On October 5, 2025, the Government issued Resolution No. 306/NQ-CP to adjust the National Master Plan, marking a strategic turning point in restructuring the country’s development space into six socio-economic regions. This adjustment aims not only to optimize regional linkages and resources but also to affirm Vietnam’s determination to shift its growth model: prioritizing the attraction of high-quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), applying modern technology, and adhering to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the specific strengths of each region according to the new planning direction, clarifies the central role of the Southeast Region (SE) with Ho Chi Minh City as its core, and suggests potential investment areas, helping investors develop a suitable site selection strategy for sustainable growth goals.
Table of Contents/Mục lục
PART I: NATIONAL STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AND THE CONTEXT OF ECONOMIC SPACE RESTRUCTURING
1.1. Strategic Legal Basis: Resolution 306/NQ-CP and the Reorganization of Development Space
On October 5, 2025, the Government issued Resolution No. 306/NQ-CP to adjust the National Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. This document serves as a strategic legal basis, reshaping the national development space by reorganizing the country into six socio-economic regions. The key objective of this adjustment is to “build a regional organizational model and coordination mechanism to implement intra-regional linkages and promote inter-regional linkages, improving the efficiency of resource utilization.”
The reorganization of economic space aims to address existing issues of weak regional linkages and the overlapping, unsynchronized nature of previous provincial-level planning. This adjustment demonstrates the government’s effort to optimize the allocation of public investment capital and put an end to inefficient competition among localities. For foreign investors (FDI), this creates a more transparent and stable strategic framework for infrastructure development plans. However, it also places higher demands on FDI projects, requiring them to have inter-provincial influence and align with the overall regional and national master plans to receive the highest support and priority.
1.2. Global Trends: The Demand for Sustainable (ESG) and High-Tech Investment
Vietnam’s FDI attraction trend is shifting strongly, focusing on quality rather than quantity. The government prioritizes attracting “large investment projects, modern technology applications, multinational corporations, major investors, and enterprises in global supply chains.” This shift is linked to international requirements for sustainable development and the environment.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria have become a decisive factor. An increasing number of new-generation FDI businesses, such as Lego Group, Pandora, and Tripod, prioritize selecting industrial parks (IPs) with green ecosystems, full utilities, and services, in addition to traditional criteria like location and infrastructure quality. The increase in FDI capital (total registered capital reached over 24.78 billion USD in the first nine months of 2024) is accompanied by the requirement to develop “key industries, foundational industries; high-tech, modern, environmentally friendly, and low-carbon emission industries.”
The demand for green IPs is not just about complying with environmental regulations. The Southeast Region has shown a rapid response by investing in upgrading the capacity of centralized wastewater treatment and building ecological/smart IPs. More importantly, this model extends to social utilities (the S factor in ESG), including building social housing, multi-functional urban areas, and support services for workers. The development of this supporting infrastructure signals significant investment opportunities for urban development, healthcare, education, and social housing sectors accompanying the IPs. This is an essential strategy to attract and retain high-quality human resources in the context of labor competition.
1.3. Improving the Investment Environment and National Financial Position
To maintain growth momentum and attract high-quality FDI capital, improving the investment environment is a prerequisite. This includes removing legal bottlenecks, enhancing the quality of administrative reform, and tightening administrative discipline and order.
In terms of financial capacity, the Red River Delta Region has affirmed its leading position, ranking first nationwide in state budget revenue, reaching over 814.6 trillion VND in the first eight months of 2025, accounting for 46.8% of the country’s total revenue. This strong financial capacity of the key economic regions ensures the ability to invest in large-scale public infrastructure projects, creating a solid foundation for the implementation of the National Master Plan. Provinces like Ha Tinh also show strong growth, with the economic scale increasing 1.5 times compared to 2020 and total social investment increasing by 47%.
PART II: DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE 06 SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGIONS AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Resolution 306/NQ-CP divides the development space into six socio-economic regions, each with different strengths and priority orientations to optimize resources. The following analysis details these strengths and suggests priority FDI areas.
2.1. The Southeast Region (SE) and its Economic-Technology Nucleus Position
The Southeast Region (SE), with Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) as the economic, financial, and innovation center, holds a leading role in restructuring the quality of FDI, aiming for double-digit growth in 2025. This is the region with the most outstanding strength compared to others in its ability to attract and manage high-standard (ESG) and long-term oriented FDI capital flows.
