Global logistics picture records Vietnam as 'bright spot'

The combination of favorable factors promises to make Vietnam a bright spot in the global logistics picture.

Lach Huyen Port is a key infrastructure project, connecting millions of tons of goods to the world , contributing to making Hai Phong an international logistics center of the region. Photo: LE DUNG

Global logistics costs are slowing, investment transactions are picking up again and demand for logistics space continues to rise. In Vietnam, businesses are not only looking at rental costs, but also considering total operating costs, multi-point distribution strategies and the long-term benefits of green buildings.

Meet international standards

As the global market shows recovery and stability, Vietnam is becoming an attractive destination for international investors thanks to its cost advantage and strategic location. However, success in Vietnam does not only come from cost advantage. Modern, efficient facilities will help control costs better in the long run. This is also an inevitable trend that both Vietnam and the world are moving towards. Therefore, businesses are increasingly concerned with operational efficiency, scalability and sustainability.

While base rents in Vietnam remain competitive, many tenants today are increasingly looking at total cost of operation (TCO) – from service fees, utilities, maintenance to delivery costs in the context of traffic congestion, especially with high energy consumption cold storage.

In addition to cost factors, ESG (environmental - social - governance) and green building standards such as LEED (US green building rating system), EDGE (international green building standard system) are also gradually becoming a part of warehouse leasing decisions.

Focusing on developing logistics infrastructure and high-tech industry is one of the three strategic breakthroughs proposed by the Dong Hai Ward Party Committee ( Hai Phong City) for the 2025-2030 term. Photo: LE DUNG

Anticipate demand

According to Mr. John Campbell, Director of Industrial Real Estate Services at Savills Vietnam, prioritizing flexibility and strategic accessibility has become an important criterion when choosing warehouse locations. Many businesses are expanding to secondary provinces such as Tay Ninh, Quang Ninh and Hung Yen, instead of just concentrating in Binh Duong (old), Hai Phong or Bac Ninh.

At the same time, demand for short-term and flexible leases is growing significantly in areas such as e-commerce, last-mile delivery and third-party logistics (3PL). New businesses from China, Korea and Europe also favor these contracts to test the market. However, multinational corporations or large manufacturers still prefer long-term contracts or build-to-suit models to secure space and control costs.

In addition, global demand for logistics space remains high. In the first half of 2025 alone, absorption reached 34 million sq ft, up 24.5% compared to the same period in 2024. This shows that the logistics industry still maintains a stable growth momentum, despite macroeconomic fluctuations. In Vietnam, the scarcity of high-quality logistics warehouse supply in key provinces and cities further highlights the importance of early planning to anticipate demand.

It can be seen that the Vietnamese logistics and warehousing market is in line with international trends: costs are more stable but operating pressure is increasing, the need for greater flexibility, ESG (environmental, social and governance) becomes mandatory criteria and international capital flows return strongly. The combination of these factors promises to make Vietnam a bright spot in the global logistics picture, provided that businesses know how to balance costs, quality and long-term vision.

PV (synthesis)

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/buc-tranh-logistics-toan-cau-ghi-nhan-diem-sang-viet-nam-520386.html