US businesses explore new investment opportunities in central Vietnam

The event was organized by the Da Nang Young Entrepreneurs Association in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States.

The forum brought together investors, corporate executives, economists, and policymakers to discuss strategies to accelerate high-quality investment in central Vietnam—an area poised to become a strategic destination for global capital.

Le Tri Hai, chairman of the Da Nang Young Entrepreneurs Association, stated that the forum aimed to achieve three main goals: foster meaningful connections between U.S. businesses and the central region, showcase local investment potential, especially in Da Nang, and promote specific cooperation in key sectors such as high technology, digital transformation, renewable energy, logistics, quality education, and healthcare.

During the panel discussion on 'Sustainable Energy and Infrastructure – Powering Central Vietnam’s Future,' Richard Mclellan, founder and CEO of RMAC Advisory, LLC, an international consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., highlighted the region's potential to emerge as a leader in energy development and finance, provided it effectively leverages opportunities from U.S. capital.

Da Nang's projects on free trade zone, financial center, and port development constitute a strong commitment from the local government.

“I am ready to bet on the innovation-driven investment opportunities here,” he said.

However, he emphasized the need to improve the legal and financial frameworks to build investor confidence.

Sharing a similar view, Matthew McGarvey, co-founder of U.S.-based investment firm Xylem Capital, noted the growing energy demand in central Vietnam, accompanied by challenges in capital mobilization, regulatory frameworks, and capacity to adopt advanced models like nuclear energy, liquefied natural gas, and next-generation turbines.

“We cannot focus solely on Da Nang. A regional perspective and even a broader view across neighboring countries are essential to connect capital flows, infrastructure, and sustainable energy strategies,” he added.

A notable highlight of the forum was the call for investment in education, especially in local universities.

Experts noted that central Vietnam holds the potential to become a hub for innovation, high-tech manufacturing, and the semiconductor industry.

Le Quang Dam, general director of Marvell Technology Vietnam, praised Da Nang’s rapid development and underscored the importance of education in the relatively new field of semiconductors in Vietnam.

Vietnamese students are outstanding in science and technology, but they lack deep expertise in semiconductors.

Marvell Technology Vietnam is closely collaborating with universities to build specialized training programs, support promising underprivileged students, and develop advanced laboratories, Dam said.

Marvell currently operates offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, and is actively supporting the University of Da Nang in launching a semiconductor engineering training program.