Vietnam sees high growth prospects

Vietnam sees high growth prospects

Experts from the Institute of Vietnam and World Economy under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences noted the quality of recent growth as the high growth rate has been recorded against an increasingly higher comparative base.

Vietnam seeks bigger share of global Halal market

Vietnam seeks bigger share of global Halal market

Vietnam's Halal exports remain modest at around 900 million USD a year, accounting for less than 1% of the global market. Most exports are still raw agricultural and seafood products. Only around 1,000–1,300 Vietnamese businesses obtained or maintained Halal certification during 2024–2026.

Hanoi sets up inter-agency mechanism to operate carbon market

Hanoi sets up inter-agency mechanism to operate carbon market

Under a decision of the municipal People’s Committee on establishing an inter-agency working group, departments and agencies are responsible for identifying facilities subject to greenhouse gas inventories, developing emissions-reduction plans and studying projects capable of generating carbon credits.

Shrimp exports reach 3.3 billion USD in eight months

Shrimp exports reach 3.3 billion USD in eight months

According to data from the Vietnam Customs cited by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), shrimp exports reached 478.5 million USD in August, up 4.2% from the same month last year. The eight-month total stood at 3.3 billion USD, representing a year-on-year increase of 12%.

Russian investors explore opportunities in Vietnam's real estate market

Russian investors explore opportunities in Vietnam's real estate market

Vietnam is seen as a potential market, with considerable room for growth in real estate, particularly commercial property, compared with some regional markets. Strong Vietnam-Russia ties and opportunities to establish foreign-invested enterprises are also considered favourable for Russian investors.

Phu Quoc airport planning adjusted to serve APEC 2027

Phu Quoc airport planning adjusted to serve APEC 2027

For 2021-2030, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam proposed bringing forward the investment in a parallel taxiway system and a connecting taxiway north of Runway No. 2 at Phu Quoc International Airport, in order to connect with the aircraft maintenance and repair facility (hangar) planned for the northern area of ​​the airport.

Policy, infrastructure emerge as new advantages in FDI attraction

Policy, infrastructure emerge as new advantages in FDI attraction

From policy and infrastructure to industrial real estate, Vietnam’s FDI advantages are broadening towards a more integrated production ecosystem, offering investors a stronger combination of conditions for high-value, technology-intensive and long-term projects.

Logistics upgrade vital to 1-trillion-USD trade target: experts

Logistics upgrade vital to 1-trillion-USD trade target: experts

As trade expands, systemic bottlenecks across transport networks, warehousing, ports, border gates, and industrial zones are becoming more apparent. Experts emphasise the need to shift from a fragmented, project-by-project approach toward strategic management structured around trade corridors and integrated supply chains.

Ample room for Vietnam, US to deepen cooperation

Ample room for Vietnam, US to deepen cooperation

Do Ngoc Hung, Trade Counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, said what stands out is not only the growth in trade volume but also the increasingly deep economic ties between the two countries.

Flexible fiscal policy helps drive economic growth

Flexible fiscal policy helps drive economic growth

According to the Ministry of Finance, State budget revenue in the first eight months of 2026 was estimated at 2.02 quadrillion VND (77.7 billion USD), equivalent to 80% of the annual estimate and up 16% year-on-year. Domestic revenue reached 1.75 quadrillion VND, accounting for 86.6% of total revenue and rising 16.6%.

Electronic components are produced at a factory in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi's imports surge 41% in first eight months of 2026

Hanoi aims to achieve average annual export growth of at least 12% during 2026-30, with the city seeking to diversify export markets, boost high-tech and value-added products and reduce reliance on traditional markets.