Leading in ESG and Green Industry: While the Red River Delta Region leads in total registered capital in the recent period, the Southeast Region leads in quality and sustainable development orientation. The region’s core strategy is to build a green industrial ecosystem, with ecological, smart, and sustainable IPs, to meet the increasingly strict ESG criteria of new-generation investors. Major multinational corporations, such as Lego Group, Pandora, and Tripod Vietnam, have prioritized selecting IPs in this area (such as Chau Duc IP) for their ability to meet green production criteria, integrating full utilities and support services. This priority shows a high strategic compatibility between the region’s development orientation and the global demand for responsible investment.
HCMC: Financial and Innovation Hub: HCMC is the nucleus for utilities, finance, and science and technology in the region. The addition of many housing projects allowing foreign ownership in HCMC strengthens its ability to attract high-quality human resources and international experts.
Strategic Logistics Infrastructure Development: The Southeast Region is focused on solving its biggest infrastructure bottleneck—the overload of Tan Son Nhat Airport—by implementing key transport projects and especially Long Thanh Airport. The development of a green port model and a large-scale clean water supply network (serving Long Thanh Airport) demonstrates a comprehensive vision for a smart and sustainable logistics system.
Key FDI Areas in the Southeast Region (SE):
- Ecological Industry and Innovation: Focus on high-tech, clean, and high value-added projects in ecological IPs.
- Supporting Infrastructure (Utility & Social Infrastructure): Invest in developing social housing, multi-functional urban areas, and support services.
- Strategic Logistics: Develop green port models, smart logistics, and optimize transport infrastructure connecting Long Thanh Airport.
2.2. The Red River Delta Region (DRD)
The Red River Delta Region continues to affirm its position as an economic leader, ranking first nationwide in GRDP growth rate (reaching 9.32% in the first six months of 2025) and being a top FDI attraction point, accounting for 49.2% of the country’s total registered capital in the first eight months of 2025.
DRD’s competitive advantage lies in its synchronized transport infrastructure, with a network of 13 expressways connecting provinces to the Capital. This strengthens the region’s position as a global manufacturing hub, especially in the electronics supply chain (Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen). However, the region is facing the challenge of having to transform its growth model, as the current development model “is not commensurate with its potential, and has not formed strong enough value chains or industry clusters.”
Notable Comparison: While DRD focuses on maintaining mass production and addressing the issue of raw material dependence, SE is pioneering the shift to a Quality Restructuring model and setting new ESG standards for the entire country.
2.3. The Mekong River Delta Region (MDR)
The Mekong River Delta (MDR) is a key agricultural region with great potential for renewable energy. The region’s main strategy is to diversify its economy, promote processing industries, services, and renewable energy, to reduce dependence on traditional agriculture.
Specific FDI Opportunities: Renewable Energy (Wind/Solar Power), Deep Processing of Agricultural and Aquatic Products, and Cold Logistics Infrastructure.
2.4. The North Central Region (NC)
The North Central Region has a strategic position as a North-South bridge and possesses great potential for maritime economy and deep-water ports (e.g., Nghi Son, Vung Ang). This area has seen rapid economic growth, for example, Ha Tinh, with the scale of its economy increasing 1.5 times compared to 2020.
Priority FDI Areas: Foundational Industries, Energy, Maritime Logistics, Heritage Tourism.
2.5. The South Central Coast and Central Highlands Region (SC/CH)
This region is oriented to develop based on a harmonious combination of the advantages of the maritime economy and tourism (Da Nang, Khanh Hoa) with the potential of highland agriculture. Grouping the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands into a single, contiguous economic space creates great opportunities for FDI in developing inter-regional logistics.
Key FDI Areas: High-end Tourism and Services, Maritime Economy and Modern Fishery Logistics, High-tech and Deep-processing Agriculture.
2.6. The Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region (NM)
The Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region possesses great potential for forestry, minerals, hydropower, tourism, and border-gate economy. The region’s development strategy focuses on applying science and technology (S&T) and innovation to increase economic value, especially in agriculture and forestry.
FDI Opportunities: High-tech Agriculture and Forestry, Renewable Energy, Eco-tourism. FDI projects need to integrate advanced technology for surveying, forecasting natural disaster impacts, and responding promptly, creating a niche market segment for the adaptive technology sector.
