The South-east Asian nation has wisely capitalised on this trend to steadily grow foreign investment inflows and manufacturing capacity for increasingly high-tech gadgets. But it is hard being your favourite supplier's favourite supplier.
Years of playing the role as the tech sector's perpetual "plus-one" to China has left infrastructure straining and the labour force struggling to keep up. Multiple leadership shake-ups and a prolonged corruption crackdown have also sown fresh uncertainty for foreign businesses.
Being so dependent on outside investments and tech exports also makes it vulnerable to the ebbs of foreign demand and trade volatility. The World Bank warned last week that Vietnam's scope for playing a connecting role in supply chains amid global tensions "may be shrinking".
The country must focus on itself - upskilling the labour force, improving infrastructure and diversifying its economy to move up the value chain.
It could start by demanding more from relationships with Big Tech companies.
Earlier in October, the country announced that Meta Platforms will expand manufacturing of one of the latest, low-cost lines of mixed-reality headsets to Vietnam. The move is expected to create 1,000 jobs and "underscores Vietnam's growing importance in Meta's manufacturing ecosystem", according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
This story is from the October 15, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 15, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Team Singapore athletes at Paris Games honoured in Parliament
Olympians and Paralympians 'fought hard in the toughest of arenas', says minister
NTUC central committee unaware of capital reduction plan: Desmond Tan
The labour movement's central committee did not know of the plan to return $1.85 billion to shareholders under the Allianz-Income deal before it was mentioned in Parliament on Oct 14, said NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan.
MPs raise concerns over info sharing, investor confidence
16 MPs speak for four hours on Bill to halt Allianz's planned offer for Income Insurance
New in Oct BTO launch: 'White flats', additional subsidies
The Oct 16 Build-To-Order (BTO) launch will feature several changes that will affect home buyers, including a new way of classifying flats, more options for singles and new open-concept \"white flats\".
Talent, tourists, new hubs: John Lee lays out ambitious HK revival plan
Given the myriad priority areas, analysts wonder if his economic measures lack focus
Prime, Plus flats launched with 6% to 9% subsidy clawback clause
They are among 8,573 homes offered for sale under new flat classification system
Parliament passes Bill enabling Govt to block Allianz-Income deal
The minister in charge of Singapore's financial regulator will have powers to block deals involving insurers that are run or substantially owned by cooperatives after Parliament passed new laws on Oct 16.
K-pop boy band Riize's Seunghan leaves two days after return
SEOUL - Just two days after announcing that he was rejoining K-pop boy band Riize, South Korean singer Seunghan (right) said on Oct 14 that he is leaving the group.
Stefanie Sun's concert tour kicks off in 2025
The decade-long wait for fans of Stefanie Sun will be over soon.
Theatre actor Shahid Nasheer hailed as bright talent of his generation
Theatre actor Shahid Nasheer died on the evening of Oct 14 at Gleneagles Hospital, following complications while being treated for leukaemia. He was 28.