The Ho Chi Minh City Investment Cooperation Forum 2026, themed "Ho Chi Minh City - New Development Space - New Investment Cooperation Opportunities," was organized on November 2 by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) with support from Fortune Asia magazine.
Three-tier incentives to attract high-quality capital
Speaking at the forum, Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, stated that in the first ten months of 2026, Ho Chi Minh City attracted $19.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), exceeding the annual plan by 73.9 percent. The city currently has over 22,036 active FDI projects with total registered capital of more than $157.4 billion.
Additionally, the city's appeal stems from its position as an economic center, a large consumer market, and a dynamic business community. Notably, after merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City has expanded its development space, encompassing finance, services, innovation, modern industry, and deep-water ports.
Specifically, the city's attractiveness comes from three tiers of investment incentives aimed at enhancing FDI attraction.
The first tier includes national incentives for priority sectors such as high technology, research and development (R&D), and the semiconductor industry. New projects in these fields enjoy a corporate income tax rate of 10 percent for 15 years, a four-year tax exemption, and a 50 percent tax reduction for the following nine years.
The second tier involves Ho Chi Minh City's specific mechanisms, as stipulated in the Urban Development Law effective from October 1, 2026. Strategic investors are prioritized in customs procedures, human resource development support, R&D, and other incentives within the city's decision-making authority.
The third tier offers incentives in special institutional spaces. Members of the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City operating in priority sectors are subject to a 10 percent corporate income tax rate for 30 years. Experts and managers working at the Center are exempt from personal income tax until the end of 2030.
Mr. Andrew Staples, Editorial Director of Fortune Asia, shared insights on the contribution of Vietnamese businesses in the region, noting that the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 ranking in 2026 includes 72 Vietnamese enterprises with a combined revenue of $177.9 billion, a 10.5 percent increase, tribling the average growth rate in Southeast Asia.
Vietnamese businesses contribute about 25 percent of the revenue growth. This is also one of the reasons Fortune chose Ho Chi Minh City to host the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 Summit for the first time, Mr. Andrew Staples noted.
Capital shifts towards high-tech, infrastructure, and logistics
According to Mr. Pham Quang Nhat, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), the capital structure in 2026 shows three notable trends.
First, capital is concentrated in high technology and digital infrastructure. In the first nine months of 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park attracted $1.23 billion in new capital, averaging over $300 million per project.
Second, capital is directed towards infrastructure and logistics. The Can Gio International Transshipment Port project, with total investment of over $4.9 billion, has just been granted an investment registration certificate, involving a leading global container port operator.
Third, additional capital and activities of capital contribution and share purchase continue to be recorded. In the first ten months of 2026, ongoing projects in the city registered nearly $5.7 billion in additional capital; more than 1,611 foreign investors contributed capital and purchased shares in domestic enterprises.
During the direct dialogue session with the investor community, representatives from international associations and businesses shared investment experiences, assessed the business environment, and explored cooperation potential in the city.
Additionally, the forum helped connect investor needs with Ho Chi Minh City's development orientation, incentive mechanisms, and new cooperation spaces.
Representatives from international business associations also shared key market insights. Mr. Travis Mitchell of AmCham Vietnam evaluated the local business climate, while Mr. Wesley Chua from SingCham focused on services, logistics, and infrastructure opportunities.
Additionally, Mr. Kulachet Dharachandra, Country Director of SCG Vietnam, discussed strategic industrial investments and green transformation.
Fortune 500 Southeast Asia Summit held in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time
The Fortune 500 Southeast Asia Summit is a testament to Ho Chi Minh City's appeal to international investors. The city is committed to transparency and responsibility, aiming to attract long-term investment partners and contribute to sustainable development value creation.
This forum focused on discussing investment attraction directions, cooperation opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City's new development space, and solutions to enhance connections between domestic businesses and international investors.
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