越南芯片，乘机崛起

Core Insights - Vietnam is shifting its semiconductor strategy from low-cost assembly and testing to higher-value chip design and advanced packaging, driven by global manufacturers seeking to diversify supply chains away from China [1] - The semiconductor market in Vietnam is projected to reach $10.16 billion by 2025, reflecting broader efforts by Southeast Asian economies to capture more value in the global chip industry amid geopolitical and supply chain risks [1] Group 1: Industry Transformation - Vietnam has historically played a backend role in the semiconductor industry but is undergoing a structural "upstream transformation" led by industrial giants and local leaders [1] - Companies like Nvidia and FPT are investing $200 million to build an AI chip factory, while Intel, Arm, Micron, and Samsung are expanding their substrate production and advanced packaging facilities [1] - Domestic firms such as Viettel and FPT Semiconductor are actively entering the 5G and power management chip design sectors, supported by a talent pool of over 6,000 design engineers cultivated over 20 years [1] Group 2: Challenges and Opportunities - There is a severe shortage of "chip architects," the senior engineers responsible for defining system architecture and making key IP decisions, with only a handful currently available in Vietnam [2] - Experts suggest that Vietnam should avoid direct competition with established companies like TSMC and Samsung in cutting-edge processes (3nm or 5nm) and instead focus on niche areas such as security cameras, 5G/6G communications, and ASIC/SoC for electric vehicles and industrial IoT [2] - The Vietnamese government has elevated the semiconductor industry as a national priority through the "1018 Strategy," aiming to train 50,000 to 100,000 engineers by 2030, with over 137,000 students already registered in related fields as of the 2025 enrollment cycle [2] Group 3: Policy and Infrastructure Development - The establishment of the Da Nang Free Trade Zone enhances policy support, designed as a "logistics-manufacturing hybrid" park to provide specialized warehousing and seismic storage facilities for the chip industry [3] - The government aims to establish the country's first semiconductor manufacturing plant by 2026, indicating a strong commitment to developing the sector [3] - Despite the early-stage nature of venture capital activity in Vietnam's tech industry, analysts believe that if the government can coordinate decision-making across sectors, Vietnam could transition from a manufacturing base to a trusted global technology partner [3]