Hai Phong expands ‘playing field’ to attract global investment

Building an internationally competitive “playing field”

As the third-largest economy in Vietnam following the recent merger with Hai Duong province, Hai Phong city has made a major mark on the national map of industrial park development.

In just the first seven months of 2025, the city established 10 new industrial parks covering more than 2,800 ha, bringing the total industrial parks in the city to 42, spanning over 11,000 ha. Additionally, the city is home to 79 industrial clusters with a combined area of more than 3,800 ha.

Hai Phong’s advantage also lies in Dinh Vu – Cat Hai and the Southern Hai Phong coastal economic zones. The latter, covering 20,000 ha, features mega projects such as Tien Lang International Airport, Nam Do Son deep-water port (a future gateway for international cargo transshipment), and a free trade zone expected to become a key growth engine for the city in the near future.

These developments position Hai Phong as one of Vietnam’s leading hubs for industrial and economic zones, offering a wide and attractive “playing field” for both domestic and international investors.

Alongside the rapid expansion of international-standard industrial and economic zones, Hai Phong is accelerating infrastructure upgrades and boosting competitiveness to attract global “eagles” seeking new bases.

The Prime Minister has recently approved investment in four terminals at Lach Huyen International Gateway Port. The Ministry of Construction has also allowed terminals 1 and 2 of Lach Huyen to receive container ships with capacities up to 165,000 DWT. These moves affirm Hai Phong ports’ strategic role in the global logistics chain, especially as Vietnam’s port services become increasingly competitive for market share.

Hai Phong is also actively working with ministries, sectors and other localities to implement the Lao Cai – Ha Noi – Hai Phong railway project, which is scheduled to break ground in December 2025.

Spanning 419 km, this railway is expected to become a vital transportation corridor in Northern Vietnam, meeting domestic logistics needs and boosting international rail connectivity between Vietnam and China, thereby driving socio-economic development along the Lao Cai – Ha Noi – Hai Phong economic corridor.

A trusted partner of investors

According to a report by the Hai Phong People’s Committee, the city attracted nearly 1.9 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first seven months of 2025, equivalent to 113.64% of the same period last year. At present, Hai Phong is home to 1,737 valid FDI projects with total registered capital exceeding 50 billion USD from around 40 countries.

At the 3rd APEC Business Advisory Council Meeting (ABAC III) held in Hai Phong in mid-July, leaders and business representatives from 21 member economies, including ambassadors from the US, Germany, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan, gathered, demonstrating strong national-level support for Vietnam in general and Hai Phong in particular.

The conference witnessed the handover of investment registration certificates to 32 projects and seven cooperation memoranda of cooperation, with total committed capital exceeding 15.6 billion USD.

Bruno Jaspaert, Chairman of EuroCham and CEO of Deep C industrial complex, remarked: “The amount of FDI Hai Phong has attracted is unprecedented. Show me another place in the world where the economy has grown by more than 10% not just for one year, or three, or five, but ten years in a row. The fact that I am standing here today, calling this place my home, is proof of that.”

Secretary of the city Party Committee Le Tien Chau affirmed: “Hai Phong is determined to grow on par with exemplary cities across Asia and become a modern international port city.”

Chairman of the city People’s Committee Le Ngoc Chau also emphasized that the city will continue to invest heavily in strategic transport infrastructure, ensure transparency in administrative procedures, and always measure government performance by the convenience and satisfaction of businesses, ensuring Hai Phong remains a reliable partner of investors.

AN PHUC