Ho Chi Minh City – A magnet for global capability centers

Quality talent, cost advantages, and an expanding pipeline of ESG-compliant Grade A office space are turning Ho Chi Minh City into an increasingly strategic long-term destination for multinational corporations establishing or expanding Global Capability Centres (GCCs).

Savills Vietnam reported that as multinational groups continue to reconfigure their global operating models, GCCs are evolving beyond conventional back-office functions into sophisticated hubs for technology, innovation and strategic operations, according to VNA.

A corner of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)

Lai Thi Nhu Quynh, Associate Director of Commercial Leasing Services at Savills Ho Chi Minh City, said the proliferation of GCCs is not only fuelling additional office demand but also reshaping market standards, structure, and development strategy over the medium and long term. New GCCs are taking on more strategic roles, with a focus on technology, research and development (R&D), data, and innovation, which are core elements of the global value chain.

The trend is already visible in Ho Chi Minh City’s leasing activity. In the first nine months of 2025, Savills tracked 145 office leasing transactions across all grades, with information technology occupiers accounting for 37% of total newly leased area. Average deal size stood at 924 sq.m.

According to Quynh, a quality workforce remains a primary draw for large-scale GCCs. At the same time, Grade A office rents in Ho Chi Minh City stay highly competitive regionally. Compared with Singapore, Hong Kong (China), and Tokyo (Japan), rental rates are considerably lower, allowing companies to optimise long-term operating costs without compromising global standards.

By the end of the fourth quarter 2025, the city’s total office supply reached about 2.9 million sq.m, with Grade A space comprising about 17%, or more than 490,000 sq.m. Within the Grade A segment, 76% of supply carries green building certifications. The rise of next-generation GCCs is directly influencing the structure and quality of the local office market, particularly in the Grade A and A+ segments.

Geographically, GCCs tend to adopt a clearly defined location strategy. The central core continues to be favoured for management, leadership, and international transaction functions, while emerging central areas such as Thu Thiem and parts of Thu Duc are becoming preferred destinations for large-scale GCCs, R&D centers, and delivery hubs, thanks to greater flexibility in floor area expansion and lower cost pressures.

ADB, SBV launch US$2 million green banking initiative to advance climate finance in Vietnam

An inception workshop marking the implementation of the US$2 million component on Green Banking capacity development under the Technical Assistance (TA): Expanding Inclusive and Climate Finance took place in Ha Noi on January 30.

The event was jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), the initiative aims to strengthen green banking practices and enhance the capacity of Vietnam's banking sector to scale up green and climate finance.

The workshop introduced the project's implementation plan and featured sessions sharing both international experience and practical insights on Vietnam's evolving green banking landscape, VGP reported.

Photo: VGP

The event gathered more than 80 participants from SBV, relevant ministries and agencies, development partners, commercial banks, and business associations. Discussions covered key topics such as climate risk assessment, macroeconomic impacts of carbon pricing, the role of credit institutions in carbon market development, and green bond issuance.

Participants also exchanged perspectives on Vietnam's green taxonomy and identified next steps to help the banking sector advance sustainable and transition finance.

Vietnam steps up global electronics supply-chain connectivity

A Vietnamese business delegation from the Vietnam Electronics Industries Association (VEIA) participated in the Integrated Electronics Manufacturing & Interconnections (IEMI) 2026 exhibition in India, expanding business-to-business contacts with international partners across the global electronics supply chain.

The fourth annual Integrated Electronics Manufacturing & Interconnections (IEMI) exhibition in South Asia was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka state, southern India, from January 27 to 30, under the auspices of the Global Electronics Association.

More than 300 domestic and international exhibitors took part in the event themed “Connecting the Entire Global Electronics Value Chain”, attracting over 8,000 visitors.

Participating companies presented products and services spanning electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, printed circuit boards (PCBs), components and equipment serving aerospace, defence, automotive, healthcare, industrial automation, railways and telecommunications.

During the exhibition, the Vietnamese delegation took part in factory visits, B2B networking activities, thematic discussions and direct meetings with Indian and international companies and industry associations, cited VOV.

Vietnamese Trade Counselor to India Bui Trung Thuong (first from left) and Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Bangalore, N. Srinivasa Murthy, visit the Vietnamese exhibition booth. (Image source: Vietnam Trade Office in India)

A notable highlight was the panel discussion on improving quality to drive export growth, held on January 29, with Do Thi Thuy Huong, Vice Chairwoman and Secretary General of VEIA, participating as the Vietnamese representative speaker.

She underscored that consistent quality, execution capacity and manufacturing reliability are the foundations enabling Vietnam’s electronics industry to expand exports and build durable trust with global buyers.

IEMI 2026 was assessed as a key platform linking businesses, policy and technology in the electronics and semiconductor sectors, contributing to stronger electronics value-chain cooperation between Vietnam and India while affirming Vietnam’s increasingly visible role in the regional and global electronics manufacturing ecosystem.

Working closely with VEIA, Vietnamese Trade Counselor to India Bui Trung Thuong supported trade linkages, provided market and regulatory information on India, and introduced suitable partners to Vietnamese enterprises.

The active presence and support of Vietnam’s Trade Office in India enhanced the effectiveness of the Vietnamese delegation’s trade promotion activities at IEMI 2026, helping companies expand supply-chain connections and augment cooperation in electronics manufacturing with international partners, particularly in India.

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