Vietnam’s economic engagement with international partners is entering a new phase, with the Nordic countries emerging as increasingly relevant partners. Recent diplomatic exchanges, new cooperation frameworks and trade developments are creating opportunities to deepen investment, strengthen industrial capabilities and build more resilient supply chains.
The priority now is to turn stronger bilateral relations into tangible business outcomes. For Vietnam, this means attracting investment that supports productivity, technology adoption and local enterprise development. For Nordic companies, it means building competitive, long-term operations in Southeast Asia alongside capable local partners.
This ambition will be central to the Nordic–Vietnam Business Summit 2026, taking place in Ho Chi Minh City on 29 October.
A New Chapter in Vietnam–Nordic Economic Relations
Recent diplomatic exchanges reflect growing engagement between Vietnam and the Nordic countries. In September 2026, a Vietnamese National Assembly delegation led by Vice President Nguyễn Doãn Anh visited Finland and Norway. General Secretary and President Tô Lâm also met Finnish President Alexander Stubb in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. On 3 October, Vietnam received newly accredited ambassadors, including those from Denmark and Norway.
A further milestone is expected with General Secretary and President Tô Lâm’s scheduled State Visit to Denmark from 19 to 21 October 2026.
These developments build on closer cooperation in recent years. Vietnam and Finland established a Strategic Partnership in 2025, while cooperation between Vietnam and Sweden has expanded in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. The Green Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Denmark supports collaboration on sustainability and the green transition. In 2026, Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Norway and Iceland, also concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement.
Together, these developments provide a foundation for cooperation in green energy, advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, healthcare, logistics and sustainable infrastructure. The next challenge is to translate this momentum into commercial opportunities that benefit businesses in both regions.
Beyond Investment: What Creates Long-Term Value?
Nordic companies have operated in Vietnam for decades, with many continuing to invest and develop relationships with local suppliers. Their experience offers lessons in quality management, sustainability, governance and productivity, capabilities that increasingly determine competitiveness in international markets.
For Vietnamese businesses, cooperation with Nordic partners can help strengthen manufacturing capabilities, improve quality and compliance, adopt new technologies and move towards higher-value activities within global supply chains.
For Nordic companies, Vietnam offers opportunities to expand regional operations and develop local partnerships. Vietnamese businesses, meanwhile, can explore Nordic markets, provided they are prepared to meet local regulations, sustainability requirements and customer expectations.
The opportunity is reciprocal: Nordic expertise and standards can support Vietnam’s industrial development, while Vietnamese businesses can bring their own capabilities and ambitions to international markets.
As Thue Quist Thomasen, Chairman of NordCham Vietnam, put it:
Vietnam will not be short of foreign investment in the next decade. The question is what kind of investment stays, reinvests, and builds capability here. That is where the Nordic record in Vietnam is relevant, because it is long, it is documented, and it was built under conditions that forced our companies to compete on productivity and standards rather than cost. The political relationship between Vietnam and the Nordics has rarely been stronger. This Forum exists to work out what the business relationship now does with it.
Adding a practical supply chain perspective, Yen Le (Ashley), COO and Co-Founder of FVSource, Board of Member of Nordcham Vietnam (Observer), emphasized that bridging Nordic standards with local execution requires hands-on involvement:
While high-level frameworks set the direction, meaningful progress happens on the factory floor. Vietnamese suppliers bring ambition and agility, but meeting Nordic expectations requires them to strengthen their capabilities in ESG compliance, quality control and supply chain traceability. The key is to translate global standards into practical, locally adapted processes, supported by close operational guidance. This enables Vietnamese manufacturers not only to secure contracts, but also to build lasting, high-value partnerships with Nordic buyers.
Yen Le (Ashley) working with manufacturers to align local execution with buyer expectations
>> Source: FVSource – a Vietnam-based consultancy specializing in market entry, manufacturing outsourcing, and operational support for international companies.
This perspective highlights the importance of moving beyond commercial interest towards stronger partnerships, clearer operating expectations and the capabilities needed to execute successfully across markets.
Nordic–Vietnam Business Summit 2026: From Dialogue to Delivery
Nordic–Vietnam Business Summit 2026
NordCham Vietnam will host the Nordic–Vietnam Business Summit 2026 on Thursday, 29 October, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Hilton Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
Held within the framework of the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026), the Summit is organised with the Embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in Vietnam, in coordination with the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC), VCCI-HCMC and the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (HCMC C4IR).
Under the theme “The Next Growth Decade: Where Vietnamese Ambition and Nordic Standards Compound”, the invitation-only forum will bring together more than 100 senior leaders from government, diplomatic missions and the Nordic and Vietnamese business communities.
Discussions will address the Vietnam–EFTA trade framework, the next chapter of Nordic–Vietnam cooperation and opportunities to advance economic ties across the Nordic region. A dedicated session, “Going Nordic: Opportunities for Vietnamese Businesses in Nordic Markets”, will explore how Vietnamese companies can access opportunities in these markets.
The Summit is part of AEF 2026, taking place from 26 to 29 October under the theme “Collaboration in a New Era”. Organised under the direct leadership of the Prime Minister and in partnership with the World Economic Forum, the wider Forum is expected to bring together around 1,500 delegates from government, business, academia and international organisations. NordCham Vietnam is also working with HCMC C4IR to connect Nordic businesses with the wider event through company booths and speaker participation.
Building Partnerships That Last
The next decade will be shaped not only by the scale of Vietnam–Nordic trade and investment, but also by the strength of the partnerships built around them. Companies that combine Vietnamese market potential with Nordic expertise, high standards and a long-term commitment to local development can create value well beyond individual transactions.
The Nordic–Vietnam Business Summit 2026 offers a platform to advance that ambition — turning closer relations into partnerships that endure, businesses that grow and capabilities that strengthen both economies.
About the Nordic–Vietnam Business Summit 2026
The Summit is a half-day, invitation-only forum held within AEF 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City on 29 October, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Hilton Saigon. Participation is open to NordCham members, with limited seats available.
The Summit is supported by Strategic Partners Carlsberg Vietnam and Danish Industry, alongside Supporting Partners Decision Lab, VARD, FVSource, ECCO, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Julie Sandlau, Eimskip, SKF, Spring CC and Pandora.
About NordCham Vietnam
NordCham Vietnam is a non-profit business association representing the Nordic business communities of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Its nearly 200 member companies include long-established investors in Vietnam. NordCham supports commercial relations through business platforms, advocacy and cooperation with Vietnamese authorities, business organisations and Nordic diplomatic missions.
>> Related article: NordCham Vietnam Looks Beyond Green Transition to Vietnam’s Next Manufacturing Chapter
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