PART III: CONCLUSION AND STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1. Analysis of FDI Flows and ESG Compatibility Requirements
The adjustment of the National Master Plan under Resolution 306/NQ-CP has created a clear and differentiated investment matrix for allocating and attracting high-quality FDI capital. Investors need to clearly identify the differences in technology and sustainability requirements among the key economic regions.
FDI Attraction Trends and Sustainable Development Criteria (2024-2025)
| Investment Criteria | Red River Delta (RRD) | Southeast Region (SE) | Other Regions (MDR, NM, NC, SC/CH) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDI Attraction Performance | Highest total capital (49.2% in first 8 months of 2025) | Leading in quality restructuring | Increasing diversification; capital needed to unlock potential |
| Technology Requirements | High-tech, low-carbon, advanced industries | Green tech, innovation, eco/smart industrial zones | S&T applications in agroforestry, renewable energy |
| ESG Compliance | Needs improvement in value chains (S) and emissions (E) | Mandatory (required by major investors like Lego, Pandora, Tripod) | Requires integration of climate adaptation solutions (NM, MDR) |
| Priority Logistics Infrastructure | Expressways, seaports (Hai Phong), railways | Green ports, Long Thanh Airport, logistics optimization | Cold chain (MDR), border infrastructure (NM), fisheries logistics (NC, SC/CH) |
Based on the strategic analysis of the six economic regions, foreign investors should apply specialized investment site selection strategies:
- Supply Chain Integration Strategy: Investors in high-tech manufacturing, electronics, and supporting industries should prioritize the Red River Delta and the Southeast Region. However, investing in the Southeast Region (HCMC) will provide a superior advantage in its ability to integrate into a green, innovative ecosystem and modern multimodal logistics infrastructure (Long Thanh Airport, Green Port).
- Resource and Energy Diversification Strategy: Investors in renewable energy, and deep processing of agricultural and aquatic products should focus on the Mekong River Delta and the North Central Region. These two regions are prioritized for the development of key infrastructure to support these industries, creating a favorable environment to exploit their resource advantages.
- Adaptation Technology Strategy: For climate-vulnerable regions like the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region or the Mekong River Delta, FDI capital should be combined with science and technology solutions and innovation. This not only enhances the resilience of the project and local communities but also turns climate challenges into a competitive advantage, especially in the niche market of adaptive infrastructure and natural disaster risk management.
3.3. Requirements for Foreign Investors
To fully leverage the opportunities from the National Master Plan, investors must proactively take the following steps:
- Utilize Policy Incentives: It is necessary to thoroughly research the five current tax incentive policies for FDI enterprises in 2025, especially those linked to investment in high-tech, development of ecological IPs, or areas with difficult socio-economic conditions, in line with the balanced development orientation of Resolution 306/NQ-CP.
- Proactively Address Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Investors are advised to proactively cooperate with local authorities through public-private partnership (PPP) models to resolve bottlenecks in logistics infrastructure (especially in the Southeast Region and the Mekong River Delta). Simultaneously, promote administrative procedure reform to remove legal obstacles.
- Strengthen Domestic Linkages: Focus on developing supporting industries and collaborating with Vietnamese enterprises in the supply chain. This is to meet the requirements of increasing added value and ensuring intra-regional and inter-regional linkages in the spirit of Resolution 306/NQ-CP, thereby optimizing the efficient use of national resources.
In conclusion, the adjustment of the National Master Plan under Resolution 306/NQ-CP has created a clearly differentiated investment matrix. The Southeast Region (SE), with HCMC as its leader, affirms its superior position in quality, leading the trend of ecological IPs and attracting FDI capital according to strict ESG standards. Meanwhile, the Red River Delta (DRD) is a hub for mass-production high-tech manufacturing and national finance. For the remaining regions, opportunities lie in areas of resource and renewable energy exploitation (MDR), foundational industries and maritime logistics (NC, SC/CH), and high-tech agriculture and forestry combined with climate adaptation solutions (NM). The success of FDI projects in the new phase will depend on the project’s compatibility with the regional development strategy and the investor’s proactiveness in improving value chains and addressing infrastructure bottlenecks. This is an opportunity for foreign capital to become a key driver, pushing Vietnam to achieve its goal of rapid and sustainable development by 2030.
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