“When Ho Chi Minh City established a free-trade zone (FTZ) of 4,174 hectares (ha) beside the Cai Mep port complex in the south of Vietnam in late July, Vietnam gained a third FTZ spanning the length of its coastline.”
“This followed the establishment of a roughly 1,881 ha zone in the central city of Da Nang in June 2025 and a 6,292 ha zone in the northern city of Hai Phong four months later…”
“Hai Phong’s 6,292 ha FTZ spans three non-contiguous sites linked to economic zones, including two sites around Lach Huyen – northern Vietnam’s international deep-water gateway.”
“The wager is straightforward: Foreign-invested high-technology companies already manufacturing across northern Vietnam – including South Korea’s mobile-phone giant Samsung and Apple supplier Foxconn of Taiwan – could be encouraged to expand their higher-value activities within the region.”
“Its proximity to China-linked supply chains, combined with more streamlined inventory management, regional distribution, logistics and customs clearance under the FTZ regime could strengthen Hai Phong’s appeal as a high-tech manufacturing and export hub…”
“[Da Nang’s] roughly 1,881 ha FTZ is spread across seven non-contiguous sites and designed to draw on connections to Lien Chieu Port and Da Nang International Airport, while developing alongside the city’s component of the Vietnam International Financial Centre…”
“The southern [Ho Chi Minh City] project is the boldest maritime wager…”