Tech giants are flocking to build their nests.

According to Tech in Asia, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in Southeast Asia are rapidly changing, with countries like Vietnam and Indonesia becoming key locations in the international technology ecosystem.

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Nvidia is making strategic investments in Vietnam in artificial intelligence. (Illustrative image)

While Indonesia primarily leverages its position as the region's largest consumer market, Vietnam has also made significant strides in its efforts to move beyond its role as a conventional manufacturing hub.

Vietnam has successfully attracted Nvidia to invest in building the company's third research and development (R&D) center globally (after the US and Taiwan - China); an artificial intelligence (AI) data center; and the acquisition of VinBrain - an AI startup belonging to Vingroup .

“Artificial intelligence presents an extraordinary opportunity for Vietnam. Vietnam’s strong encouragement and support for this field will be a major boost to building an artificial intelligence ecosystem for Vietnam and Nvidia,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a statement.

The AI ​​giant's significant investment in Vietnam not only marks an important step but also creates a strong ripple effect, attracting the attention of international high-tech investors, especially in the AI ​​and semiconductor sectors.

Nvidia's Research and Development (R&D) center in Vietnam will play a crucial role in developing the AI ​​ecosystem, attracting the participation of many companies that supply equipment for data centers.

Besides Nvidia, Vietnam is also attracting the attention of many leading global technology corporations.

In October, Meta (owner of popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram) announced it would expand production of its Quest 3S mixed reality device in Vietnam.

The planned expansion is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs and contribute millions of dollars to the Vietnamese economy , according to Nick Clegg, President of Global External Affairs for the corporation.

Moreover, as part of its global AI strategy, Meta has launched a trial of its Vietnamese-language AI assistant for users in Vietnam, even before the European region.

"All of this demonstrates Meta's confidence in Vietnam's success," a Meta representative said.

Last December, tech giant Google officially announced that it had chosen Vietnam as a strategic destination for investment expansion; accordingly, from 2025, Google Vietnam will officially begin operations to support domestic businesses and promote the country's digital transformation.

Besides the three giants mentioned above, most of the world's leading technology companies such as Qualcomm, Foxconn, SpaceX, Apple, Lam Research, Qorvo, etc., have already undertaken or are currently undertaking large-scale investment projects in Vietnam, demonstrating that Vietnam is on track to become a regional high-tech hub and simultaneously enhancing the country's position in the global technology supply chain.

Aspiration to rise

Foreign experts assess that the factors contributing to Vietnam's attractiveness are diverse, ranging from a young, tech-savvy population, supportive government policies, and a strategic geographical location.

The recent influx and increased investment by leading technology corporations such as Nvidia, Meta, and Google into Vietnam is not only a sign of a shift in global strategy, but also reflects Vietnam's promising development prospects in the high-tech industry.

This is clear evidence that Vietnam is becoming one of the emerging technology hubs in the region.

“Vietnam not only has abundant human resources but is also demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting the development of high-tech businesses. This is why we have chosen Vietnam as our next destination for strategic projects,” CEO Jensen Huang stated.

Meanwhile, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, stated: “Vietnam has enormous potential to become a technology innovation hub in Southeast Asia. We are committed to partnering with the country in developing its digital infrastructure and training its workforce.”

International analysts believe that investment in the digital sector will play a crucial role in Vietnam's economy in the coming years.

Foreign capital inflows into the technology sector in particular, and all sectors in general, will support Vietnam's goal of achieving economic growth of around 7.5% by 2025.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg notes that the presence of Nvidia, Meta, Google, and other tech giants not only brings development opportunities to the technology sector but also creates a ripple effect on other industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and services. According to Bloomberg's estimates, investments from Nvidia or Google could contribute an additional 1% to Vietnam's annual GDP over the next decade.

Furthermore, collaborating with leading technology corporations also helps Vietnam enhance its position on the international stage, expand its opportunities for cooperation with countries and global organizations, and reflects progress in building a strong technological foundation for the future.