I had a visit to Hai Phong in April this year and spoke at the Connect Hai Phong – Hong Kong seminar, co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hai Phong Department of Foreign Affairs, and Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam in Hai Phong city. The event agenda included a visit to Nam Dinh Vu industrial park, Nam Dinh Vu port, and Lach Huyen port which are some of the largest ports in the Northern Vietnam Key Economic Zone.

The business trip brought back my first impression of Hai Phong, when I first came to this city 23 years ago – a port city with remnants of the French colonial period. Now that I have been living for more than 15 years in Vietnam and have several opportunities to return to Hai Phong, I see tremendous changes in all aspects of its economy.

Today, Hai Phong presents a vibrant city life where you can observe crowded streets in peak hours, local people playing sports after work, small shops busy serving their local delicacies (anyone visiting Hai Phong should try “bánh mì que” at least once, I would recommend). The city also hosts modern new retail centers with both local and international brands (Vincom, Aeon, Go!), a lot of new residential projects, the presence of new international hotel brands, etc. Above all, Hai Phong continues to be positioned an industrial and logistic hub in the North of Vietnam, thanks to its location which is adjacent to the Gulf of Tonkin and China. It is now the third largest city in Vietnam, the local authority is very active and open to welcome investors with long-term commitment in Hai Phong.

This city really is a place which investors should look at when considering Vietnam. Great opportunities await.