Recently, Sao Phuong Nam Investment and Development Consulting JSC (SPN Invest), in collaboration with the Vietnam Logistics Research and Development Institute (VLI), welcomed a delegation of Japanese enterprises to survey and discuss investment opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City’s logistics and transportation sector, especially in the new context following the provincial merger.
Ho Chi Minh City after the merger: Vietnam’s leading industrial and logistics hub
After the merger, Ho Chi Minh City has become a special mega-city with a multi-pillar economy:
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Manufacturing and high-tech industry from Binh Duong.
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Seaport logistics, agriculture, and marine tourism from Ba Ria – Vung Tau.
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Finance and commerce from Vietnam’s largest economic center.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has 66 export processing and industrial zones covering more than 27,000 hectares. According to the 2050 plan, this number will increase to 105 zones with a total area of 49,000 hectares, affirming its position as the national industrial and logistics hub.
Infrastructure: a major push from strategic projects
Alongside the expansion of industrial zones, Ho Chi Minh City is witnessing national-scale infrastructure projects that will drive logistics and transportation growth:
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Ring Road 3 (76 km, USD 3 billion investment): commenced in 2023, expected to be completed by 2026, connecting HCMC with Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Long An, reducing gateway congestion and shortening cargo transit time.
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Ring Road 4 (197 km, over USD 4 billion investment): linking HCMC with Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Long An, and Binh Duong, opening a new logistics corridor in the Southern Key Economic Zone.
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Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port (Ba Ria – Vung Tau): ranked among the Top 20 deepest seaports worldwide, capable of receiving 200,000 DWT vessels with an annual capacity of 8.3 million TEUs. It serves as Vietnam’s strategic transshipment hub directly connecting to Europe and the U.S.
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Long Thanh International Airport (Dong Nai, USD 16 billion investment): Phase 1 is under construction, expected completion in 2026, designed for 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually. Together with Tan Son Nhat, it will form the largest international airport pair in Southeast Asia.
These projects will establish a synchronized logistics network for HCMC and the Southern Key Economic Zone, reducing transport costs, shortening lead times, and enhancing international competitiveness.
Japanese FDI: strong interest in HCMC’s logistics and transport sector
According to the Japan Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City (JCCH), more than 1,600 Japanese enterprises are operating in Vietnam, with nearly 50% concentrated in HCMC and neighboring provinces. Recently, in addition to manufacturing, logistics and transportation have become top investment priorities for Japanese businesses.
Key areas of interest include:
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Modern logistics centers and automated warehouses.
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Multimodal transport solutions (road, rail, sea, air).
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Green logistics and digital transformation in supply chain management.
SPN Invest – a strategic partner for Japanese investors
With years of experience in consulting for Japanese enterprises in Vietnam, SPN Invest has affirmed its role as a trusted partner, providing market intelligence, trend analysis, and practical project implementation support.
Ms. Nguyen Diem Trinh – Director of SPN Invest, emphasized:
“Ho Chi Minh City’s logistics and transportation sector is entering a breakthrough phase, driven by multiple factors: strategic transport infrastructure, the development of ring roads, international seaports, and the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport. This is truly the golden timing for Japanese investors to establish a long-term presence and capture opportunities in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic logistics markets.”
In the coming period, SPN Invest will continue to accompany Japanese investors through market surveys – opportunity assessment – project implementation, contributing to positioning Ho Chi Minh City as an international logistics and transportation hub, while further strengthening the Vietnam – Japan economic partnership.
From left to right: Mr. Umino Takefumi (Director of CBS Vietnam), Ms. Nguyen Diem Trinh (Vice Director of SPN Invest), Mr. Takashi Miyama (Director of Miyama), Mr. Masateru Nakagawa (Chairman and Representative Director of Nakagawa Kogyosho), Mr. Nguyen Thang Loi (Head of Research at the Vietnam Logistics Research and Development Institute – VLI), Mr. Koji Ueda (President of Ueda Group), Mr. Suenaga (Chairman of Logitemqshu Group), and Ms. To Thi Hang (Head of Training Department, Vietnam Logistics Research & Development Institute – VLI).