2025-11-09
120
Backed by "China+1" and free trade agreements, Vietnam is a core ASEAN base for Taiwanese businesses. Its young population and supply chain resilience are advantages, though rising land prices and compliance hurdles remain. Chien Chih-ming, former head of the Vietnam Taiwanese Business Association, breaks down the full process—site selection, factory construction, financing, taxation, and ESG—including the region's lowest 15% tax rate.
Chien Chih-ming is an architect and currently serves as the chairman and general manager of Ho-Ding Lung Construction Co., Ltd. He previously served as the 23rd and 24th president of the Vietnam Taiwan Chamber of Commerce .
Founded in Vietnam in 2007, He Dinglong has led its team to undertake numerous industrial and civil building projects across the country. They provide integrated services from planning and design, civil engineering and mechanical and electrical systems to fire safety inspections, and are renowned for their "local compliance + engineering quality." They have also served the overseas Chinese community and Taiwanese businesses for many years, promoting investment regulations exchange and providing guidance for businesses establishing themselves in Vietnam. In recent years, they have focused on the practical application of "land acquisition, factory construction, taxation, and ESG," systematizing their experience in Vietnamese industrial zone zoning, 1:500 detailed planning, environmental impact assessments, and fire safety procedures. This helps Taiwanese businesses overcome the barriers to entry with verifiable SOPs, paving the way for a new chapter in the ASEAN supply chain.
Vietnam's GDP grew by 8.02% in 2022; it grew by about 5.05% in 2023, with a CPI of about 3.25%, and maintained a strong performance of 5.66% in the first quarter of 2024.
In terms of export structure, 40% of imports come from China and 35% are exported to the United States and Europe, which is typical of export-oriented.
The country's 63 administrative regions are centered around five major economic centers: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Da Nang, and Can Tho. Approximately 90,000 Taiwanese businesses operate in the region, with about 3,000 registered companies, accounting for 70% of the total.
Chien Chih-ming pointed out that Vietnam's prosperity is not just about data, but also about the daily rhythm of trucks coming and going at the port. China imports raw materials, Vietnam exports finished products—this "supply chain belt" is operating at high speed. He cautioned that while the macroeconomic data looks impressive, the education and healthcare infrastructure still need time to catch up with industrial growth , posing a long-term talent challenge for businesses.
Vietnam has an average age of only 29.6 years, and its demographic dividend is expected to continue until around 2039. Although the proportion of elderly people is increasing year by year, it is still one of the ASEAN countries with the youngest workforce.
He laughed and said, "Youth is a bonus, but it's more of a challenge in management." Vietnam has a high labor turnover rate, so if companies want to maintain stable quality, they must design their training systems and cultural structure in advance , otherwise they are prone to falling into a cycle of unstable personnel and fluctuating quality.
The "Meltdown Project," spearheaded by former Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, has been a comprehensive overhaul, addressing everything from pandemic scandals to financial manipulation. While it may cause short-term personnel turmoil, in the long run, it will help create a more transparent investment environment.
Jian Zhimin stated, "In Vietnam today, you can't rely on connections; you have to rely on documents." He emphasized that strict procedures are not a bad thing —they represent that regulations have become the language of the market, which actually increases trust in law-abiding foreign investment.
Vietnam has signed or entered into more than 15 FTAs (including CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP), forming a low-tariff export corridor. The government has identified eight key areas for investment attraction: information and communication, renewable energy, nanotechnology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, high-tech agriculture, digital economy, and innovation and R&D.
He described it this way: "FTAs are the skeleton, and industries are the muscles." Choosing the right skeleton can support international orders, while choosing the right industries is essential for successful implementation. Vietnam's challenge lies in its insufficient electricity and water resources , which are hurdles that high-tech industries must overcome before they can establish themselves there.
Remote areas enjoy a "four-year tax exemption and nine-year tax reduction" policy, while general areas enjoy a "two-year tax exemption and four-year tax reduction" policy; certain industries may be subject to a 10% or 17% tax rate.
However, with the global minimum tax rate of 15% set to take effect in 2026, Vietnam is considering other forms of subsidies to fill the tax gap.
Chien Chih-ming reminds companies: instead of obsessing over tax-free periods, they should recalculate their IRR (Internal Rate of Return) . Future competition will not be about nominal tax rates, but about the combined cost of compliance and efficiency .
