56.9% of Japanese businesses want to expand their investments, giving Hanoi more opportunities to attract high-quality capital.

The latest survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) shows that Japanese businesses continue to expand their investments in Vietnam. With its advantageous institutional framework and new urban planning, Hanoi is poised to attract high-quality FDI.

Japanese business confidence continues to rise.

Amidst a growing shift in international investment flows towards stable markets with long-term growth potential and transparent business environments, Vietnam continues to maintain its attractiveness to Japanese businesses. The latest survey results from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) show strengthening confidence among the Japanese business community, opening up opportunities for Hanoi to attract more high-quality FDI projects in this new phase of development.

Speaking at the Conference on Announcing the Master Plan for Hanoi Capital City with a 100-Year Vision and Investment Promotion in 2026, organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee on June 29th, Mr. Ozasa Haruhiko, Chief Representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Hanoi, stated that Vietnam continues to be one of the most attractive investment destinations for Japanese businesses in the ASEAN region.

According to a survey conducted by JETRO among Japanese businesses operating in Asia and Oceania, 67.5% of Japanese businesses in Vietnam forecast profitability in 2025. This is the highest percentage since 2009 and reflects a significant improvement in the investment environment as well as the growth prospects of the Vietnamese economy .

Even more noteworthy is that 56.9% of Japanese businesses operating in Vietnam plan to expand their production and business within the next one to two years, placing Vietnam at the top of ASEAN for the second consecutive year in terms of the percentage of businesses planning to expand investment.

According to Mr. Ozasa Haruhiko, the survey results show that Japanese businesses highly appreciate Vietnam’s market size, growth potential, political and social stability , as well as its increasingly improved investment environment.

These figures reflect a notable trend in the new generation of FDI flows. Instead of simply seeking cost advantages, businesses are increasingly interested in the long-term growth potential, quality of governance, policy stability, and supply chain connectivity capabilities of the host country.

In this context, Hanoi is emerging as a locality with many advantages to capitalize on this shift. According to Mr. Ozasa Haruhiko, the Politburo’s issuance of Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW on building and developing Hanoi in the new era, along with the National Assembly’s approval of the Capital City Law in 2026 and the Hanoi Capital City Master Plan with a 100-year vision, has opened up a new development space for the city.

Representatives from JETRO highly appreciated Hanoi’s long-term development orientation, especially the goal of building the capital into a regional center for innovation, science and technology, and international connectivity.

According to Mr. Ozasa Haruhiko, along with its inherent advantages in geographical location, human resource quality, and market size, Hanoi possesses many favorable conditions to attract FDI projects in high-tech, innovation, smart manufacturing, and high-quality services.

However, to translate this potential into actual investment capital, the city needs to continue improving its investment environment and enhancing its competitiveness. “I expect Hanoi to continue playing a bridging role between Vietnamese and foreign businesses, and to further improve its investment environment to create even more favorable conditions for the business community,” shared Mr. Ozasa Haruhiko.

This message also reflects the shared expectation of many Japanese businesses seeking investment locations with the potential for stable long-term growth, rather than relying solely on short-term advantages in terms of cost or investment incentives.

Opportunities for Hanoi to attract a new generation of FDI.

Besides positive assessments of Vietnam’s investment environment, Mr. Ozasa Haruhiko believes that Hanoi is gaining more advantages to become a destination for high-quality FDI projects.

According to JETRO representatives, the Hanoi Capital City Master Plan with a 100-year vision has established long-term development orientations, while the 2026 Capital City Law opens up special mechanisms for the city to be more proactive in mobilizing resources, developing infrastructure, and improving the investment environment.

These are crucial factors that will help Hanoi enhance its competitiveness in a context where international corporations increasingly value the stability, predictability, and effectiveness of local government implementation.

In fact, many Japanese businesses have had a long-standing presence and development in Hanoi. One prime example is the Sumitomo Group, which has invested in and developed the Thang Long Industrial Park since 1997. To date, the project has attracted approximately $3 billion in cumulative investment and created around 60,000 jobs.

In addition, Sumitomo is collaborating with BRG Group on the North Hanoi Smart City Project, aiming for a smart, carbon-neutral urban model and the application of advanced technologies in urban management. According to Mr. Hamamoto, representative of Sumitomo Group, what builds trust for Japanese businesses is not only the market size but also the support of the city government in the project implementation process.

“Currently, the project is progressing according to schedule. Land clearance and approvals are being carried out smoothly thanks to the attention, guidance, and support of the leaders and relevant agencies of Hanoi City,” Mr. Hamamoto said.

A representative from Sumitomo also shared that, for foreign investors, a clear development vision, a stable investment environment, and a constructive dialogue mechanism with regulatory authorities are crucial factors for long-term investment plans.

These assessments are also consistent with the development direction that Hanoi is pursuing. According to the Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Vu Dai Thang, the city will continue to build an open, transparent, stable, and highly predictable investment environment; proactively resolve matters within its authority, and create the most favorable conditions for businesses to implement projects.

At the same time, Hanoi will prioritize attracting investment in high value-added sectors such as high technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, data centers, smart logistics, green industry, innovation, and high-quality education and healthcare .

These directions are consistent with the current trend of Japanese investment flows, as businesses are increasingly interested in the quality of the investment environment, the technological ecosystem, and the potential for sustainable development .

From the survey results of JETRO to the investment practices of Japanese businesses in Hanoi, there is a positive signal: investor confidence is being maintained and continues to be strengthened. For Hanoi, this is an important opportunity to attract a new generation of FDI, bringing not only capital but also technology, management capabilities, innovation, and connections to global value chains.

If Hanoi continues to effectively utilize the special mechanisms of the Capital City Law, realize the 100-year vision master plan for the Capital City, and maintain a transparent and stable investment environment, it will have further advantages to attract high-quality investment from Japan, contributing to enhancing competitiveness and promoting sustainable growth in the new development phase.

Baodautu.vn