How Vietnam is attracting global electronics and PCB manufacturers

As there has been a major transformation shift in the electronics manufacturing industry since my arrival in Vietnam in 2012, the country has leveraged geopolitical tensions, such as the US-China trade war, to attract relocation of supply chains and secure its role in global manufacturing ecosystem for plastics, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and semiconductors. The Trump administration's recent decision to exempt smartphones, computers, and other consumer electronics from tariffs created an environment in which numerous industry leaders have revealed plans to expand their manufacturing presence in Vietnam.

SpaceX has unveiled a $1.5 billion investment initiative that aligns with the country’s goal of digital transformation and technological modernization. While Zuckerberg's Meta plans to set up manufacturing facilities for virtual reality equipment in Bac Giang province, Foxconn, a major Apple supplier, has announced an investment of $80 million in semiconductor manufacturing in the same area. Samsung is set to $23.2 billion in Vietnam to expand into new areas such as AI, semiconductors and digital transformation.  One of the other examples of Vietnam's rapid development is the VinFast company. They not only produce consumer devices such as phones, but also produce electric cars that are sold overseas to countries such as the US.

It's not only big tech giants who are advancing their manufacturing capabilities in Vietnam; there are also a number of local startups that have appeared in the last several years, offering advanced PCB, assembly, and prototyping services. It is anticipated that the semiconductor and electronics industries are going to grow by double digits in the coming years, with a GDP increase of 8% in 2025.