Foreign investors in Vietnam can only hold land use rights (for a maximum of 50 years). To build a factory, they must pass the "1:500 detailed planning → environmental impact assessment (EIA) → fire safety review", and the whole process takes about 3 to 6 months.
Chien Chih-ming emphasized, "The first step is to check the land color ." Purple indicates industrial land, and even if other colors are available for purchase, you may not be able to obtain a business permit. Even with industrial land, you must confirm the industry restrictions, pollution classifications, setback distances , and other regulations; otherwise, it may result in delays of more than six months.
The advantages of leasing are high flexibility and low financial pressure, with rent around USD 3–4 per square meter; however, most leased facilities are standard 2000–5000 square meter plants. While self-construction involves large investments and a long development period, it allows for complete customization to meet production line needs.
Chien Chih-ming proposed the "Three Questions Method":
1️⃣ How highly customized is the production line?
2️⃣ Is the order cycle long?
3️⃣ Is it close to a port and suppliers?
If the majority of the answers are "yes", it means that self-built systems have greater long-term value.
In Vietnam, a common discrepancy exists between registered capital and actual investment; land can be used as collateral for loans. Construction project payments typically require a 20% down payment to lock in prices; bidding low leads to extremely high risks of later changes.
Chien Chih-ming bluntly stated, " The most expensive projects are those that start cheaply but finish expensively. "
When selecting a supplier, consider three things: their performance record, financial health, and the stability of their site manager—these are more practical than fancy presentations.
Vietnam's corporate income tax is 20%, VAT is 10%, and personal income tax is 5-35%; social insurance contributions are approximately 11.5% for employers and 10.5% for employees, and the two countries are promoting mutual exemption of social insurance contributions.
Chien Chih-ming said, "Financial and tax management is actually another production line." Only by keeping accounts traceable and documents verifiable can companies remain calm and composed when tax audits are conducted, truly achieving "reports as records and compliance as insurance."
The EU's CBAM transition period has begun, while the US CCA is underway. Vietnam has declared a 43.5% emissions reduction target by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Chien Chih-ming reminds us: ESG is not just a slogan, but a " new cost column on the price list ."
Businesses should start with an inventory system, establishing an energy and carbon emissions database, and making energy conservation and emission reduction a daily KPI. "ESG will increase costs, but it will also bring longer-term and more stable contracts ."
The main steps in setting up a factory in Vietnam include:
Location assessment → Industrial site survey → 1:500 planning/EIA/fire protection → Company establishment → Capital injection → Equipment customs clearance → Water, electricity, internet and address registration → Business license → VAT/accounting → Recruitment and work permits → ISO/UL certification.
He laughed and said, "The process sounds like chanting, but you might step on a landmine at any step ." The key is to " prepare the documents first and draw up the process first ." With a complete SOP, the landmines will become a map.
Land prices in Vietnam continue to rise, the threshold for foreign work permits has been raised, and the conditions for foreign investment entry have become more precise.
Chien Chih-ming observes: "Vietnam is no longer in an era where 'anything is a good deal,' but rather an era of precise matching ." Being able to put cards on the blockchain and choosing the right location are the benefits; if it does not conform to the policy direction, the costs will increase exponentially.
Jian Zhiming's advice is concise and powerful: " Choose the right location first, then build the right link; run the right file first, then talk about speed. "
When companies integrate regulations, finance and taxation, engineering and ESG into a closed loop, Vietnam becomes not just a manufacturing base, but a starting point for accessing the entire ASEAN market.
He said, "Doing business overseas is not easy, but those who use the right methods will find it easier and easier over time."
Q1: How do I choose a region when entering Vietnam for the first time?
First, consider the distance to the customer/port and the industrial zone, then compare the environmental impact assessment and human resources conditions.
Q2: How to choose between leasing and building your own?
It depends on the customization of the production line, the length of the order, and geographical conditions.
Q3: Will the lowest global tax burden negate the benefits?
Some losses may be mitigated, but these can be offset by R&D subsidies, human resource training, and supply chain efficiency.
Q4: Where to start with ESG/CBAM?
Starting with energy inventory and data construction, carbon reduction KPIs are integrated into the production process.
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鼎新數智購
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延伸閱讀
鼎新數智購
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